monday, September 12, 1977
page 4
daily nebraskan
dpiniondte
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After this weekend's events, the NU Board of
Regents probably should vote for stadium expan-sion-for
the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
There are grim faces in Huskerland. Alas, Big
Red has struck out. But there are a few smiles in
the state, notably in Omaha and among the
ASUN senators who worked to block Memorial
Stadium expension.
UNO partisans almost are dancing in the
streets. After a season-opening win against the
University of South Dakota, the Mavericks
tied perennially powerful North Dakota State
University Saturday 17-17.
For both games Al Caniglia Field at UNO was
packed. It only holds about 10,000 people.
Of course, the story is different in Lincoln.
Satirical students in the stands, were offering
season tickets for all of $2 as the game drew to
a fateful close Saturday. - .
At least the regents did not vote for stadium
expansion Friday. Now it looks like there may
be less demand for additional seats.
UNL Athletic Director Bob Devaney reported a
"marginal" turnout at the Sports Complex to
watch the game on big-screen television. Beauti-
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Those crazy Panamanians debating;
'Panamanian Canal in United States'
The singing of the new America Canal treaty last week
stirred up a hornet's nest in the Republic of Panama.
Initially, it appeared doubtful President Torrijos could
convince two-thirds of the Panamanian Senate to ratify
what conservatives there thunderously denounced as "a
lily-livered sellout of our precious national heritage."
The America Canal has long been a thorn in the side
of Panamanian-U.S. relations. The original treaty, granting
. Panama control of a 10-mile-wide swath across mid-America
"in perpetuity" was signed in 1900.
At the time, America was sorely weakened by a
guerrilla war in the Philippines, the Boxer Rebellion and
the Galveston Flood. President McKinley had no choice
Qrthur hoppe
Innocent bijotondcr
but to yield to the bully tactics of the Panamanian hero,
Colonel Teddy Rosavilla, who enforced his doctrines of
"manifest destiny" and "the brown man's burden" with
old-fashioned gunboat diplomacy.
"Astonding feat"
The building of the 3,000-roile-long canal was an
astounding engineering feat. ,
Launching their attack from the mosquito-infested
marshes of New Jersey, the Panamanian technicians cut
then way across tne conuneni, rigming on Ames, uaic
and assorted Honkies as they went.
The cost was staggering, more than 50 million pesos
and the lives of 4,500 laborers, most of them Americans.
But after ten long years, Panamanian ships could at last
steam -from the Atlantic to the Pacific without the dan
gerous irip around Cape Horn.
Over the years, however, American bitterness grew.
Partly, it was the sight of the Panamian flag flying over
places like Culpepper, Va., and North Las Vegas.
Greasers
Partly, it was the paltry 2.3 million pesos the Pana
manians paid annually in "rent." Partly, it was the con
temptuous attitude of the Panamanian soldiers who
referred to Americans employed in menial jobs like greas
ing the locks as "greasers." . -
But . primarily it was the, fact, that the canal bisected
America. A citizen of Columbus, Ohio, could not visit
a cousin in Columbus, Ga., without obtaining Panamanian
permission to cross Panamanian territory.'
Militant Americans began rioting, throwing rocks ana
shouting the familiar, "Panamanians home!" Sabotage
of the relatively-defenseless canal appeared imminent.
It was in this atmosphere that the new treaty was
signed, giving Panama control of the canal until the year
2000 and the right to insure its neutrality thereafter.
Panamanian jingoists, however, have no qualms about
fanning the flames of war over the issue-particularly
the older jingoists who won't have to go fight it.
Full-page ads
"There is no America Canal." proclaim the full-page
ads of the Panamanian Conservative Union. "There is only
a Panamanian Canal in America. Don't give it away!"
Elderly senators refer to it as "the Panamanian Canal
adjacent to U.S. territory." And the aging matinee idol
and expert on international affairs Juan (Duke) Juaync
has been hired for television spots in which he declares,
t "We stole it farV squar'n' we otta keep 'er."
To Americans, regaining control of a slice of territory
that splits their nation asunder may seem like simple
justice. But they are reckoning without the explosive
. tempestuousness of the Panamanians-their blind dcath-before-dishonor
xenophobia, their reckless and irrational
compulsion to defend their sacred machismo.
It is these uniquely Latin qualities that the logical and
ordeily American mind finds so difficult to understand.
Copyright 1977, Chronic! Publishing Co.
ful weather and State Fair activities may have
held that crowd down, however.
But after so many years of sellouts, it may be
that Nebraskans who -really want to see , the games
- are seeing them. Those curious souls just wanted
to see a winner will be dismayed by he loss to
Washington State University and the prospect of
a losing season.
That leads us to'the opposition to the expan
r sion. The ASUN Senate believes students will have
to pay an unfair portion of the burden if the ex
pansion does not fill.
A battle was shaping up. Lincoln business
men, eager at the prospect of 8,000 more fans in
town for the games were ready to fight for sta
dium expansion. 1
The senators can smile now. So can Regent
Kermit Wagner who was justifiably worried tjiat
only "fat-cats" would get tickets in the
. expansion, and the average Nebraskan who still
wants to see the game would be left out. -
At least for a week, the prospect of a constant-
dimmer, A win against powerful Alabama will
change that, but we '11 leave betting to the
bookies.
Considering student wishes, the regents should
think again before accepting stadium expansion
when the matter comes off the table. t
" In a side note, we assume that most, if not all
regents attended the Big Red game Saturday
afternoon. We wonder how many attended UNO's
game.that night.
letter
to the editor
I was very disappointed in your (Sept. 7) review of
Omaha's Septemberfest. The rain and mud apparently
dampened Mr. (Jim) William's attitude toward' the entire
festival.
The rain and mud were indeed unfortunate but a good
reviewer would have been able to make do with a mere
mention without' overstating the cause as was done.
Also, he claims there was nowhere to park, but then
admits that he did find a parking space. I also parked in
the "warehouse and wino" district but didn't see a single
wino which leads me to believe he dubbed the area in
appropriately. And I have never considered a six-block
walk to be a problem.
But my major complaint against the review is that he
complained about the quality of entertainment without
mentioning that he was there on Sunday which was
officially titled and planned as Children's Day! Dr.
Sanguinary doesn't do much for me either, but my
children love him.
The entertainment on Monday included hourly changes
of various "musical groups from" 11: 30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
on two stages two blocks apart. The performances I saw
were excellent. ...
Neither did your reviewer mention the purpose of
Septemberfest, a three-day salute to labor with emphasis
. on the cooperation between labor and business. Nor did
he mention the supergraphics art covering the side of a
building with blue.collars intermingled with white collars
symbolizing this cooperation.
Nor did he mention a good example of this cooperat
ion: two skilled craftsmen unions donated their labor and
with materials donated by businesses built two children's
playhouses, one to be auctioned to the highest bidder and
the other to be raffled with proceeds going to the
Muscular Dystrophy telethon.
There were a few problems: trash containers were rare
so littering was rampant. For some reason hot dogs,
hamburgers, Italian Sausage, Enchiladas and Tacos did not
seem to be a large enough selection although I don't have
any other suggestions and they were generally reasonably
priced. . . .
It was a great event and dots not, as Mr. Williams'
suggests, require hustlers to attract people.
Barbara K. Keating
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