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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 8, 1979)
monday, October 8, 1979 P3Q3 4 dally nebraskan U ackson's alignment with PLO constricts progress The Rev. Jesse Jackson Friday re turned to the United States just in time to glow in the aftermath of the Palestine Liberation Organisations just-announced cease-fire in South ern Lebanon. The careful timing of the cease fire announcement with Jackson's 1 1-day media blitz allows Jackson to qutetly take the credit for the PLOV peace overture. The amount of credit he should take, however, for his so called peace mission is questionable. Despite the cease-fire, Jackson's trip was an enormous failure in many ways. Shortly after Andrew Young's re signation as ambassador to the United States, PLO head Yassir Arafat invited the leaders of the late Martin Luther King's Southern 'Christian Leadership Conference to Lebanon A similar invitation went to Jackson The invitations apparently were isTues to take advantage of black anger over the firing of Young who had Violated the policy which pro hibits the United States from talking with the PLO until it recognizes the right of Israel to exist as a nation. From the start of this trip, Jack son managed to antagonize Israelis. In a Palestinian refugee camp he kissed the babies and hugged the wo men. At another point he was hoist ed on the shoulders of a Palestinian man among cheers of support. He and Arafat were photographed in an embrace. Such scenes, of course, aroused the anger of Israeli and Jewish lead ers in the United States. The anger was heightened when reports came r u -fiiil m vkit narts of Israel uhder seige by the PLO and by his refusal to speak with Israeli residents in several places. And when Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin refused to speak with him, Jackson tried to pin the re fusal to racism saying that Begin s re fusal was a rejection of American blacks, their support and their money. In the end, Jackson called for a re assessment of the U.S. role in the Mideast and a reversal of the policy which prohibits the U.S. from deal ing with the PLO until it recognizes Israel's right to exist as a nation. That is a good point. But it is a point that Jackson did not need to go to Lebanon to make. The firing of Young had already raised the quest ion of the U.S. policy. Already news- oaners and critics across the countrv had called for a reversal of policy. Common sense says that a settle ment in the Mideast is impossible un til the Palestinian question is resolv ed. Such a settlement is much more likely to resolve after negotiations begin rather than as a preliminary to them. But all of this was forgotten in the theatrics of Jackson's trip. By be friending the PLO and insulting Israel he tried to turn the issue of the U.S. policy towards the PLO into an issue of racism, which it is not. And in so doing Jackson managed to anger many persons who had support revising the U.S. policy of no discussion with the PLO. He managed to set back the progress others had made. mm tome PR(BS m m m mwvn rxw i I I ItIt IFsss ".mi- )'" I V 11 H I IV m ysLm n t. at. av e " w ' mm W fP HOIPAP05I7IONOF MRRTANCe IN W 5 CHURCH. 7HR6ft HAIl MARYS, 1 WWW'r-.- k T. V. coverage of papal visit good The visit of Pope John Paul II proved at least one thing to this columnist. There are too many television reporters in the United States. There may be too many reporters, period, but the jury is still out on that one. While watching coverage of the papal visit to this country, I was astounded at the number of different re porters the stations were calling on. Suddenly, every major station had a reporter who was a 'Vatican confi dant" or one who had an exclusive interview with a family who claimed the Pope's visit touched them most out of all Americans. I didn't believe all the experts. I did, however, think the television coverage of the Pope's visits to the United States was handled quite well. It was nice to see television score a few points for a change. I doubt that any one piece of equipment in the history of mankind has been as criticized as much as tele Vision. TELEVISION COULD have bombed out to the ratings if it didnt have the rigjit people reporting the pontiff's Visit. Howard Cosefl, ABC sportscaster said: This pope, this pontiff - is a class individual. Although not the man he was 10 yean ago, he's still able to transmit his message to V learn of 700 minion Roman Catholics. This man's managerial ability is divine. Knowing when to pinchWt for ailing cardinals and knowing how to hit the long ball -tpal style - are just two of his remarkable ittributet.He . is indeed, a man for all to revere as much as myself." Rona Barrett, gossip columnist deluxe said: t)n a scale of one to five, I'd rate John Paul's visit to America at four and a half stars. Close to perfection, but not quite. What held the pope back was his seeming lack of concern for the movie industry. How anyone could visit America with out visiting Hollywood and Burbank is beyond me." 'MEANWHILE, MY sources have learned that John Paul has turned down the lead role in "North Vatican Forty. The story of an ex-professional football player who becomes pope after realizing that Pete Rozelle,NFL commissioner, was not, is not and never would be God, Barrett said. Al McGuire, former Marquette University Basketball coach and now color commentator for NBC: The thing to remember is that the Pope is S9-years-oM. He can't lead the fast break like he used to. His ball handling has been hampered by the long robes he wears. He keeps tripping. Watch for the Pope to try and get an early lead and then concentrate on playing tough defense on the ordination of women priests. He has momentum on his side and remember ... the Pope blesses to his left." Paul Harvey, radio personality said: 'Hello Americans, stand by for Pope news. Page one. Americans are learning that Paul John is a man of warmth and good humor as he traverses from the metropolitan areas in the east to the farmlands of Iowa. But perhaps the wittiest line of the papal visit was spoken by AHen Muse of ADC affiliate KMTV in Omaha. Muse, covering the papal visit in Iowa, noted the long line of people waiting to use the portable toilets at Living History Farms. Muse said, (and I paraphrase), that it was obvious that Paul wasnt the only john these people were wsitingtotce.Goodday. mm A major concern this school year has been the debate over the' Regents' budget request, the tuition increase, and low faculty salaries. I remain confounded by some people's perceptions of the issue. The main point of a Sept. 12 editorial seemed to be that the regents err in asking for a 15 percent increase and that their action will "anger the senators." I agree with James Lake (Sept. 17) in hoping that regents and senators alike do not take action on matters out of malice towards each other, and that the legislature votes on what they feel is best for our state rather than on the basis of any anger they might feel towards some of the regents. The regents are justified in requesting what they feel is needed for the university, and the senators are equally justified in not granting that request. It has been frequently pointed out that our faculty salaries are the second lowest in the Big Eight while our tuition is the second highest. Yet when our faculty tries to unionize in an attempt to raise their salaries, people seem to hope these urges will "dissipate" (Oct. 2 editorial), rather than introduce more "antagonism between the regents and faculty" and cause more "danger to the stu dents." Presumably our faculty is to be placated by the vague realizations by administrators and regents that "faculty input is important" and that "the concept of shared governance by all" is followed. In regards to the tuition increase, I thought it prepost erous that Mr. Cuca asked for a zero percent increase at the Sept. 14 regents meeting, a move that could hardly be seriously considered. Original considerations of a 5 per cent compromise seemed more reasonable. As Shelley Smith stated (Aug. 30), "Some increase can be warranted because of the economy's decline, and 5 percent should cause only minor cuts in the education market." On Sept. 27 she stated that University areas can't be cut and tuition can't be raised again in order for UNL to remain a viable educational institution. Face it-areas will have to be cut in the future and tuition has to be raised-eventually. What matters is what is cut and what our tuition is fund ing. I encourage the proposed study of where our dollars are going at UNL and I also encourage lobbying against the budget increase if we feel it is unwarranted, despite Ms. Smith's warnings (Sept. 27) that the regents will Con sider the lobbying effort a form of revenue,' and that it will inevitably increase tension between students and regents. She stated that it would make them aware of stu dent power but it's not the power play we should make. May I ask in what manner we should make our power felt? We have to quit pussy-footing around and acting like our regents and legislators act only out of anger, revenge and gut reactions and meet them face to face with collect ed, forceful arguments and organized lobbying efforts. I don't understand why some people will urge students to stand up and fight yet will hedge when things threaten to produce beyond rhetoric. Students need to not only take stands on issues, but to take action. Of course tact and diplomacy are needed. I'm not suggesting that we pluck the whole chicken, but we should ruffle some feathers. Diane Walkowiak Senior, Teacher's College The Daily Nebraskan welcomes letters to the editor md guest opinions. Timeliness, clarity of writings and Driginality are considered when selecting material for jublkation. Material should be typed if possible and submitted ivith the writer's name, class standing, academic major sr occupation, address and phone number.
