thursday, September 18, 1980
pago4
daily nebraskan
U.S. needs one, credible voice in foreign policy
During the weekend and earlier
this week, the American hostages in
Iran became page one news again.
The Ayatollah Khomeini had de
manded several things from the Unit
ed States, including freeing of frozen
assets and return of the dead shah's
assets in exchange for the hostages.
He did not demand an apology.
That, of course, didn't mean he
doesn't want one.
It was reported that the Iranian
parliament would begin debate on
the hostages Tuesday. Hopes soar
ed. President Carter Monday said
"finally" a resolution of the crisis
might be near.
But the parliament delayed the
long-awaited debate, instead forming
a committee to discuss the matter
before it is brought to the full parliament.
And Secretary of State Edmund
Muskie, responding to Carter's state
ment, said information from Iran
might signal an end to the crisis, but
then again "it might not."
Meanwhile, the hostages families,
those who have suffered the most
through the last 10 months, sent a
letter offering to serve as a bridge in
negotiations; offering to meet with
Iranian officials.
Normally, private citizens do not
carry on diplomacy for the United
States. The families' suggestions is
ludicrous.
But also not constructive is the
ballet between Carter and Ronald
Reagan. Reagan says he would give
in to the demands, at least for the
most part. Carter charges electioneering.
Both candidates have shown their
willingness to use the hostages as
pawns in seeking votes, Reagan with
the above statement and Carter con
tradicting his secretary of state.
Charges in this country against
Iran are that negotiations for the
hostages' release have been slow be
cause Iran is not organized that
there is not one voice for Iranian
policy.
Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, the
hostage families, Edmund Muskie,
Dick Gregory . . . which one repre
sents the voice of American foreign
policy? The hostage crisis has illu
strated a fundamental weakness of
the Carter administration; the lack of
a credible voice in foreign policy.
That is not to say that this news
paper thinks Ronald Reagan's voice
would be any better (or even as
good). However, Carter overruled
Cyrus Vance and subverted hjs
efforts to free the hostages.
Now Muskie, who has been fairly
successful is quieting the issue, faces
the same problem.
Muskie, not running for president,
wants to move prudently. Carter!
seeking re-election, wants the host
ages back. The families, who cure
most about their loved ones, want
them back, whatever the cost to
American foreign policy.
We believe Muskie is a capable
statesman. However desperate Carter
is to regain the hostages, he should
let his secretary be the voice for
America. So should the families and
everyone else.
Scalpers hoard tickets with cruelty
but only until underprivileged pass by
yjNrc 6 ftfes editor
UNL has created its own system of haves and have nots
in Nebraska. Thanks to the quality of UNL's football pro
gram and the size of Memorial Stadium, a growing number
of Nebraska citizens cannot - heaven forbid - attend a
football game.
SUJuitoSii
One can try to ignore this underprivileged class and try
to ignore their plight. But it's not easy. They're every
where. They're standing outside Memorial Stadium, with
.lazed eyes and sullen faces, begging to be scalped to
pay $125 for a ticket not worth a 10th of that amount.
One can't even read the personals in the Daily Ne
i raskan without being reminded of the senseless cruelty
v e inflict upon our fellow man.
Some of my friends, bless their hearts, have tried to
1 elp these poor unfortunate beggars. Risking strict en
forcement of the law that prohibits the sale of student
ti' kets to other students or individuals, these brave souls
venture forward, trying 'to scalp the less fortunate for
every penny they can get.
Others, even mo-e "ou'agous, stand outside Memorial
Stadium on Saturday mornings. Like good Samaritans,
they wait, only until a "have not" sends a wanting glance
his way, then fleeces him until he shivers.
It's not hard to understand the need of these poor
souls who so desperately want to witness a football game.
Where else can a person spend a fortune to watch the
Huskers put the game away in the first half? Where else
can people be packed into seats designed for children -very
small children? Where else can a person be scalped
twice; once for the ticket and once for the hot dog and
souvenirs for sale inside?
The experience is so uplifting. I sat beside the guy who
went barhopping all morning, silently wishing he'd
breathe in another direction. 1 constantly remind the fat
lady in front to sit down and take off her ridiculous red
hat. These experiences cannot simply be told. One must
be there.
No, it's not hard to see why we have this underprivileg
ed class in Nebraska. The problem is what to do with
them. It's easy to blame the NU Board of Regents, but
they did try to get money to enlarge the stadium - or at
least talked about it.
The Nebraska Legislature, stingy as it is, would be an
easy target, but many of them know little else but Big
Red Football. So they must be sympathetic.
The real blame lies with the ticket holders themselves.
Those godless heathens who hoard their tickets like gold
coins. Those unmerciless barbarians who strut past the un
fortunate near Memorial Stadium and think gleefully to
themselves: "Let them attend track meets!" '
These are the ones who must be held accountable for
the plight of our unfortunate. These are the ones who
must pay. Take away their tickets and hold public raffles.
It's the only course, for a civilized society. And we are
civilized . . . aren't we?
Having decided to exercise my right, I would like to
say that which is on my mind before the by-laws of this
university specify otherwise; which, I may add, may be all
too soon.
As a student who has been in conflict with this univer
sity in the past concerning freedom of speech and expres
sion, I find it disheartening and totally unacceptable to
see the "Central Committee" threatening the rights of
even more students from the power seat of Regents Hall.
The "do it right, do it my way" attitude looms over
the heads of the employees and now may overshadow the
student and the free publication of UNL.
A restructuring of the Publications Board would neces
sarily entail the positioning of puppets who will either be
of the same views as the regents or who will be weak
enough to need the job but fear losing it.
Although these puppets would not exercise prior re
straint in publications per se, it would be very easy to
stress one area in news and give less importance to others,
pass this decision to UNL publications' staff and thereby
effectively suppress areas dealing with topics the regents
think would be "better left alone," After all, what we
don't know can't hurt us, could it?
It is too bad that the regents get no praise for their
truly progressive policies such as visitation in the dorms
and the policy on religion. Acknowledged, they do some
good; not all which comes down from the tower of power
is intended to handcuff the student bearing the facade of
"it is, for your own good."
Continued on Page 5
6 Just Plain Jimmy ' sticks by his old promises
Good morning shut-ins. It's time for another episode of
"Just Plains Folks," the heartwarming saga of a little
nuclear peanut farmer and his struggle to bring us a
government "just as good and decent and full of love as
the American people." Again.
UPSP 144-080
Editor in chief: Randy Essex; Managing editor: Bob Lannin;
Newt editor: Barb Richardson; Associate news editor: Kathy
Chenault; Assistant news editor: Gordon Johnson, Tom Prentiss;
Assistant night news editor: Okonkwo Ifejika; Entertainment
editor: Casey McCabe; Sports editor: Shelley Smith; Photography
Chief: Mark Billingsley; Art director: David Luebke; Magazine
editor: Diane Andersen.
Copy editors: Sue Brown, Nancy Ellis, Maureen Hutfless, Lori
McGinnis, Tom McNeil, Jeanne Mohatt, Lisa Paulson, Kathy
Sjulin, Kent Warneke, Patricia Waters.
Business manager: Anne Shank; Production manager: Kitty
Policky Advertising manager: Art Small; Assistant advertising
manager: Jeff Pike.
Publications Board chairman: Mark Bowen, 475-1081. Pro
fessional adviser: Don Walton, 4737301.
" "The Daily Nebraskan is published by the UNL Publications
Board Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semes
ters, except during vacations.
Address: Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 14th and R
streets. Lincoln. Neb,. 68588. Telephone: 472-2588.
Material may be reprinted without permission if attributed to
the Daily Nebraskan. except material covered by a copyright.
Second class postage paid at Lincoln, Neb., 68510.
As we join Just Plain Jimmy today he's seated behind
his desk in the Oval Office staring thoughtfully at a large
somewhat dusty cardboard box. That's his attractive wife,
Just Plain Rosalynn, entering with a cup of Ovaltine!
Rosalynn: Really, Jimmy, you should get some rest.
I'm sure you'll think up some way to appeal to the voters.
Sooner or later.
Jimmy: Rosalynn, it just came to me. I'm going to
promise them to cut taxes, whip inflation and unemploy
ment and balance the budget.
Rosalynn: That's nice, dear. But aren't you afraid folks
will say you stole those promises from Ronnie Reagan?
Jimmy: I most certainly did not! He stole them from
me. And here's the proof. (He opens the box. A flock of
moths flutter out through a cloud of dust.)
Rosalynn: My land! What's in there?
Jimmy: All my 1976 campaign promises. And they're
just as gocd as new. Listen to this one: If elected, I will
bring our American boys home from Korea.
Rosalynn: That's still a fine promise, all right.
Jimmy: Thank you. Then I'm really going to hit hard
on my promise to "put people back to work" in the inner
cities and balance the budget "before this next term is
over." More important is my promise to lick the 4.8 per
cent inflation rate that is "quietly robbing our people."
Rosalynn: Yes, that promise is about three times more
important today. And what about cutting $5 billion from
the defense budget?
Jimmy: llmmm. Let's forget that one. But there's no
reason I can't still promise to reduce the proliferation of
nuclear weapons and "take the first step toward the ulti
mate goal of nuclear disarmament."
Rosalynn: There certainly isn't. But are you sure,
Jimmy, that you can out-promise Ronnie Reagan?
Jimmy: No doubt about it. It's a question of experi
ence. Do you realize that Ronnie has never once in his life
promjsed to balance a federal budget or curb inflation?
What's he know about promising such things?
I'll be making the same promises in this campaign that
I did in 1976. The voters are bound to admire a man who
sticks by his promises.
(Copyright Chronicle Publishing Co. 19801
