page 4
.
Student's concerns
surprise editor
This semester, for the Daily Nebraskan editor,
has been interesting, to say the least. With only
three opportunities to provide what one letter
writer called a "daily sermon," this slightly self
indulgent editorial is about the editor's percep
tions of the UNL City Campus after three-and-a-half
years.
The editor discovered this semester what seems
to be the things students here care about most.
Abortion and (iod, and in that order. For a while
it seemed to be football, but judging from the
letters this semester, that initial impression was
wrong.
There is a wish here that students would be
come more involved in their own governing
bodies and in lobbying the state for the money
this institution needs; but at least the student
body cares about something, which is far superior
to apathy.
Before this semester, the editor underestimated
the degree of conservatism on campu .. There is
good reason to believe that many sti dent were
caught up in the country's rapid swing to the
right during the last year, and that the campus has
become substantially more conservative in that
time.
Even though the author of this editorial has
and does strongly disagree with the principles of
conservatism, for reasons stated throughout the
semester, it is hoped that whether a person is
liberal, or conservative or moderate, that they
take the time to figure out why.
A distressing fact on this campus is that many
students' politics on both ends of the political
spectrum are guided by dogma rather than
reason, and that critical thought is all too
precious and refreshing a commodity among stu
dents in regard to politics.
The faculty during the last three years has been
very impressive in its dedication to academics
even in political situations and in its concern for
the student body. Besides the friends a student
makes during a college career, the UNL faculty is
a shining light that is not easily forgotten.
If only the regents would realize that the
faculty and students are their most valuable asset
in formulating policy for this university.
There are some very good, sincere administra
tors on this campus and across the NU system. It
is hoped the regents can make conditions (other
than financial) nice enough for them to stay and
keep helping students.
On a purely personal level, the editor admits he
has a great deal of good feeling about this univer
sity, despite the sour grapes and final barbs found
above. Maybe he took college life and college
journalism too seriously, but that seemed better
than remaining ignorant of the things going on
around all students.
I'm writing in regard to Kirk Cameron's guest opinion
in the Dec. 3 Daily Nebraskan. Cameron makes the startl
ing conclusion (at least to me) that the United States' best
answer to the Soviet Union's powerful nuclear threat is
through total disarmament; the Soviets, according to
Cameron, would be unlikely to dare to attack the United
States if it disarmed itself.
April 14, 1865. Abraham Lincoln is watching the play
"Our American Cousin" at The Ford Theater. Suddenly,
John Wilkes Booth, an actor, makes a decidedly off-cue
appearance to Lincoln's private box and aims a pistol at
the President's face. Lincoln whispers, "Be reasonable,
John. I'm unarmed."
"By golly, so you are," said Booth, who proceeded to
jump off the stage and break his leg as the President settl
ed back to enjoy the remainder of the play.
August 6, 1945. The B-29 "Enola Gay" flies over Hiro
shima, Japan, carrying the first atomic bomb to be used in
warfare. Just before the bomb is released, the pilot of the
Enola Gay is altered that he Japanese are hopelessly un
armed. In response, he flies back home, disgruntled and
bewildered at the Japanese strategy.
It's always best to disarm when confronted, isn't it?
Tom Shelton
Freshman, Journalism
Continued on Page 5
"You may say I'm a dreamer
BuHtanot-Jhe Only one
1 hope sorrccfy ftiM join us
And toe world will be as one
mo -1980
Pro-choice gives new direction
"After the Christian majority takes control, pluralism
w ill he seen as immoral and evil and The State will not
permit anybody the riitht to practice evil. "
So who wants evil? The trick is defining it. According
to those words by Gary Potter, president of the Catholics
for Christian Political Action, and other Moral Majority
leaders, "evil" includes not practicing prayer in public
schools, not discriminating against homosexuality, pre
marital sex, communal living, sex education and the l.RA
because it "ridicules the historical role of the woman as a
faithful housewife and mother."
headrick
These ideas and more are from Jerry l-'alwell's Mnetv
l ive Theses I or the 'ASVAv. which begins: "I. That the
concept of government itself, like that of marriage, is an
institution divinely ordained by God."
Who can argue with that kind of logic? I alwell. a Moral
Majority organier and spokesman, believes he has a
"divine mandate to go right into the halls of Congress and
fight for laws that will save America."
Fine, we all want to save America, but somewhere
along the line I thought the Bill of Rights and concepts
like civil liberties, vague notions about a free marketplace
of ideas and freedom of expression were part of w hat the
United States is supposed to be all about.
Talwell is, if nothing else, a smart salesman, who is
aware of this type of criticism leveled against the Moral
Majority. He denies that his !o!!overs want a Christian
republic and. he insists they're only exercising their rights
to speak and act on what they believe under the laws of
this land.
The far right tried to organize behind Barry Goldwater
in 1964 and failed. Bill Brock, Republican party chair
man, began organizing various right-wing groups in 1976
to get politicians elected on both state and national levels.
The Christian Voice published "The Congressional
Report Card - How Your Congressman Voted on 14 Key
Moral Issues," and l alwell published the "Christian Bill
of Rights."
In aligning the new right religious groups with ncu
right politicians, the concepts of freedom and liberty hae
become somehow confused with godlessness and sin. By
using words like pro-Christian, pro-life, pro-family, etc..
the Moral Majority has set anyone up who's pro-pluralism
to be Public I nemy Nik I .
In a recent Play hoy aiticle. a histoiic meeting is de
scribed. The meeting look place Dec. K l()?N. and
marked the organiation of key new right leaders to
draft a bill into Congress. The result was Sen. Paul
l.axalt's (R-Nev.. and a Reagan campaign advisor) I ainiK
Protection Act.
The act. introduced to the Senate in June l7l) and to
the House in May of lM) by Ren. Robert Bauman of
Maryland, calls for the denial of ft oral funds to schools,
labor groups and otheis who disagree with the Moial
Majoiity and funding those who agree. In shoil. it's a w;u
ol restricting alternative opinions through law .
This is not an "I N-or-Them" proposition, it's delinitck
not a Liberal vs. Conservative one it goes much deepei.
The far right's slur campaigns and successful politic. .1 i n
geting threatens the freedom of a vast majority of Amen
cans. Continued on Page 5
nebraskan
UPSP 144-080
Editor in chief: Randy Essex; Managing editor: Bob Lannm;
News editor: Barb Richardson. Associate news editor: Kathy
Cnenault, Assistant news editors: Tom Prentiss and Shelley Smith.
Night news editors: Sue Brown, Nancy Ellis. Bill Graf; East Cam
pus Bureau Chief: j,m Garret. Assistant night news editor: Ifej.ka
UKonkwo, Entertainment editor: Casey McCabe; Sports editor
bhelley Smith; Photography chief: Mark B.llingsley; Art director
David Luebke; Magazine editor Diane Andersen.
Copy editors: Sue Brown. Nancy Ellis. Maureen Hutfless. Lori
MflcGmnis. Tom McNeil. Jeanne Mohatt. Lisa Paulson. Kathy
Siulin. Kent Warneke. Patricia Waters.
Business manager: Anne Shank; Production manager: Kitty
KOiicky; Adverting manager Art Small; Assistant advertising
manager: Jeff Pike.
Publications Board chairman Mark Bowen. 475 1081. Pro
tessional adviser: Don Walton. 473-7301.
q e.Da,,V Nebraskan s Published by the UNL Publications
board Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semes
ters, except during vacations.
rtrl6" Pa,'V Nebran. 34 Nebraska Union. 14th and R
M i , Neb '6S588- Telephone: 472-2588.
th A i"3 be rePr,n'ed without permission if attributed to
me uaiiy Nebraskan. except material covered by a copyright.
Jecond class postage pa.d at Lincoln. Neb. 68510.
