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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 2, 1983)
Daily Nebraskan Wednesday, February 2, 1933 it3 n 0 n n ILUJU ILOU UcSJ p , :.-..Mi;-.:1..1 1 .! - on'iieraoima s no o p n QfO) ou uime iiofO) u y mmay somik Solevemi's shop People in the public eye have been known to make outrageous statements. Sometimes it's done intentionally, read verbatim from a prepared statement, utter ed for sheer public attention and potential shock value. Other times these statements slip out unintentially. Many public figures have suf fered embarrassment as these are recorded in the archives. For example, consider the following political "great slips of tongue" spoken by Americans recently or currently in office (from "The Book of Lists II"): 1. "The United States has much to of fer the Third World War." (Ronald ' Reagan, speaking in 1975 on Third World countries; he repeated the er ror nine times.) 2. "Thank you, Governor Evidence." (President Richard Nixon, referring to Washington Gov. Dan Evans in a speech during the Watergate scandal in 1974.) 3. "That is a discredited president." (President Richard Nixon, meaning a discredited precedent, in a speech during the Watergate scandal in 1974.) 4. "I hope that Spiro Agnew will be completely exonerated and found guilty of the charges against him." (John Connally, attempting to de fend the scandal-plagued vice presi dent in a speech in 1973.) 5. "My heart is black as yours." (Mario Procaccino, Democratic candidate for mayor of New York, addressing a group of black voters in 1969.) We can all chuckle at these ludicrous remarks, whatever truth they might have held. But it's no laughing matter when a public figure delivers a statement with the intention of bringing ills upon others in au thority. The Rev. Everett Sileven, upon his re lease from the Cass County Jail Monday, urged God to prevent government officials' interference with the Faith Baptist Church by "converting them, restraining them, re moving them or killing them . . . With this I commit the Faith Baptist Church and all its ministries into the hands of God and call on Him to honor His word." This from a man who professes to be "holy," a Christian, a purveyor of what is good and right. Sileven had the right to make a bold statement that would draw publicity, but he only hurts his cause with statements sure to bring adverse publicity. He served his four-month jail term for operating his school in Louisville without certified teach ers. This went against Nebraska law, and led to Sileven's jailing three times last year after he refused to keep the school closed. If he intends to continue preaching in his school, if he wants to see it reopened, iff I W CODSsD I A WW U he's not doing himself or his followers any schools conflict." favors by such offensive remarks. Sileven will speak at public hearings this week on Sileven has shown us little evidence bills "designed to resolve the Christian that he is capable, or willing, to do so. Letters . : - Pro-life movement is insensitive to poor Some of the people who the Pro-Life people somehow forgot to mourn were the countless women who died from unsafe abortions before legalized abortions, and the unwanted and unloved children who are dying a slow and cruel death because the poor are no longer able to receive medical assistance from the government. The only people who can't receive abortions in this country are the poor. It amazes me how the rich and edu cated are so insensitive to the poor and less fortunate. Their campaign against freedom of choice is actually a campaign against the poor. The poor are not allowed to have safe abortions while it has no effect on those who have the economic means. It also angers me that "political leaders" would use that rally for cheap easy political gains based on local popular opinion. These are the same people who are try ing to eliminate family planning centers, inform the parents of minors about the minor's use of contraceptive devices. What we should mourn are the unfair backward steps we are taking at the expense of the politically weak. Rockford G. Yapp third year, medical student Free to stay or go In response to the letter, "Foreign film 'disgusting'; viewers need warning" (Daily Nebraskan, Feb. 1), I think it should be noted that the question of pornography is a question of value judgments and personal tastes, and that any issue concerning morality and taste is undoubtedly going to be acceptable to some and unacceptable to others. This is a basic consequence of individuality. It should also be noteji that the Sheldon Film Theatre is run by competent and art-minded individuals concerned with offering the public an alternative to the conventions and limitations of commercial entertainment. This in evitably involves a certain amount of risk, particularly since the commercial mass media subliminally creates and establishes popular taste. In light of the probable controversy concerning the film, "Taxi Zum Klo" (which, by the way, means "taxi to the toilet"), an announcement was made prior to the showing to warn the audience of the graphic nature of the film. Perhaps this was an "understatement," although I see no way to fully get the point across without being accused of verbal pornography in the process. The main point is that the audience was reminded of its freedom to leave during the film and anyone who de cides to remain to watch the entire film, whether in trigued, curious or offended, has no right to blame the filmmaker or the institution which shows it. Michelle Piranio senior, french Students call for action on crossing problem In response to Kent DeJong's letter about the train situation near the Harper-Schramm-Smith residence halls (Daily Nebraskan, Jan. 31), we don't feel that the train problem has ben solved. We both live in Schramm and frequently have to wait for the trains which make us late for class. The situation has improved, but a perma nent solution has yet to be worked out. We feel that an overpass is necessary for the times that the trains block 14th Street at length. We have instructors, and we're sure others do too, who tell us that if we're late to class, don't bother to come in at all. Trains often block 14th Street for more than nine minutes, then move a few feet and block it again. They occasionally block it for nearly 10 minutes and then uncouple the cars to let people pass, but it still makes students late. We feel that the Action Party is on the right track in pursuing this issue until a permanent solution is devised and enacted. Lisa L. La Violette sophomore, Teachers College Heidi J. Burklund freshman, Teachers College Harper-Schramm-Smith Government, RHA representative Starkweather execution payment of debt in full The following is a brief commentary concerning the recent three-part series on Starkweather (Daily Nebraskan Jan. 26-28). For what length of time are we morally bound to make compensation for a wrong committed 25 years ago? According to the State Law of Nebraska, that debt owed was paid in full when Charles Starkweather was executed. The original claim for compensation erodes with each generation, especially when the compensation has been rendered in full. At this time I feel the issue ceases to be a current, valid grievance and becomes simply a part of history, a record of past grievances. - Jane Fisher UNL Employee NsfcraMcan EDITOR Margie Honz GENERAL MANAGER Daniel M. Shattil ADVERTISING MANAGER Jerry Scott iiwLsuvsllvjIM IVIANAotri Kitty Policky vimimmuiiihj CUI I Uri NEWS EDITOR GRAPHICS EDITOR NIGHT NEWS EDITOR ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR ART DIRECTOR PHnm ruicc , ,., UMILY NEBRASKAN (USPS 144-080) IS PUB LISHED BY THE UNL PUBLICATIONS BOARD MON 9. THRUGH FRIDAY DURING THE FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS, EXCEPT DURING VACATIONS. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO THE 21k? NBASKAN. RM. 34 NEBRASKA UNION. 8C5- SUBSCRIPTIONS: S13SEMESTER. $25YEAR. o0CRNJi CLASS pOSTAGE PAID AT LINCOLN. NE on ASK A. ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 1983DAILY NEBRASKAN Michiela Thuman Sue Jepsen John G. Goecke David Wood Patty Pryor Bob Asmussen David Luebke Dave Bentz
