Friday, July 5, 1985
Page 4
The Nebraskan
'Editorial-
Legalization of
lotteries is a
creative solution
Nebraska Attorney General Robert Spire's
opinion on the legality of lotteries seems
to have quickly stifled the rumblings of
legalized gambling in the state of Nebraska. But
the people of the state should remember Spire's
opinion is just that opinion, not law.
Spire said lotteries that generate $1,000 or
more during a 24-hour period are illegal. Only
non-profit groups are allowed to conduct lotteries.
As the top law enforcement officer in the
state, Spire's opinion will carry weight with the
courts should the issue get that far. But the issue
is still not settled.
The law had previously been interpreted by
Assistant Nebraska Attorney General Mel Kam
merlohr as allowing casino-type gambling as
legal lotteries when operated by non-profit
groups but not allowing video slot machines. The
State Department of Revenue later said non
profit groups may hold such lotteries as long as
any one pot or hand did not exceed $1,000.
Last week the non-profit Freedom Park Greater
Omaha Military Historic Society began sponsor
ing black jack and craps gambling and The
Orthodox Monastery of Archangels in Lincoln
made plans to do the same.
Jack Karstens of Freedom Park said his opera
tion could not stay in business if it were limited
to $1,000 per night because of start-up costs and
equipment rentals.
The Nebraskan believes non-profit groups and
the state should be allowed to run casino-type
gambling and lotteries, including blackjack. The
activities can be used as fund-raisers and the
proceeds can benefit the public. A state with
such financial problems should not be afraid to
use creative solutions such as ticket lotteries to
raise funds.
Lotteries and casino-type gambling are not
necessarily a degenerate activity. They will not
necessarily contribute to societies' problems.
One of the objections against lotteries is that
citizens prone to addiction to gambling will be
tempted. If we are to outlaw every temptation in
our society, why is alcohol legal when it may
tempt potential alcoholics?
Another objection is that the lotteries would
be a thinly-disguised tax on the poor because
they would be the ones most likely to partici-
fate. No one would be forced to spend money,
reedom of choice still exists and there are
already other forms of gambling readily available
in Nebraska. Allowing horseracing, especially
the Pic-Six race at Ak-Sar-Ben, and Bingo while
outlawing lotteries is a double-standard. Allow
ing casino-type gambling and lotteries by non
profit organizations is far from turning Lincoln
or any other Nebraska city into a Las Vegas, Jr. It
is simply one more form of fund-raising and one
more form of gambling in a state in which both
already exist.
I r
S - A ... tn a 14 I
V
o o
W sure the apatoetke0
Entertainment not humanity aids the starving
I bought "The Making of We Are the World"
videocassette partly to aid starving Africans,
but mostly because I wanted to see all those
music stars in one place and have a copy of the
song's video.
That's a pretty tough confession to make since
most buyers of the USA for Africa's single, album
and now videocassette would lead you to believe
that their sole purpose for the purchase was to
aid the starving millions in Ethiopia.
rs
Bill
Allen
ifmTMli m nVTf "VlrMh Jfcaasfea&:,Jc III III II I I i m t. i-i
Nefajffekan
EDITOR
GENERAL MANAGER
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CHAIRPERSON
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I was under the impression that it was the
reason I bought the video until I was really
honest with myself.
For instance, for years I and the rest of Amer
ica have seen Sally Struthers and others begging
for dollars for CARE or other organizations that
would send the money to Africa. Yet, never did I
slip off the couch and pledge money.
I simply didn't care. I don't mean that to be as
caustic as it sounds, but in the simplest possible
terms that is the fact. My apathy is shared by
millions of other Americans, many of whom did
buy the USA for Africa single, album or video.
"It says something about our culture and prior
ities, I would think, that it took the likes of
Lionel Richie and Cyndi Lauper to spur people
into spending a few dollars to keep people alive.
It says even more if you come to the realiza
tion, like I did, that your motivation was more in
the way of personal entertainment than any
higher, more humanistic motivation.
This is definitely not in any way criticizing the
efforts of the music artists who gave their time
and talent to call mass attention to the plight of
millions of fellow humans. In all, 45 of the big
gest names in rock and pop music combined
their egos and talents in a unified and unselfish
production. Thousands of radio and TV stations
joined in the effort and some $50 million has
been raised so far.
All of a sudden the whole country, especially
the teenage "uninvolved" group, caught onto the
fad.
Did I say fad? Did I imply that this interest in
the starving millions in Africa was but a passing
phenomenon that will fade away as soon as the
next proverbial Hula-hoop comes along?
In this month's Rolling Stone magazine the
single has dropped out of the Top 10 and the
album has dropped to number five in sales. And I
haven't heard very much about the starving in
Africa from the younger set. All I hear is
Madonna this and Madonna that. I don't even
remember her being in the 'We Are the World"
video. And where was Slim Whitman?
The only place I do hear about the starving
Ethiopians is in the newspapers, the one place
you can be assured that most 14-year-olds won't
read it.
Also, I read in the newspaper that the $50
million earned by the USA for Africa group will
do very little to alleviate world hunger.
The reality of it is that it would take years of
concentrated effort and support by everyone on
earth to supply food and self-sufficiency methods
to the starving millions in the world.
"We Are the World" was a beautiful humanit
arian effort that deserves some praise, but I'm
not sure it wasn't more of a statement than an
effort with lasting effects.
Toward the end of "The Making..." video Lio
nel Richie pleads with people to keep giving, to
keep the awareness, and to keep caring until the
hunger problem has been solved and there are no
more starving people in the world.
The sad thing is that Richie is mainly talking
to the most fickle age group known to mankind
and possibly the most apathetic nation of
people.
The United States government sends more
overseas aid to other countries than any other
nation in the world, but I'd bet that the majority
of people don't know that, or care.
Hitler was responsible for the deaths of six
million Jews. Every year that many people die of
starvation. Who is responsible for them?
I enjoyed watching the video. My wife loves it.
But eventually it'll probably sit over by the old
albums I have and hardly ever listen to.
I feel guilty that it wasn't really an overbear
ing desire to help starving people that prompted
me to buy the video. It was short-lived enter
tainment. Sure, it was a warm feeling knowing I
might be doing a small part, but that wasn't my
primary motivation. And I'm sure I'm not alone.
The real test, of course, will be the next time
Sally Struthers comes on TV late at night, a
starving baby in her arms, tears in her eyes and
asks for money for CARE.
When I slip off the couch and pick up the
phone will it be to pledge money or order a
Domino's pizza to add to my already portentous
girth?
That will be the real test of "We Are the
World," and whether I pass or fail that test, many
starving people won't.
artier
Letters
Editorial
Policy
Unsigned editorials represent official policy
of The Nebraskan, summer 1985 edition of the
Daily Nebraskan. Policy is set by The Nebraskan
Editorial Board. Its members are Stacie Thomas,
editor in chief; Gene Gentrup, news editor, Kat
hleen Green, associate news editor; Sandi Stuewe,
advertising manager, Mary Hupf, assistant ad
vertising manager; and Jim Rogers, editorial
columnist.
Nursing student praises
quality of Linmlnprogram
I am writing concerning the proposed closing
of the Lincoln division of the College of Nursing.
I graduated from the Lincoln division with my
associate degree last May. I am also currently
enrolled in the baccalaureate program, to con
tinue my education in nursing.
I decided to study nursing while I was already
an undergrad at UNL When I made my decision
to become a nurse, I checked out the area facili
ties and Lincoln was, by far, my first choice. I
chose the Lincoln division over Omaha because
it offered an all around university education type
setting. I have thoroughly enjoyed and benefit
ted by living on the UNL campus. A campus
atmosphere not only allows for education growth
but also provides a means for personal growth
and maturation.
Another aspect of the Lincoln division that
attracted me was the class size. It offers smaller
classes than the Omaha facility, and the student
to clinical ratio is 8 to 1. This allows for a more
personalized education that has given me great
satisfaction as a student.
If the Lincoln division of nursing is allocated
to close, it would not only affect me personally,
but also affect many of those who plan to begin
their education in nursing, and would like to do
so in Lincoln. In order to obtain a university
education in nursing, these people would have to
commute to or relocate in Omaha. For many
people this move may not be possible due to
financial reasons or family commitments. They
wouia also be denied that beneficial campus
environment. This same problem will be faced by
those working nurses who wish to or must con
tinue their education.
I realize that money is short and that there are
many difficult decisions involved in balancing
the budget, but eliminating whole programs or
divisions seems to be a drastic step. Nursing is a
respected profession that is continuing to grow
and expand. It is predicted that the need for
nurses will increase 40 to 47 percent by 1990,
and the University of Nebraska should be pre
pared to meet that need.
I am proud to say that I graduated from the
Lincoln division of nursing and I believe that
others should have the chance to do so too.
Lisa Gentes
Bellevue, Nebraska
