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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 23, 1986)
Wednesday, April 23, 1986 Page 4 Daily Nebraskan o tOltiCOOSIJ 3 tullU.-.T-HT I" TUT ' 1 -I- - - 1 I " Nebrayskan University of Nebraska-Lincoln U.S. should change policy As tensions mount over the Libya bombing, U.S. officials should monitor carefully the reactions of Middle Eastern countries. Relations with those countries already are rocky because of U.S. support for Israel. A home was needed for Jews, who have been persecuted throughout history. But the 4,000 Palestinians who were displaced, many who are now refugees throughout neighboring countries, also deserve a homeland. Before 1967, Jews and Arabs shared the area, which was div ided so the Palestinians remained on the West Bank of Jordan. Both groups have ancient roots in the Holy Land and have suf fered exile. Their historical roots and common problems should have helped them live together peacefully. But as tensions grew between t he two groups, many Palestinians were forced to leave the West Bank, settling in now-permanent refugee camps. Palestinians who remain on the West Bank complain of second-class citizen status, say ing they are denied the right to vote and to fresh water. The Israelis insist that the entire West Bank is theirs, and oppose Palestinians on the West Bank because they would threaten Israeli security. A home must be found for the Palestinians. And to find one, Palestinians and Jews must cooperate. The Israelis should withdraw to the pre-1967 borders and return the West Bank to the Palestinians. Palestinians also should be given Doiisir sens Respect for Legislature increased All in all, this year's recently ended legislative session can't help but increase re spect for the Legislature. Time and time again, legis lators made tough decisions, rather than simply delaying them. They are to be congratulated. This session had several high points. The most notable was the Legislature's significant move toward fiscal responsibility. Rais ing taxes in an election year, despite the opposition of an outspoken governor, takes cour age. But the Legislature bit the budget bullet, planned ahead and voted to increase the sales tax by half a cent. Part of the need for the tax increase came from the 3 percent increase in state employee salar ies. State employees haven't re ceived a raise for several years, and an increase was long overdue. This problem especially affect ed the university. Many tenured professors are looking for jobs with other universities that offer better pay and benefits. The 3 percent increase should be look ed upon only as a meager beginning; much more is needed Vicki Ruhga, Editor, WJ7C( Thorn (Jahrukiewicz, Manayitif Editor Ad IIihIUt, Editorial I'atjc Editor ,!im Honors, Editorial '' Editor Chris Wt'lsch, Copy Desk Chirf mil wair H full status, not deprived of voting rights or water. The Palestinians, in turn, should recognize the right of Israel to exist. To help bring about this change, the United States should aban don its consistently pro-Israel stance and acknowledge that both groups have a right to the same land and the same civil rights. A strong U.S. statement would help ease tensions with Middle Eastern countries, such as Libya, that resent the current U.S. stance. President Reagan and his administrators should take the first step in helping to resolve the Palestine-Israel conflict. Because of a powerful American Jewish lobby, it's unlikely that Congress will lead the way. Former President Jimmy Car ter tried to help solve the con flict with the 1979 Camp David Peace Accords, which would have forced Israeli military forces partially out of the West Bank area and imposed a freeze on Israeli settlements there. But the treaty, signed by Egypt, Israel and Jordan, has gone unheeded. The number of Israeli settlements in the West Bank continues to increase, and Pal estinians remain in refugee camps. Instead of dropping bombs on countries such as Libya, which violently disagrees with U.S. philosophies and policies, Rea gan could work toward peace by finding a solution to the long standing Palestinian problem, which is at the root of most Mid dle East conflicts. simply to avoid falling further behind other institutions. Another law that particularly affects the university is the limitation placed upon National Guard tuition benefits. Although the 75 percent waiver was sub stantially maintained intact, a : limit was placed upon the number of those able to receive it and the benefit will now be limited to undergraduate students only. In other action, the Legislature voted to increase the speed limit in Nebraska to 75 mph by fall 1987. This action was taken in spite of federal threats to cut federal highway money to states with speed limits greater than 55 mph. The bill was later vetoed. Also, the Legislature voted to give primary control over liquor license approvals to local com munities rather than leaving it with the state liquor commission. A number of other actions of importance too numerous to mention were taken. It's been one of the most productive ses sions in recent memory. And given the large number of diffi cult decisions facing the Legis lature, that achievement was no little matter. FRENCH FLAG FRENCH WINE Insekt flees amid Somes of love Rejoice! Triumph avoided in a trice and gore as well In the early reaches of the present semester, I stepped toward the Doorway; my steps faltered as I approached. As yet unknown to me, I was to encounter something else and myself. Above the Doorway, scrawled as if by a twisted hand, was a quotation: "Through me you enter the Woeful city, Through me you enter eternal grief, Through me you enter among the lost. Abandon every hope, you who enter." I took one last deep breath of the chilled night air and pushed my way through the Door. Immediately, woeful, mournful cries of tortured souls drifted to my ears. Faint they were, as if buried deep within the recesses. But I was no stranger to the agonized cries. 'Twas indeed ere the term known as "mid" and I had entered the edifice of tomes (and not a little suffering) known quite beguilingly as "Love." The full of my journey lay still ahead, for I was to traverse yet deeper into the bowels of the edifice. And there to meet the demon. Over the ridge I crawled, till on the top of the North I was. Hot gusts from below had already caused the face to flush. A slight retreat and I sipped to refresh. I returned and began my descent: From the highest level of the North of Love, down to the middle nestled securely, as it were, between the base of mint and the peak. Not daring to pursue the course further down into the base of mint (of that which is the North of Love), I sought to gain entry into the middling cavernous expanse of the first. But Ho! and oh again! What creature blocked my way? Too wary, not daring to go forward, yet too weary to retreat, I European 'snif over U.S. bombing ignores terrorism against On July 10, 1985, Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior threatened to sail into the South Pacific to thwart a French nuclear test. While the ship was in New Zealand water, France responded. Government agents blew up the ship, killing one person aboard. For this act of murder, the requisite French officials have been reprimanded; those without high rank or political protestion were prosecuted. For a more cynical use of state power you would have to look pretty hard. But the Champs Elysee did not swell with roaring chants of indignation and no where else in Europe did people take to FRENCH FRANC stood. Certainly it is "Cerberus the great worm" 1 thought; yet, no fangs saw I. And this beast entertained a skeletal outcrust which truly "Cerberus the great worm" could not share. Comforted with this thought my bold ness returned. "Ho!" I yelled as 1 leaped at the beast, brandishing my ink spike as if a beastly skewer, and a tome I employed as a shield from the hot breath of the brute. James Rogers Humility was soon requited for my errant boldness as I cowered in retreat under the defense of this monster. Cleverly, I thought to myself, "Now, I shall feign myself defeated, and retire to observe a new course of attack." I chuckled over my scheme as I secreted myself from the beast. After a spell I was again emboldened. " 'Tis only an Insekt," murmured I. "Rut of what heroic proportions is this marvelous creation." My wonderment soon passed and my countenance grew dark. Fearfully I wondered, "Doth this creature threaten the tomes of wisdom which lay but hands away from this wicked creat ure? What malice intends this wonderful Insekt upon the tomes of knowledge, that lay through the Entryway to the North of Love?" My face soon flushed again, now from rage and not the earlier heat! "Away with you!" was my urgent cry to the creature. "Begone to your dark abode, you'll have no place of repose the streets. No, Europe saves that for the United States. Now Europe is in a snit about the U.S. bombing of Libya. President Reagan Richard Cohen once again is being caricatured as a shoot-from-the-hip cowboy who has in true Western fashion, reached for his six-shooter when the time had come to FRENCH BACKBONE here among the tomes which are elephantine." Yet staid was the creature in the face of my fiery assault. "Perhaps a battery should be called." "Yes," I thought, "a battery upon the creature." "But with what? I am but a scholar." "Ah," said I as a nimbus shown o'er my head. "I shall strike a blow upon its head with the sole within my sodding." I thought, "With this I shall shoo the creature." Yet as quickly as upon this course was I determined (though, perchance, it was upon discourse instead that I was decided), thoughts began to second within my head. "Wherefore doth this pitiable brute deserve the slumber of the eternal?" My soul began to mourn for the action that was to be. I withdrew but for a moment of reflection; one moment of repose ere the slaughter that the tomes' protection required. Behind I heard the beast's forelorn lo. A single tear welled in my eye. After an aeon, it seemed, I lifted myself. But ere turning about, I dis carded my weapon and shield . . . there would be no slaughter today. I turned to face the beast, but itwas bewilderment with which I was struck. During my reflection the brute had wisely absented himself; my way was clear to enter the cavern of the Northern tomes. I rejoiced at that time as I passed onto the study of the tomes. Triumph had been avoided, surely and gore had as well. "I will rejoice," I thought, "Yes." And again, "I will rejoice." Rogers is a DN editorial page editor, a law and an economics graduate student. Americans parley. You would think that Reagan had chosen his target by throwing a dart on a map. Bingo! Hit Libya. The Europeans have their concerns. One of them is economic. Italy, the former colonial power in Libya, does a fair amount of business with it. All the major European countries have citizens who work in Libya and some of them have substantial construction projects under way. President Reagan made sure to warn Americans months ago to get out of Libya; the European countries have issued no such warning to their own citizens. See COHEN on 5