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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 29, 1988)
Prejudice against blacks, gays criticized Gay lifestyle normal; ‘ homophobics ’ a shame I am terrified by the rampant para noia of the homophobics on the Uni versity of Nebraska-Lincoln campus! Last spring I was in Chicago on an urban studies program. Toward the end of the semester, two of the stu dents, one male and one female, “came out of the closet.” They trusted 50 strangers with intimate details of their life. That takes strength and courage. The fact that they trusted us is still very special to those of us who were there to listen. I’m not gay but am very sensitive to the issues raised by homosexuality and the opinions raised by those it affects. Words like “disgusting" and “immoral” really hurt. It’s a tragedy to see that the fear and paranoia of uninformed homophobics is infiltrat ing our society and influencing the way we (society) treat gays and lesbi ans, or any person that is different for that matter. I’ve had teachers who were gay and it in no way blocked my learning from them. I probably learned more from them because they were so open and open-minded and I respected that. I have friends who are gay and they are more than likely some of the most talented, intelligent person I’ve known. S name on those who are so bl ind to the fact that homosexuality was and is considered “normal” by other people, cultures and eras. If those don’t (and/ or can’t) accept homosexuality don’t like it. I’m afraid they are out of luck. It is here. It has been here. It will continue to be here. It will always be normal. A man who is owner and publisher of the Windy City Times, a homosex ual, was assaulted during a rash of homosexual beatings by three men and a baseball bat in his office. He suffered only a broken arm. Only? He expressed a belief that people who are so violently opposed to homosexual ity are merely so terrified that they might be gay that they have to prove their “manhood.” It is a shame that out society has become what it has. Liz Rogan senior history Reader says letter ‘proved point’ inaptly I guess Scott Wilhite was trying to prove a point to Jon Dewsbury (Daily Nebraskan, Feb. 23), but he went about it the wrong way. As an afro Amcrican woman, your comments were not greatly appreciated. What’s worse is that you wrote the letter and probably thought nothing of it. Where do you get off using afro Amcricans as well as feminist as cases for your point? As a human being, you need to do some serious self-evaluating. Furthermore, the next time you need to prove your point, try using your own race and gender. Sarah A. Johnson sophomore English Afrikan People’s Union culture committee chairperson Black student lauded for fighting prejudice I would like to give a loud round of applause to Kim Randle (Daily Ne braskan, Feb. 26) in her reply to Scott Wilhite (Feb. 23). Everything Randle said was a re flection of my feelings. I also have said that black students have become far loo comfortable with the phrase “they don’t mean me.’’ Students, I have a news flash for you, they do mean you. Whenever anything nega tive is written about blacks, it is writ ten about the whole black race that includes you. Black students seem to feel that once they get to college, everything is fine and someone owes them some thing. No one owes you anything — you get just what you pul into it. We have stood by far too long and just let way loo many things slide by unchallenged. People, open your eyes and become aware of the world around you. You arc being taken advantage of and cither you don’t know it or you don’t care and that is really sad. Randle, I take strong pride in knowing that there is at least one black femaleout there who is aware of the world around her and is strong enough to let everyone know how she feels. I’ll give you a standing ovation any day. Janet Smith sophomore marketing ASUN ‘spits in face’ of student constituents Well, the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska has done it again. By increasing student fees, it has spit in the face of the people it’s supposed to represent. AS UN doesn ’ t seem to understand its role. It’s supposed to represent the students of the University of Ne braska-Lincoln. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe ASUN is supposed to represent something like Campus Activities and Programs or the University Program Council, and it just puts the word “students” in its name to dupe us into thinking it actually represents us. Maybe I’m not approaching this at the right angle. Maybe ASUN mem bers actually think the students at UNL actually want to increase the cost of their education. I hardly think that’s the case. College is expensive enough already. Of course, voting against the Fund A and Fund B increases would be I very unpopular with some people at UNL. I think ASUN feels it is easier to go against the students than who ever comes and asks for increases. Come on ASUN, show some back bone. If ASUN really wants to do some thing for the students, it should work at getting Fund B fees into the same category as Fund A fees. That is, in a category where students can get them refunded. That way, students who don’t use the Cook Pavilion or don’t go on outdoor adventures won’t have to pay for them. Since I’ve been here, I haven’t seen ASUN do one thing that will benefit the students. It has voted for tuition increases, Fund A increases and now Fund B increases. Why don’t they stop caving in to everyone who wants money and start repre senting the students. I should add that I am grateful to the two dissenting opinions against the Fund B in creases. Brent Boettcher freshman ag honors ‘Ignorant’ letter insults aspiring black students As a black female, I found Scott Wilhite’s remarks (Daily Nebraskan, Feb. 23) quite rude and very offen sive. The only thing he accomplished in writing the letter was proving just how ignorant some people are. For too long now, blacks have been the subject of jokes, rude re marks and ignorant views. In the past we have had our academic capabili ties and our financial background insulted by people like Wilhite. Are we going to sit back and let these people insult and belittle one of our most powerful leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King? I think it is about time that we black students take a stand and say enough is enough. A piece of advice to Wilhite and any other people who arc made to feel uncomfortable by black people: Get used to dealing with us because we are here to stay. Not only are we attending the universities, but living in suburban neighborhoods and hold ing money-making, power-holding careers. We arc on our way to the lop. Jodi Goodlow sophomore pre-physical therapy I-1 I I i ! I I I I I I I I iL-Ji -1 44 Mom says the house just isrit the same without me, even though it ’s alotdeaner.99 Just because your Mom is far away, doesn’t mean you can’t be close. You can still share the love and laughter on AT&T Long Distance Service. It costs less than you think to hear that she likes the peace and quiet, but she misses you. So go ahead, give your Mom a call. You can clean your room later. Reach out and touch someone® i - AW The right choice.