The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, October 28, 1988, Page 5, Image 5

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Readers says Green is a sexist slimebail
DN column was
sexist, illogical
This letter is in response to Chuck
Green’s column on sexism (DN, Oct.
25). Yes, Green, sexism is often “in
the eye of the beholder,” as the head
line on your column reads. However,
those holding sexist views are fre
quently blind. I agree with your right
to the view that Robin Givens may not
be an innocent victim of Mike Tyson.
I have wondered myself whether this
man was the victim of Givens instead
of what she reports.
Your rebuttal of your column was
fine until you digressed and showed
us just how sexist your views are.
Your wonderful argument of “I’m not
a sexist. Ask any woman who knows
me” is as good as the th ief who claims,
“I’m not a thief, just ask my buddy
here.” You went on to call anyone
who challenges you “insecure and
infantile" and something worse than a
“sub-species of society who are sex
ist, racist or whatever.” Then you
attacked Lise Osvold, who wrote a
letter criticizing an advertisement in
the DN that was looking for “attrac
tive girls . . . 14-24 ... No talent
required.” You argued had she “never
admired a good-looking man. That’s
what I gather from the letter, any
way.” What does that have to do with
the ad being sexist? Does it make the
ad or its ideology any less sexist if
Osvold finds men attractive?
Green, I don’t think Osvold is the
one who needs to grow up. I don’t see
anything wrong with Osvold taking
exception with an ad that is a “very
blatant appeal for female bodies.”
That’s exactly what it is — a disgust
ing sexist appeal for flesh. Since this
ad first appeared in the DN, I have
been waiting for it to disappear.
Green, at the risk of appearing to
be an insecure, infantile, self-right
eous, nit-picky and sub-human, I
f—■■■■■—■
found your column to be completely
illogical and extremely sexist
David Whitaker
junior
English
Grow up, Chuck,
understand sexism
i don’t expect Chuck Green (DN,
Oct. 25) to understand what I’m talk
ing about when I protest a contest that
asks only for attractive women’s
bodies. As a white male in the United
States, what personal experience can
he possibly have as a victim of either
racism or sexism?
What bothers me is his arrogant
attitude and eagerness to belittle
those who, as he puts it, “nit-pick”
when it comes to sexist institutions in
our culture.
Wouldn’t life be a lot easier if we
could all agree that beauty contests
are just one more innocent, good ‘of
boys’ way of having fun? Sounds
perfectly harmless from that angle,
doesn’t it?
Unfortunately, Green fails to take
into account (may even fail to realize)
the following symptoms of our
culture’s review of women: that 90
percent of all girls go on a diet by age
13; that bulimia, as well as other
eating disorders are becoming com
mon features of any college campus
as young women frantically attempt
to fit into the thin “standard” set by
our culture (especially through the
media, beauty); and finally, that one
out of every three women in this
country is a rape victim, a result of the
tendency to “objectify” women in
America.
Add to those facts another simple
one: that most women dislike their
bodies, regardless of how attractive
they may appear to other people, and
spend a good deal of time and energy
fretting over and at war with their
bodies.
I hope Green can step back or
“grow up,” as he so demeaningly
suggests I do, long enough to see that
he might not be the best one to judge
when or how much sexism can affect
women’s lives.
Lise Osvold
graduate student
Abortion violates
laws of nature
I found Adam Wall’s letter (DN,
Oct. 21) on abortion grossly mislead
ing. Abortion has turned into an
emotional issue. Society is more
concerned with “a woman’s choice”
and “in case of rape.” According to
Wall, “more women died from coal
hanger-type abortions than men were
killed in Vietnam.” The facts are
ignored and the facts are the real
issue. Abortion is the premature ter
mination of a pregnancy.
Wall stated that “66 percent of all
fetuses abort naturally.” I fail to see
the connection between a miscarriage
and the justification of abortion.
Abortion violates natural law. The
developing fetus is torn out of the
uterus in its early stages while the
woman is undergoing the hormonal
changes of pregnancy. This proce
dure contradicts the laws of nature.
More important, abortion violates
divine law. Abortion doesn’ tcoincide
with the laws that God has revealed to
us.
Finally, I would like to point out
that pro-lifers are not against
women’s rights. They promote hu
man rights. We support the right to
life regardless of gender and age.
Susan Eller
junior
nursing
=“=—■ --
Nebraska will flush
Lee Rood down drain
Pardon us Lee Rood for not being
your land of milk and honey. I take
issue with your narrow-minded rheto
ric in which the DN allowed you to
pass off as an editorial column (Oct.
17). You seem to be an intelligent
young lady and you actually managed
to spout some good ideas, although
not your own or highly original, but
sound ideas that do need the attention
of our stale leaders.
What I found in the poorest of taste
was your whining attack on die sup
posed beauty of our state. Perhaps you
slipped that dirty pair of underwear
over your head in a Roodiesque ver
sion of rose-colored glasses. Having
traveled through all of the nation's 50
states, I have found beauty every
where and in many forms. That is,
when I have taken the time to look for
beauty. The fact that we have chang
ing colors this fall is a miracle of sorts.
Why don’t you try surviving a scorch
ing summer with less than half of your
normal water intake and see if you
have any energy left to dress out in
vibrant colors. I get the feeling that if
you were Mother Nature our ground
would be cold and unyielding, our
rivers parched and dead, and our
horizons, well our horizons would
probably have skid marks.
Yes, there is brain drain. Yes,
Nebraska needs more educational
opportunities. Yes, the state needs
more jobs. Yes, Nebraska has its share
of problems that will require tough
solutions. Do something construc
tive. Do anything, but don ’ t sit around
whining about a slate that you chose
to live in. And remember that good
and bad things go down the drain. So
when you finally leave this “beauti
ful” state bound for your Metro Shan
grila, you will probably hear arushing
sound behind you. That will be the
state of Nebraska flushing you down
thedrain with the rest of the unwanted
waste.
Loren R. Berthelsen
junior
news-editorial
Face the facts,
Chuck Green
This letter is in response to Chuck
Green’s column on sexism (DN, Oct.
25).
In the article, Green defends a
previous editorial (Oct. 17) concern
ing his opinion of Robin Givens’
recent demand of $25 million from
heavyweight boxing champion Mike
Tyson. Green stated that he was not
sexist in believing that Givens
doesn’t deserve the money, that she
probably “had a $25 million twinkle
in her eye from the day they were
married.”
Although I did not read the first
editorial, I agree that this statement in
itself is not sexist. In the Oct. 25
article, Green continued to defend
himself as a non-sexist. “Ask anyone
who knows me and they will confirm
it.” Again, I don’t know Green, so if
he and his friends believe this to be
true, then his intentions are probably
honorable.
Which bnngs up another issue.
Intention is not the only criteria for
determining if something is deemed
as wrong or right. Green is confused
by stating that “sexism is sexism only
if it is intended as such.”
He claimed that it could be just a
“misunderstanding.” I wish things
were that simple, but they aren’t. His
position is a naive view, one that I
tried to talk myself into believing at
one point in my life. This attitude is a
defense against facing the fact that
sexism is deeply ingrained in our
society.
Cynthia Griess
graduate student
You Know Him As
GCN6RAL HOSPITAL'S
"COLTON SHOR€"
Now Meet the Real
SCOTT THOMPSON
BRKCR
Come See Scott ...
• Speak and answer questions about
General Hospital
• Talk about his career
• Sign autographs
• and morel!!
Saturday, October 29, 1938
8:00 p.m.
City Union Ballroom
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Tickets available Wednesday, October 26, from 10 to 5
at a City Union booth or at the door — doors open at 7:00 p.m.
$3.50i students with UNL I.D. $5.00 general public
OuMtfefis? 472-2454 UPC ARTS COMMITTEE m
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN
Office of Campus Recreation
472-3467
' I9ft8 Fill •
5 FITNESS CLASS SCHEDULE
(2nd Session)
LOW IMPACT AEROBICS
Oct. 31-Dec. 16 M.W.F 12:10-12:50 p.m.
Cook Pavilion
Oct. 31-Dec. 16 T.TH 4:30-5:15 p.m.
Mabel Lee Hall 301
PROGRESSIVE AEROBICS
Oct. 31 Dec. 16 M.W.F 12:30-12:50 p.m.
E.C. Activity Building
Oct. 31-Dec. 16 M.W.F 5:15-6:00 p.m.
Mabel Lee Hall 301
Oct. 31 -Dec. 16 M.W.F 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Neihardt-Blue TV Room
Nov. 1-Dec. 15 T.TH.SU 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Abel Ballroom
ADVANCED AEROBICS
Oct. 31-Dec. 16 M.W.F 4:00-5:15 p.m.
Mabel Lee Hall 301
Nov. 1-Dec. 15 T.TH 5:15-6:30 p.m.
E.C. Activity Building
WATER AEROBICS
Oct. 31-Dec. 14 M.W 7:15-8:00 p.m.
Mabel Lee Pool — L. Schaper
FIRMER BODY
Oct. 31-Dec. 16 M.W.F 5:15-6:00 p.m.
E.C. Activity Building
Nov. 1-Dec. 15 T.TH 12:10-12:50 p.m.
Mabel Lee Hall 301
Nov. 1-Dcc. 15 T.TH5:15-6:00 p.m.
Harper Multi-Pur. Room
Cost for above classes: 2 days — $12:00.3 days
— $17.00,4 days — $21.50, 5 days — $25.50
SCUBA LESSONS
This is the first module of two to become certi
fied in SCUBA diving, Minimum age is 13 years.
Cost: $150 00
Sign-up Deadline: Noon day of class
Nov. 28-Dec 13 M.T 6:30-10:00 p.m.
Dec. 1-Dec. 16 TH,F 6:30-10:00 p.m.
Contact: Big Mac Scuba 464-3483
1988 Fall
INSTRUCTIONAL sports schedule
• (3rd Session)
The following is a list of non-credit, instruc
tional classes offered through the Office ot
Campus Recreation. The classes are geared
toward college-aged individuals and older, un
less otherwise specified.
ADULT SWIM LESSONS
Cost: $14.00 Sign-up Deadline: Nov. 22
Nov. 28-Dec. 14 M.W 5:15-6:00 p.m.
All sessions held at Abcl/Sandoz Pool
BEGINNING RACQUETBALL LESSONS
Cost: $20.00 Sign-up Deadline: Nov. 11
Nov. 13-Dec. 11 Sunday 7:00-9:00 p.m.
All sessions held at Schulte Field House
No Class on Nov. 27th due to Thanksgiving
Vacation
ADVANCED RACQUETBALL LESSONS
Cost: $30.00 Sign-up Deadline: Nov. 9
Nov. 12-Dec. 10 Saturday 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Instructor: Rod Orduna
All sessions held at Sports Courts
No Class on Nov. 26th due to Thanksgiving
Vacation
CHILDREN’S SWIM LESSONS
Cost: $18.00 Sign-up Deadline: Nov. 4
Nov. 7-Dec. 8 M.T.TH 6:30-7:15 p.m.
All sessions held at Mabel Lee Pool
No Class will be held week of Nov. 21st due
to Thanksgiving Vacation
MM