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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 4, 1991)
ANDY FREDERICK Society becoming too intolerant Is it tense in here, or is it just me? I’ve been asking myself that question a lot lately. Every where I tum, people are overreacting to the most trivial of matters. Take Gang Lu, for instance. Lu, a student at the University of Iowa, was upset that another student had won some silly little academic honor. So he shot and killed three faculty members and the student who had been nominated for the honor. He also shot an administrator, who died later, and a staff member. And then, as all good madmen do, Lu shot and killed himself. I’d call that a trifle extreme. Is an academic honor worth the deaths of six people? Death is serious, mass murder even more so, but to kill over something as trivial as an academic honor is absolutely ludicrous. It is, to say the least, an overreaction. But, of course, a shooting spree such as Lu’s is hardly a rarity. Many people have been shot down by people who have suffered the traumatic, devastating, life-ending blow of being fired. But really, is anyone’s job so important that a dozen or so people deserve to die when it is lost? I don’t think so. And wc kill ourselves for other trivial reasons as well. People kill each other over sports, rock concerts and movies. And, of course, sex and money have always been “good” reasons to kill. If tension were only causing a few people to go nuts and kill people, then there wouldn’t be much point in talk ing about it. Murderous lunatics are not really the type to pick up a copy of the Daily Nebraskan, read my col umn and come to the realization that a husband’s snoring is not enough of a reason to sentence him to death. But trigger-happy psychopaths are not the only evidence of our society’s increasing tension. Everywhere, people are taking bites out of each other over the most trivial of personal “viola tions.” For examples of deviant social behavior, I always like to turn to Ann Landers. Lately, many of her readers have been having conniptions about the silliest things. One reader told Ann that she had had enough of people asking what her nationality was. She wanted Ann to tell her something rude that she could shoot back at those who dared to show any interest in her. Apparently it was far too difficult for the woman Tension. It’s every where. and it’s mak ing it harder and harder (or people to deal with each older, But what’s causine ill to simply open her mouth and say “Chinese.” But do people deserve to be rebuked for simply being curious? Another of Ann’s readers was furi ous that people kept asking ho- whether her two adopted children were brother and sister. “Yes” would obviously be too much of a strain on the vocal cords. And “They weren’t, but they are now” wouldn’t even be close to being rude enough. Again, a case of simple curiosity that someone refused to tolerate. It’s getting so that no one can say anything to anyone anymore because everyone is so tense. Everyone has a little list of things that really lick them off and cause them to foam at the mouth. The problem is that people keep the lists to themselves but ex pect everyone they come into contact with to read their minds and know what they should and shouldn’t talk about. As if I didn’t have enough prob lems making small talk already. Are there any safe topics left? I don’t think so. A recent news article reported that many students at the University of California at Berkeley are afraid to open their mouths for fear of being labeled. Sounds familiar. A couple weeks ago a group of people at the University of Nebraska Lincoln protested Clarence Thomas’ appointment to the Supreme Court A man who watched the rally had the gall to scream the vile phrase, “inno -EDITORIAL POLICY Signed staff editorials represent the official policy of the Fall 1991 Daily Nebraskan. Policy is set by the Daily Nebraskan Editorial Board. Its members are: Jana Pedersen, editor; Eric Pfanncr, editorial page editor; Diane Brayton, managing editor; Waller Gholson, columnist; Paul Domcicr, copy desk chief; Brian Shcllito, cartoonist; Jeremy Fit/pa trick, senior reporter. Editorials do not necessarily rc flcct the views of the university, its employees, the students or the nu Board of Regents. Editorial columns represent the opinion of the author. The Daily Nebraskan’s publishers arc the regents, who established the UNL Publications Board to super vise the daily production of the pa per. According to policy set by the re gents, responsibility for the editorial content of the newspaper lies solely in the hands of its students. i CONCERNED ABOUT HAIR LOSS? GET THE ANSWERS. UNIVERSITY HEALTH CENTER PRESENTS DR. ROD BASLER, M.D. Lincoln Dematologist. WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 6, 7 P.M. NEBRASKA UNION, ROOM POSTED -T Dr. Basler will speak on the medical aspects of loss and treatment. All interested students, faculty and staff are welcome. There is no charge for the program. UNL docs not discriminate in its academic, or employment programs and abides by all federal and state regulations pertaining to same. ■ cent until proven guilty.” Such fair minded thought was obviously too much for one woman to handle, for she shouted back, “You’re a sexist, just like Thomas.” Tension. It’s everywhere, and it’s making it harder and harder for people to deal with each other. But what’s causing it? I have no idea. All I know is that it exists. People have less patience with each other than ever before. People refuse to tolerate inconvenience or discomfort. Therefore, we must all be on guard against those who will snap at the drop of a hat. If we do or say the “wrong” thing, no matter how inno cent, eventually we’ll encounter someone so tense that we will wish we had stayed in bed that day. Teachers and administrators, be careful about choosing who will re ceive those awards, honors and schol arships. Choose the wrong person, and you’ll be gunned down by a dis gruntled student. Likewise, employers are lorcea 10 be extremely careful about firing certain employees if they don’t want the blood of a couple dozen innocent people on their hands. And the rest of us are forced to be extremely careful about what we say. Does anyone want to be labeled a sexist for upholding the rights of all Americans? Does anyone want to be chewed out for saying the wrong things or asking the wrong questions? Fear is slowly eating away at our freedoms. Where there once was kindness, there is now anger. Where there was patience, there is impa tience. Where there was calmness, there is tension. So people would rather give up their right to speak and be have normally than to suffer the slings and arrows—and possibly bullets— of the irrational irritations of others. I see only two solutions. The first is for everyone to look out for them selves. If someone crosses you, rip their head off. And to avoid having the same done to you, let your fear be your guide. If you don’t know what will set a person off, keep your mouth shut. Better safe than sorry. The other solution is for everyone to put others first. With 5 billion people looking out for the best interests of every individual, wouldn’t this be a nice world to live in? But get real. That will never hap pen. Frederick is a senior news-editorial jour nalism major and a Daily Nebraskan photog rapher and columnist. _ MITSUBISHI SERVICE TEAM j Courtesy vehicle to take you to and from your destination ■ I ■ Includes up to 5 qts. of oil, oil filter, ^ ^ p chassis lube and topping off all fluids. I & Good on all makes & models, import & I (Reg. $23.60) I domestic, light trucks & vans. Expires, 1/1s/9, FAST & EFFICIENT SERVICE-WHILE YOU WAIT! ^ —-B^1 • Parts & Labor included in special price • Replace I spark plugs • Inspect dist. cap, rotor and plug wires • 4 cy|. Adjust timing and idle speeds • Electronically analyze r 1 ignition system • Clean throttle plate (fuel injected '. ’ engines) • Road test vehicle. 8 Cyl. Good on most makes A models, import A domestic, light 11 /lc/qi trucks A vans. 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Complete Line of Sportswear & Accessories • Custom Lettering • Racquet Restringing Campus Recreation Center Monday - Saturday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm 2nd Annual Anniversary Sale November 4 - 8,1991 _* _____