Opinion No surprises Bush’s address full of pre-election hype It’s not hard to see that this is an election year. With his poll ratings slipping, President Bush mounted the State of the Union podium Tuesday night and told the taxpayers what they wanted to hear. In a rather lively atmosphere full of hollering f rom the cheap seats, Bush spoke of cuts, breaks, budget slashing, reform here, reform there. “We’re going to lift this nation out of hard times,” he said, and later vowed that the recession “will not stand.” Bush did have a few specifics ready — $50 billion from the bloated Pentagon budget, an extra $500-per-child tax break for middle-class parents and a plan to withhold less money from worker’s paychecks, although it would lead to smaller refunds, were among the biggest applause-getters. Vague, however, would be a good word to describe his ideas on health care system reform, the welfare system, the federal budget deficit, crime and the drug problem. At least the speech didn’t lack patriotism. Bush lauded the American taxpayers’ resolve in fighting the Cold War, elo quently saying they deserved a “hunk” of the victory glory. Bush warned, however, that America cannot let its guard down, and the military cuts outlined in this speech would be his last. Only the dead, Bush said, have seen an end to conflict. America’s responsibility is to lead the world, he said, because, among other red, while and blue reasons, “We are the United States of America." Bush claimed the American people recognize gimmicks when they see them, although his State of the Union was patently political. But then, such is to be expected, r After all, in November, well under half of this country’s voting-age population will go to the polls, where they are expected to re-elect the same leaders, both in the executive and legislative branches, who have valiantly led us into this mess. Students careless crossers It has been my misfortune to have to enter the area of 14th and Vine streets at about 9 each morning. Many students are heading toclass at this time and it clearly is car against student Today my car almost won one of these meetings. On each of the four comers of this intersection are “Walk” and “Don’t Walk” signs. It amazes me that there are those students who either don’t know how to read or are intent on thinking that they will win a battle with a car that in most cases out weighs them by many pounds. Might I suggest that some of those chancellors, whom I personally think are overpaid, take over as crossing guards during the busy hours in this intersection. First, they would be able to really get close to the students they say they care about, and secondly, they might be able to help those who have reached the college level and cannot read. Closing this intersection is not the answer. Teaching these youths how to use a crosswalk is. Fix this prob lem, UNL. Bil Roby Lincoln ujn start racist, unprotessionai Editors, reporters, writers and Editorial Board of the Daily Nebras kan, utilize the calendars on your desks and walls to ascertain that this is 1992 — not the 17th century \|(ith its institution of slavery. We, a& a people, will no longer accept, nor be influenced by, self-serving, Eurocen tric definitions of what is offensive or important to us. As a group, we are defining our needs, dislikes, prob lems and solutions. Your role is to listen and to take heed to what we arc stating to you and to the world. To begin, you have insulted our collective intelligence by attempting to drape yourself in the cloak of the First Amendment in order to escape responsibility for your racist, insensi tive and irresponsible journalistic practices. There is no issue of censor ship here! Sadly, you, as well as a majority of the public, are unable to grasp this concept. The issue is your refusal to acknowledge your current transgression against the African American community. You exhibited a patent lack of sensitivity and an irresponsible nature by not first con sidering the consequences of your actions. Any semblance of profes sionalism you have possessed has been irreparably compromised. You have admitted publicly that you decided to print the Scott Baldwin photo without even attempting to ferret out any substantive information regarding the incident you were ostensibly “report ing.” This behavior is unconscion able. Your right to invoke any of the privileges accorded to legitimate journalists has been forfeited. Further, you have demonstrated an obscene arrogance by taking the position that you do not owe an apol ogy to the African-American and university communities and that you would follow the same course of ac tion if you were faced with the same decision. You take this position not withstanding the fact that it is our student fees that fund the operation of the Daily Nebraskan and, even more gravely, you take such a stand in the face of the growing tension and obvi ous concern that your handling of this matter has generated. Your lack of remorse and the alarm ing indications that you have learned nothing from your actions as they relate to this incident mandates that the African-American community demand that you immediately with draw from the decision-making proc ess of the Daily Nebraskan, cease from referring to yourselves as jour nalists and to solicit from this com munity its input in order that mean ingful changes can be instituted in your policies that impact our commu nity. Sherman Robertson undeclared