LISA PYTLIK
‘Division’ disease curses Earth
Stupid space monsters!
Last week, I thought my
extensive efforts at discover
ing life in outer space finally had paid
off. I made contact with aliens who
called themselves “Ogeaans,” and I
asked permission to do research on
their society over Spring Break.
However, those stupid, biased aliens
rejected me simply because I was an
Earthling.
The Ogcaan Spokcsbcing (OS) said,
“I am a!raid that we will have to
refuse your request to visit us at this
time. We arc aware of the diseases
plaguing your planet, and, based upon
this knowledge, we think your visit
would not be conducive to the well
being of our entities.”
“But why?” I asked.
“The main reason for our refusal is
that we fear your human disease of
‘Division.’ We have observed the
symptoms of racism, sexism, homo
phobia and countless other discrimi
nations that accompany this disease,
and we do not wish to risk its trans
mission from your society to ours.
“We might reconsider your visit if
your society were to fully eliminate
this disease. The elimination process
could be accelerated and achieved,
perhaps in as little as five to 10 centu
ries, if your society would do two
things:
“1. Eliminate idle ignorance and
apathy.
“2. Cultivate active compassion
and understanding.”
“What do you mean?” I asked,
bewildered by their apparent percep
tion of Earthlings as stupid and heart
less creatures.
“It’s quite simple,”OS responded.
“Tocliminatc ignorance, one musldo
research. One should study overt
Divisionism evidenced by the impact
of groups such as the Ku Klux Klan,
which purports violent Divisionism
not only to adults, but also to chil
dren, indoctrinating them through KKK
chapters formed in primary schools.
One should actively seek and chal
lenge these perversions.
“One also should do research on
the ‘privileges’ one incurs as a result
of belonging to a certain Division and
be ready cither to give up those privi
leges or share them with others. Ex
amples of these privileges include the
ability of heterosexuals to be physi
cally affectionate in public without
others staring or forming prejudices
against them, and the ability of a
people of one race to criticize their
own race without being labeled as
racist or hostile.
“Individuals can Icam to detect
To finally overcome
Division. Earthlings
must amend the an
cient idea expressed
by the phrase “doine
unto others as / would
have done to me.” by
adding the phrase, “if
I were them.”
Divisionism in its more elusive slates
by improving their perspective-tak
ing ability. This can be accomplished
partly by learning about others in a
general sense. One can do this by
attending multicultural activities on
campus, visiting a town where the
majority is of a different race or reli
gion, visiting the library and doing
research on the historical context of
different outlooks or listening to ra
dio and television programs targeted
for other populations.
“To more fully sec the perspective
of others, however, people must break
down the barriers of self-imposed
segregation and learn about the spe
cific personal feelings and concerns
of those from whom they arc Di
vided. For example, one could eat
lunch with a group of people of a
different race or stop and visit with
the disabled person who must sit
somewhat separate from the rest of
the class because the the desks arc not
‘wheelchair friendly.’
“These activities would decrease
apathy, because the racial slurs, gen
eralizations and attacks that ignorant
people usually direct toward the people
from whom they are Divided sud
denly would be directed toward
‘friends,’ people with names and faces.
“Once the ignorance and apathy
has been confronted, new actions must
be taken. Those actions must be char
acterized by compassion and under
standing.
“For example, racial, homophobic
and other Divisional slurs must not be
overlooked. Several members of your
community have done studies that
support the idea that slurs lead to the
derogation and belittlement of their
targets, thus spreading the Divisional
social disease. Therefore, these slurs
must be confronted.
“Your Earth society does practice
compassion and understanding on a
small scale. For example, if John Doe
regularly greets people by clapping
them on the back, and one day John '
unknowingly claps Mary Smith’s
sunburn, John will apologize for
causing Mary pain. In turn, Mary will
forgive John, realizing that the harm
was not intentional.
“Mary will not accuse John of acting
to spite or oppress, and John will not
become defensive and ignore Mary’s
hurt by saying, ‘I am just doing what
I always do.’
“On a larger scale, however, we
Ogeaans have noticed a great lack of
compassion and understanding in your
society. Each individual group busily
tries to make other groups understand
its perspective without slopping to
look at and address the others’ per
spectives.
“This phenomenon is effectively
illustrated whenever one group of
people angrily accuses another of
‘racism’ without considering that
group’s conscious intentions. Usu
ally, the second group then immedi
ately labels the members of the first
group as ‘oversensitive’ or ‘liars.’ In
these cases, neither group is striving
for understanding or compassion. They
arc simply attacking each other.
“To finally overcome Division,
Earthlings must amend the ancient
idea expressed by the phrase ‘doing
unto others as I would have done to
me,’ by adding the phrase, ‘if I were
them.’
“Best wishes to you in your quest
for freedom from illusion and please
contact us again when your society
has fully healed."
Of course I was outraged by this
reply.
“How dare they generalize all
Earthlings as ignorant apathisls and
social-justice couch potatoes,” I
thought after receiving this last mes
sage. “They are narrow-minded fools,
and I am not going to waste one more
minute of my Spring Break learning
about them.”
With that thought, I surrendered
my previous hope of doing research
on their culture over break and forced
myself to go skiing instead.
Pytlik is a senior art and psychology
major and a Daly Nebraskan staff artist and
columnist.
-LETTERS tTh°e EDITOR
Land’s original inhabitants is key question
This is in response to Shachar
Argov’s leuer (“Placing Middle East
blame not the issue,** DN, March 30).
I think I am not the one who is naive
but you are the naive one. I am not at
all disappointed. In fact, I was ex
pecting a response sonctewhat similar
to yours. I totally understand that
your patriotic sense must have pushed
you to write in favor of your country,
and you should.
I would support the butchering of
the kid if he docs not whack the
soldier with a brick. Why shouldn’t
he. He must be taught these things
from the day he is born — that he has
to fight for his freedom. Everyone has
to die one day, so why die a coward.
Die doing something good. Your
example of air raids has no impor
tance and please don’t give me this
crap about how the West wants de
mocracy in there. The West totally
supports every step the Israeli gov
ernment takes. It is portrayed superfi
cially that the West wants democ
racy. And you know it and I know it.
I don’t have anything against you |
as a human being. I might have some
grudge as you are from Israel, but
forget it— I’ll talk to you some day.
You sound like an OK person to talk
to. Nice hearing from you.
Just answer my question: Who was
living there in the occupied territory
before it was taken over by force?
Arshad Altaf Shaikh
junior
pre-pharmacy
Hunters respect, help preserve nature
In response 10 the letter wriuen by
Fran Thompson “Hunters vent anger
on animals’* (DN, March 17): I hate to
knock your friend Ron Baker off of
his pulpit but I am afraid that some of
his views are inaccurate and mislead
ing. It is true that does (female deer)
reabsorb embryos, but this is only the
case when environmental conditions
cause them to be lacking in the essen
tial nutrients that enable the mother
to stay alive. In addition, deer are not
the only animals on this earl that are
hunted. In fact, birds are m re com
monly hunted than deer. I ai curious
to find out if Fran Thomps< n knows
anyone who says birds .eabsorb
embryos during limes of low food
supplies. Fran strikes me a the type
of person who keeps the National
Enquirer in business.
For your information, hunting is
allowed in the United Stales not only
because it is the cheapest way to
control population but to control deadly
diseases from spreading, to protect
livestock and other smaller animals
from predators such as coyotes, wolves,
etc., and to keep them from destroy
ing pasture land. Hunting also is a
means of recreation that is one of die
world’s largest sports. Also, hunting
is not an exclusively male sport. I
know several women who enjoy
hunting and I have yet to come across
one who is intent on “searching for
her balls” or her masculinity for that
matter.
1 also know a few hunters who take
their frustrations out on animals. Most
hunters hunt because they truly enjoy
the challenge and spending time out
doors. Hunters have more respect for
nature than you ever will. I’m sure
your perception of a hunter is one
who goes out with his buddies drink
ing beer and raising all kinds of hell.
Well, Fran, I have news for you: Not
all people do that and the ones who do
rarely are considered “hunters” in the
true sense of the word. My advice to
you is not to judge people and what
they do before you know the real
reason behind what they are doing. I
am not judging you for the things that
you do and I ask that you extend that
same courtesy to others.
Shane Eversole
senior
agricultural education
Questions about alcohol or other drugs?
Need information, referral, brochures,
posters?
Contact Nebraska’s Alcohol and Drug Information
Clearinghouse, a member of the national RADAR
Network of information centers around the U.S.
Toll-Free Within Nebraska:
1-800-648-4444
I THE NEBRASKA UNION, I
2- EAST UNION AND
CULTURE CENTER ARE NOW
ACCEPTING OFFICE SPACE
APPLICATIONS FOR THE
ACADEMIC YEAR 1992-1993.
Applications are available in Suite 220 City Union
and the CAP office iti the East Union. All recognized
student organizations are welcome to apply for
space.
The applications must be returned to Suite 220,
City Union, by 5:00 p.m. Fri., April 10,1992 for your
organization to be given priority consideration.
Late applications usually end up with no office. Call
Frank Kuhn at 472-2181 if you have questions or
come to Room 220. Applications for East Union
space may be turned in at CAP East by the same
deadline, 5:00 p.m. Fri., April 10,1992.
nstyle
Birkcnslock* everyday? Sure.
The pure comfort supports
and cradles your feet.
And when you feel
this good, it shows.
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476-6119
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Coming soon! The 1992
Slimmer Reading
Course Program
Earn UNL credit
while away from school!
• Choose from 22 courses in nine different
academic areas.
f • Study independently during the summer
wherever you may be.
For complete course listing contact:
Department of Evening Programs
and Lifelong Learning Services
Division of Continuing Studies
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
472-1392
Watch for the complete course listings and spring
meeting dates in the April 2 and 3 Daily Nebraskan.