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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 1992)
Opinion . ■ -- . Nebraskan Editorial Board University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chris Hopfensperger...Editor, 472-1766 Dionne Searcey.Opinion Page Editor Kris Karnopp. Managing Editor Alan Phelps. Wire Editor Wendy Navratil.Writing Coach Stacey McKenzie..Senior Reporter Jeremy Fitzpatrick.*.. Columnist Noble, mission Military goal is to feed hungry Somalis Somalia is about to get its best present ever as the United States military embarks upon the ultimate missionary mission — helping the hungry. For some time now, people all around the world have been sending food to the starving people in the African nation. Unfortunately, groups loyal to the opposing warlords in Somalia’s civil war have intercepted much of the food. Agencies already aiding the hungry estimate that half of the food sent to Somalia so far has been stolen. Finally, after the deaths of 300,000 Somalis this year, the United States has decided to send 30,000 troops to the African nation to “restore some semblance of order,’’ Defense Secretary Dick Cheney said. The plan, as late as it comes, is admirable. This time, the United Slates cannot be accused of stepping into a regional conflict with its own ulterior motives. If there is bloodshed this lime, it scow Maurer/DN will not be in the name of oil. But this time is no simpler than previous U.S. involvements. President Bush ordered the relief effort, intended to secure Somalia’s major ports and airports, on Friday. The plan was laid for American troops to enter the region, establish peace and begin distributing food. But, at the same time, relief workers were forced to withdraw from areas that need volunteers as well as food. By Sunday, relief workers had already sent out 100 trucks loaded with food that has been sitting on the docks of Mogadishu’s port for a month. Nearly 2,000 Marines were making their preparations to come ashore. They will be joined by soldiers from France^ Egypt, Turkey and Mauritania. The troops will not fire unless they arc fired upon. For now, the United States is not in for the long haul. “If you’re looking for the United Slates to slay until all Somalia’s problems arc solved — it’s not going to happen,’’ Cheney said. The mission is admirable. The United Stales must not get mired in the political battle in Somalia. American troops headed to Africa are to ensure that the food sent to the African nation makes it to the people who need it. This is not a political mission, and the United States should not embroil itself in a violent morass. The United Stales has the means to establish the peace — quickly. It is the role of the United Nations to help keep it. The No. 1 goal is to feed the hungry and save the starving. The troops have the potential to save 2 million Somalis from starvation. The United States cannot afford to forget its objective, and the mercy mission must not turn into a tangled, bloody battle. Staff editorials represent the official policy of the f all 1992 Daily Nebraskan. Policy is set by the Daily Nebraskan Editorial Board. Editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of the university, its employees, the students or the NU Board of Regents, Editorial columns represent the opinion of the author. The regents publish the Daily Nebraskan. They establish the UNL Publications Board to supervise the daily production of the paper. According to policy set by the regents, responsibility forthc editorial content of the newspaper lies solely in the hands of its students. The Daily Nebraskan welcomes bnef letters to the editor from all readers and interested others. Letters will be selected for publication on the basis of clarity, originality, timeliness and space available. I he Daily Nebraskan retains the right to edit or reject all material submitted. Readers also are welcome to submit material as guest opinions. The editor decides whether material should run as a guest opinion. Letters and guest opinions sent to the newspaper become the property of the Daily Nebraskan and cannot be returned. Anonymous submissions will not be published, letters should included the author's name, year in school, major and group affiliation, if any. Requests to withhold names will not be granted. Submit material to the Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448. ‘So be it’ The solution to the human rights problem is simple. We arc all human, and everyone should respect and ac cept the diversity or our Earth’s peoples. African, Asian, Caucasian, Chris tian, Buddhist, homosexual, hetero sexual, male, female, whatever. Who cares about the basic labels? We are all human. Yeah, yeah, 1 know some people might pass off what I’m saying-as hippie drivel, but the world would be a hell of a lot better if we all just smile at one another and say, “so be it.” Beyond that, maybe we should all look into someone’s eyes and pul ourselves in their place. Feel the preju dice, the hurt and the hatred aimed at all of us from someone who doesn’t understand an individual personal culture. Our Earth is just one planet in an infinite number of planets. Why should we be so divided? What happens when we make contact with another world? Will we still fightamongst ourselves? Our planet must unite, but it has to start small. First, within yourself, then among friends, later in a community, a city, a state, a country, a continent, then a planet. So during National Human Rights Week, look inward and open yourself to the diversity surrounding us. Michael Svoboda sophomore broadcasting "Dark side’ I must admit 1 was very amused by the recent Sam Kcpficld column con cerning Thanksgiving (“Stop theguilt at Thanksgiving,” DN, Dec. 2). In fact, I have been amused by Kcpficld’s columns all yearlong. Now,don’tgct me wrong. I personally like Kcpficld and have a class with him. We just do not share the same views on certain issues. I got my first union card whcn> was 17 years old. When I was 19,1 went to work in the coal mines in western Wyoming, and when I was 28, I was elected president of the Western Energy Workers Union. I have been active in the Democratic Party and worked on many campaigns and issues in support of the party. Needless to say, Kcpficld and I don’t view things the same. I must admit I have enjoyed his columns. In fact, I have kept most of them in a clipping file on my living room table. Maybe it is a fascination with the “dark side” or just a need to explore and learn about a new and different way of thinking. I don’t know. But I keep them and read them often. Last week after coming come from class, I discovered that my dog had gotten into the garbage. Now the little mutt knows better, and I felt he needed to be disciplined. Without thinking I grabbed up all of Kepficld’s columns and wrapped them in the recent issue with the column about Thanksgiving. Then using the column in sort of the same club-like way that Sam docs, I beat the poor unfortunate animal. When I came to my senses, I stopped to see if 1 had hurt old Shep. I now notice two things about him that I think arc adirccl result of the contact with the material. First, whenever he moves, he seems to veer wildly to the right. Second, whenever he speaks, his knees begin to jerk. The power of the press is an amaz ing thing. Donald Wade Davis sophomore Teachers College 1 - • ijrauuauon prayers I would like to commend^\SUN Speaker of the Senate Andrew Loudon’s clever and provocative adoption of cultural-diversity speak in his AS UN resolution that was voted down last week. The resolution said that keeping prayers in the graduation ceremony would “offer a cultural and educa tional experience by displaying dif ferent religions’ traditions.” Really. One might as well include a McDonald’s commercial or a lop 10 hit single. Or yet another inspiring passage from the writings of a dead, white, Christian male. Or some shop ping center Christmas music. 1 would like lo ask Loudon just who he thinks he will be educating. It seems to me that most of us arc well aware that a lot of people think there is a God. We have had ample expo sure lo Judeo-Chrislian chanting, if you^k me. Further inundation is not Trcccssiiry, thank you. \|lh^nk the nine members of the comflTcncement committcc who voted against the resolution for bearing in mind the non-religious and the differ ently religious. I thank them for un derstanding that exposure to the fa miliar is not educational. If Loudon wants the ceremony lo appeal to the majority, he should as least be honest about it. To couch his agenda in the jargon of the sclf-righ leously open-minded is transparent and silly, if not a little bit dorky. Pohl Longsinc senior mathematics, computer science Multiculturalism Docs Kimberly Spurlock ever think about what she is writing? I couldn’t believe it when I read, “Malcolm X did not condone violence but believed in self-defense.” It sccmsa strange coincidence, but the Klan claimed to be against vio lence except in cases of self-defense, loo. I’m sure you will agree the Klan is an evil, hate-driven organization. Malcolm X was a militant radical. I sec, Abraham Lincoln didn’t free the slaves. I guess the Emancipation Proclamation of 1862 and ’63 were meaningless. The\fact that Lincoln endorsed the 13th Amendment must seem insignificant to you. Just to show you that Lincoln was more than a political opportunist, look at his record as a public servant. Lincoln first went on the record against slavery in 1837 as a stale senator in Illinois. During his term in the U.S. Congress, he attempted to abolish slavery in the District of Co lumbia. After the passage of the Kan sas-Nebraska Act, the future presi dent was drawn back into politics where he fought the movement to expand slavery. This is what led to his joining the Republican Party and his winning the parly’s nomination for the presidency. Lincoln could have been concilia tory and given the South what it wanted, but true to his nature, he pul principal ahead of all. I don’t apolo gize for loving justice, and I don’t apologize for all the while boys who lost their lives securing the freedom of slaves. If you think Lincoln wasn’t a hero for all Americans, there’s something wrong with you. He was a great man, not bccauscof his race, but because of what he did. The last country to offi cially abolish slavery was Angola in I960. Slavery docs still exist, but not here. As for the color of Jesus, who really cares? 1 have always believed the leac hings of Jesus and that he gave his life for our sins were more impor tant. My problem with Spurlock is that you think of every issue as black vs. white. Every groupof people has con tributed to our magnificent society. To pretend the only groups of signifi cance arc the blacks and whiles is a disservice to all. I hope you take ad- j vantage of die multicultural opportu nities on campus — you need them. John Shuman junior Spanish, anthropology