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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 20, 1993)
Opinion Nebraskan Editorial Board University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chris Hopfensperger.Editor, 472-1766 Jeremy Fitzpatrick.Opinion Page Editor Alan Phelps.Managing Editor Brian Shellito.Cartoonist Susie Arth. .Senior Reporter Kim Spurlock.Diversions Editor Sam Kepfield..Columnist Goodbye to an era Bush to take transitional place in history Today marks the end of an era. America’s quadrennial transition of power will, in 1993, result in a different ethers prevailing in the White House. The most obvious difference is that for the first time in 12 years, and only the second time in the last 25 years, a Democrat will sit in the Oval Office. More importantly, it means a generational shift. George Bush is the last in a line of presidents raised during the Depression, sent to fight the Third Reich and the Japanese Empire, and matured in the Cold War. Bush’s generation ruled for 30 years, beginning with John F. Kennedy, and remains the longest unbroken rule by any generation in U.S. history. Coming as he did at the end ol an era, Bush will likely be remembered as a transitional figure. He stood between the Cold War, always in danger of becoming a nuclear war, and the New World Order, as he termed it. Bush allowed his presidency to become a casually of that transition. A fair assessment of the Bush presidency will note his accomplishments in foreign policy. As vice president and as president, he helped bring about the collapse of the Warsaw Pact, and later the Soviet Union, without a shot being fired or an American killed. His most notable achievement, the Gulf War, stands as a partial triumph of American military technology. The failure to remove Saddam Hussein from power is a blot on the victory, as well as a signal that American power was tempered by concerns for its Coalition partners. Despite his other successes, Bush look an overly cautious stance during the world’s revolutions of 1989 and 1991, and made only noncommittal actions for human rights during the Tiananmen Square uprisings in China. The story of the Bush presidency’s effectiveness is another story altogether from his accomplishments in foreign affairs. Bush failed to capitalize on his popularity in the wake of the Gulf victory and push through a domestic agenda. Not until Pal Buchanan captured 37 percent of the vole in New Hampshire did Bush and his advisers wake up to the discontent in America. Much of that disconicnt stemmed from Bush’s broken “read my lips’’ pledge not to raise taxes in the 1988 election and the subsequent 1990 tax increase. By this year’s election, it was too late for Bush to dig himself out of the chasm in domestic affairs. He responded to the riots in Los Angeles and the devastation of Hurricane Andrew by show ing up for photo opportunities. Bush stood on the edge of two generations. His refusal to release the standards and beliefs of America’s old guard ulti mately hindered his effectiveness in a changing world. His refusal to address the issues and needs of America ultimately led to his defeat. Bush will definitely not be remembered as a great president, but history can, as Jimmy Carter and Richard Nixon know, rehabilitate somewhat. -1 I Staf f editorials represent the official policy of the Fall 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 regenu publish the Daily Nebraskan. They establish the UNL Publications Board to supervise the daily production of the paper. According to policy set by the regenu, responsibility for the editorial content of the newspaper lies solely in the hands of iu students. The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief 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. The Daily Nebraskan reuins 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. Requesu to withhold names will not be granted. Submit material to the Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448. m TOPMS NAME, Ig-SoU, NRE SHKLL LOOK. W R. CUWOUS CMVNE CWJ-EO THE V4Affl\\N£iF0N TEftRSv. vr PERFORM R 4'TEAR. CSCLE OF g0lL0lM6 (\ THCK.COM FOR THE CMAfWOM SEASON, BEFORE SREPDIHC, \T <5U0T>EtJL\j. AT? TER BEFORE Diversity needed at graduation Many years ago 1 was in love with Jesus in that special way that little girls arc in love. When I saw him in ‘‘The Greatest Story Ever Told,” he had the bluest of all blue eyes. I’d learned in Sunday school that he had devoted his life to helping those who were oppressed by others. As I grew up, I continued to appre ciate the philosophies of Christ while I grew disenchanted with the behav iors of some Christians. The people who exhorted generosity and forgive ness on Sunday morning were the same ones who cautioned their chil dren not to play with the likes of me. I have since met several wonderful Christians, and I’ve concluded that all religions have their rascals and their saints. Mostofus find ourselves some where in between the two. I’ve come to consider theologies and spiritualisms as culturally inter preted, universal experiences. I’ve discovered one common theme among the world’s predominant religions is benevolence. It is people who break theologies down into the clauses and phrases to defend our intolerance. It is human kind who, in deference to practicing the teachings of their selected doc trine, prefer the external display of garish cathedrals and grand gestures. My friends who practice Christi anity quietly in their personal lives share with me a curiosity about those who find it necessary to become so vocal about the removal of prayer from the commencement ceremonies. Are these the same people who regularly attend the church of their choice? Do they express gratitude each time they cat? Do they understand the dcstructi vc luxuries of thermostats and plumb ing, seeking contrition for being part of a society that lakes such things for granted? Have they great respect for this Prayer would be fine at commence ment were it not exclusive and represented an extension of our everyday behav iors. carlh, or arc ihcy among those who treat this campus as if it were their own personal garbage can? I wonder how these defenders of righteousness treat homeless people they encounter. Do they stop and offer them a meal, a pair of gloves or a dollar? Do they avert their eyes and avoid all contact with street people? I have nothing against prayer. It is a habit of my conditioning. Although in my personal spiritual beliefs I rely upon elements from several religions, prayer and meditation arc the water and air of my spiritual sustenance. Because I do not believe in birth right, I equate a great blessing with the reality that I am silling near my space heater, feasting on nuts and raisins instead of freezing to death in a remote Bosnian village. A conscious state of prayer serves to remind me of my good fortune, which in turn allows me to maintain a degree of happiness. On the other hand, I am far from being an example lo anyone. Ii is all I can do lo keep my own thoughts in line, much less be responsible for anyone elsc’s. Far be it from me to impose my behaviors on those around me. I need to sleep at night. So I am not necessarily against prayer at commencement. On thccon trary, such ceremonies might be mar ginally less dull if each of the repre sented religions were allowed a few minutes of devotion. We could hear a few of the A nalccts of Confucius, something from the Koran and the Mahabharata, spend some moments in contemplative meditation and perhaps equivocate with the agnostics. It may provide us with one of those multicultural expe riences that this institution pretends to promote. It’s no longer appropriate that Christian prayer dominates the reli gious devotion of academic ceremo nies. Most white European Midwest erners don’t understand the oppres sion that can result from the will of a majority. We find ourselves, in the final years of the second millennia, trying lo evolve emotionally and intellectu ally beyond the boundaries of racism and sexism. We wish to be a more generous, tolerant, secure majority. A secure majority, like a secure individual, has no need to impose its will upon others. Security in one’s spiritual beliefs arises from their incorporation into one’s daily behavior. Prayer would be fine at commence ment were it not exclusive and repre sented an extension of our everyday behaviors. If it exists and continues merely as a gesture in place of genu ine gratitude, then perhaps we should re-examine our motivation for its de fense. / r * McAdams is a sophomore news-editorial major and a Daily Nebraskan columnist. ‘Ge^a clue’ Being an employee al Pickles and a DJ at KRNU, I was infuriated by Wendy Mott’scolumn,“Music stores staffed by snobs” (DN, Jan. 18,1992). As she stated in her article, she does have “limited exposure" to the record stores and it obviously shows in your close-minded judgmental opinion. Molt seems to tnrow all record store employees into one huge, snob bish, grungy, flannel-wearing cat egory. Things aren’t what they seem. Not all of us arc desperate, offensive snobs, but truly nice people. Problems arise when a person gen eralizes groups in society. Every per son is an individual and deserves to be treated as such. Maybe she should have done a little more hands-on re search before writing your weak, bi ased article. As for insider information, most customers welcome a chance to find out the latest news about their favorite artists and new releases. Not all KRNUDJs play “120 Min utes” music. We even try to stay away from MTV/mainstream alternative music. “120 Minutes” doesn’t cap lure the essence of true progressive music — it's trendy. You would be surprised. Some of us are actually quite knowledgeable and incredible DJs. If Mott thinks we’re all amateur broadcasting punks and doesn’t like KRNU format, then why doesn’t she listen to KFRX; that station is more likely to play her be loved “Del Amitri.” Get a clue. It sounds like Mott’s the snob with the altitude. Leah Bucco-White ‘ junior broadcasting
