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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 13, 1993)
Daily - Nebraskan Wednesday* October 13,1093 Nebraskan Editorial Board University of Nebraska-Lincoln Jeremy Fitzpatrick ... Kathy Steinauer. Wendy Mott. .. Todd Cooper. Chris Hopfensperger Kim Spurlock ....... Kiley Timperley. I m mm U .. Editor, 472-1766 Opinion Page Editor . .. Managing Editor .Sports Editor .. . Copy Desk Ch ieJ .Sower Editor Senior Photographer Lawless State needs law to protect homosexuals A group gathered outside the Green Gateau restaurant Tuesday to protest the firing of an employee. They said he was fired because he is gay. No one has confirmed that this is the reason for the firing; the owner of the restaurant said conflicts in scheduling became a problem. But scheduling changes were approved by management in July. The situation behind the firing does not seem to be as simple as a schedule conflict. Regardless of the reason for the firing, this incident brings to } the spotlight a problem in this state. Nebraska does not have a law protecting against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Without it, employees or job applicants, regardless of qualifica tions, can be fired or denied employment because they arc homo sexual. This is blatantly, obviously wrong. UNL’s policy was amended in 1989 to say that no one can be discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation. Luckily for UNL students, faculty and staff, they are protected under this statement. But others in this state arc not protected. Employers can deny employment or fire someone for being gay. Sexual orientation deserves to be protected by law the same way people of various races, religions, ages, sexes and handicaps are protected. 1 The state needs to follow UNL’s lead and protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation. Until that happens, homosexuals who are just as qualified for a job as anyone else are in danger of being denied jobs because of sexual orientation. Foiled again Haiti troop halt jeopardizes democracy US. forces being sent to help restore democracy in yet another foreign country have been met with resistance. Noncombat soldiers who have been sent to Haiti to help restore the government of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide have been prevented from landing in the country. Haitian Army Chief Raoul Cedras and police commander Michael Francois prevented U.S. troops from landing. Their action violates a commitment they made in July to allow democ racy to be restored in Haiti. Under the agreement, Aristide is due to return to Haiti at the end of the month. A U.N. force of 1,600 troops — including 700 Americans — will be stationed in Haiti to aid Aristide’s govern ment. The troops will consist of military engineers, police trainers and administrative personnel. But Cedras and Francois’ action puts Haiti’s return to democra cy in jeopardy. Secretary of State Warren Christopher said Tuesday that their actions could result in the return of U.S. sanctions to Haiti. Haiti is strategically important to the United States because of its location in the Caribbean Sea. The problems of Haitian people fleeing to the United States in boats will continue if oppression is not ended in Haiti. The United States needs to avoid trapping itself in another situation like Somalia. But it also has an interest in seeing democ racy return to Haiti. President Clinton should act firmly but cautiously to put pressure on Cedras and Francois to let Aristide’s government return to Haiti. I III IOKI \| i’OI |< N SufTeditorials represent the official policy of the Fall 1993 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 for the editorial content of the newspaper lies solely in the hands of its students. _ l i i ii i< I'm k \ The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief l< tiers 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 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, il any Requests to withhold names will not he granted Submit matciial to the Uailv Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448. ‘One of their own’ Where are the peaceniks? Where arc the circle-jerkcrs, beatniks and potheads? They were ubiquitous dur ing the Gulf War, where are they now during the military operation in So malia? Where is the graffiti that might read,“Clinton Kills”or“No Blood for Aidid”? Why aren’t they circulating glum photos of innocent animals and plant life that arc being unjustly in jured in this ordeal? Don’t they have the uncontrollable urge to speak out for the victims and their families? Perhaps they are all in disbelief that one of their own could be abusing his .control of American troops. Do they not think that a liberal could be re sponsible for senseless deaths? Cristen Hiffernan senior psychology Diversity I am writing in response to the letter written by Ross A. Bunt rock (DN, Oct. 5). He writes, “The endless pursuit of ‘diversity’ on this campus and in every other segment of society has led to the death of meritocracy.’’ It really irritates me when people speak in broad generalities, especial ly when specific evidence docs not support their argument. Put another way, I hate it when someone paints with a broad brush, particularly when the brush is filled with the wrong color of paint. Buntrock’sslalcmcntspresume two thines: White males who do not have disabilities are always competent and all other people are always incompe tent. He also presumes he understands the way concept of meritocracy has been applied in this country. All of these presumptions are false. Meritocracy in America is still alive; it simply has a new twist to it. Ne i thcr skin color, tender nor phys ical challenge should be the sole de terminants for a job, as these charac teristics and competence arc not nec essarily interchangeable terms. But “merir as we approach the 21st cen tury should include the abil ity to view reality from different perspectives. It should include the ability to judge a person’s statements from the content of the speech, and not from the color of the skin surrounding the lips from which that speech flowed. It should include the ability to understand that when a person experiences a physical challenge, his/her intellectual capac ity docs not diminish. It should in clude the ability to understand that diversity is not a code word for anti white male. The mark of a good attorney is the ability to see things as they really arc, when your clients’ emotions have clouded their thinking. An emotional argument based upon solid facts and v VC'KmOTDVWTKRVEK-TD ,v GREW pgK-CD, TON WE W, \l mpemtTOWTOTtmo,, J WTURK ONE CTTrtt WS Wt'LL mKMvmwcm. IWPKAIH) HttCENCt I I I I I KS KM III Km IOU sound legal analysis is hard to beat. An argument driven by the “passion of ignorance" is hard to stomach. Lisa G.T. Swinton special assistant attorney general unit supervisor, Nebraska Depart ment of Social Services graduate student pre-medicine Gender I read with interest the editorial entitled “Who needs him? NU must decide if president is necessary (DN, Oct. 11).” While I recognize the edi torial policy states that “editorials do not necessarily reflect the viewsof the university ”etc., my question remains the same. Docs this person know some thing that the rest of us do not? Implic it in this headline is the incredible assertion that our next president, if needed at all, will be a man. I think that’s very interesting. Claudia Price-Decker chairwoman Chancellor’s Commission on the Status of Women junior women’s studies ‘Unfortunate use’ Whal was the point of running Patrick Hambrecht’s column “Gays still in cage” (DN, Oct. 12)? It was a confusing, rambling piece that only brought out most heterosexuals’ mis conceptions and ignorance about sex ual orientation. Homosexuality is nei ther bad nor good, inferior nor supe rior, right nor wrong. It just is, was and will always be one of the many colors of humanity’s variation that makes our world ’s cul lures so rich and amaz ing. Choosing a column such as his for your publication’s commentary on a day of self-liberation and pride, as is National Coming-Out Day, is an un L pun 1 OWERVW?' fortunate use of the exposure the Dai ly Nebraskan provides. Scott Ferguson sophomore Spanish, English Review I am responding to the Primus con cert preview article (DN, Oct. 7). If that was supposed to be a preview of the band, which appeared in Omaha at the Peony Park Ballroom, why is more than half of the article a slam against the band and what it stands for? I thought a concert preview was sup posed to highlight a band’s career to let people know what they’re about before they decide if they want to go to the show. Instead, what we have was an opinionated article that most or all Primus fans would disagree with. I am not a huge fan of Primus. 1 really appreciate the band for what they arc: the most unique band out there and a breath of fresh air to the standard grunge band. I would hope that before someone speaks for the whole music community, they should investigate further about a band’s ca reer. Not once have I heard a fan or anyone in the alternative music scene say that Primus is stale, and that noth ing ofT“Suck On This” was fun any more. Just reading the preview really makes me think that if someone read the article, they probably wouldn’t want to go to the show. Way to get them psyched for the show. William F. Homan senior broadcasting/advertising Football During the two years I have been a student at this school, I have seen the DN improve drastically. The layout has improved, the writing is better and the graphics look great. But the story headlined, “Huskcrs survive workout without any new injuries” (DN, Oct. S) was an absolute farce. Every few weeks we are treated to one of these “stories.” 1 must say, I was really sweating Thursday night’s game against Oklahoma State, who on earth would we have turned to if Calvin Jones, Lawrence Phillips, Damon Bcnning and the other 14 running backs who were above Clinton Childs on the depth chart got hurt? I’m sorry, DN journalists, but this just simply is not news. Stick to the good journalism you produce, such as the recent stories about Gerald Armstrong and Billy Wade. Don’t tell me which Husker suffered a hangnail in practice. I, and the other 23,999 students on this campus simply don’t care. Chris Dingman graduate student community and regional planning
