Opinion
Net>raskan
Tuesday, October II, 1N3
Daily
Nebraskan
Editorial Board
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Jeremy Fitzpatrick.
Kathy Steinauer.
Wendy Mott. .
Todd Cooper...
Chris Hop/ensperger...... r-.
Kim Spurlock. .
Kiley Timperley...
I DlK >KI \!
. .. Editor, 472-1766
Opinion Page Editor
.. . Managing Editor
...... Sports Editor
... .Copy Desk Chief
.Sower Editor
Senior Photographer
Small piece
L.A. beatings signify larger racial conflict
The verdict is in on another trial in these recent years of
controversial courtroom cases.
Two African-American men, Damian Williams and Henry
Watson, were acquitted of most of the felony charges in the
beating of Reginald Denny, a white truck driver who was pulled
from his truck and beaten in the first minutes of Los Angeles riots
in April 1992.
The jury in the Denny case deadlocked on some counts, and the
defendants were found guilty of some lesser charges, such as
misdemeanor assault and a felony charge of mayhem.
Ironically, the beating of Denny occurred after the verdict came
in from the Rodney King trial in Los Angeles. Then, white
policemen were acquitted of charges in the videotaped beating of
Rodney King.
The Reginald Denny beating also was videotaped. The tapes
allow the public to come to its own conclusions about the guilt or
innocence of the defendants in both cases.
After watching the Denny beating, it does not appear that
justice has been served in this case. The defendants may not have
intended to kill Denny, but Denny certainly was a victim, both of
the beating and of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The King and Denny trials arc only symptoms of a larger racial
problem in our society. The racial aspect of these trials seldom is
seriously discussed, but plays an important role in these cases.
These beatings occur because of frustrated racial relations, and it
is only through relieved racial strife that we can begin solving
problems that escalate through race riots and beatings of both
blacks and whites.
Volunteer work?
Gas emission reduction requires legislation
President Clinton will release the details of his plan today to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. The
Associated Press reported that the plan would rely heavily
on voluntary steps by private industry, but will also require
greater energy efficiency.
Clinton is announcing the plan to keep a promise he made on
Earth Day to reduce greenhouse gases in the United States to their
1990 levels by 2000. President Bush rejected the move as bad for
industry.
But apparently Clinton hasn't gone much further than Bush.
His plan reportedly relics heavily on the voluntary cooperation of
business to invest in energy-saving techniques and other measures
that will reduce greenhouse gases.
The plan calls for the government to commit about $250
million a year through 2000 to programs designed to help busi
nesses reduce greenhouse gases. Large businesses with parking
also will be required to provide a cash equivalent reimbursement
for non-driving employees.
Clinton’s program for greenhouse gas emissions is a start, but
it is not enough. The United States cannot seriously hope to
reduce its greenhouse gas emissions if its plan to do so is largely
voluntary.
If businesses were willing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
on their own, there would be no need for legislation. Unfortunate
ly they are not, which is why Clinton needs to come forward with
a stricter plan to protect the environment.
I m ioui vi i*i m h \
Staff editorials represent the official policy of the Fall 1993 Daily Nebraskaa. Policy is set by
(be 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 contedt of the newspaper lies solely in the hands of
its students
l i 111 i< I'm h n
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I I I 11 K' IM ! Ill I |»| |U|<
NAFTA
I find it the ultimate in ironies that
I as a socialist should be agreeing with
a capitalist billionaire about an issue
relating to the welfare of workers.
However, Ross Perot is absolutely
correct fn his opposition to NAFTA.
There is a saying that those who do
not learn from history are doomed to
repeat it. There is in history another
free-trade agreement — the Open
Door Policy in China. The foreign
capitalists who built factories there
. paid no attention to the environment
or the health and safety of workers in
those factories. Little children worked
16 hours a day in factories where they
were often locked in at night. They
were considered nothing more than'
an expendable input into a product.
Supporters of NAFTA say a simi
lar situation couldn’t occur today be
cause child-labor laws exist and envi-.
ronmental organizations have power.
Well, judging from the maquiladora
factories, I think they are being overly
optimistic. Pollution near these facto
ries is so bad that children are being
born without brains and with numer
ous other terrible birth defects.
NAFTA, in my opinion, is nothing
but a smoke screen for exploitation.
American workers will lose because
high-paying manufacturing jobs will
be moved to Mexico and be replaced
by service sector jobs paying $5 or $6
an hour. Mexican workers will lose
because of pollution, low pay, bad
working conditions and no benefits. It
is a lose-lose proposition for everyone
except the American capitalists who
take advantage ofNAFTA to increase
their profits.
Gary Sudborough
Bellflower, Calif.
Triangles
I hope I can clarify some miscon
ceptions concerning the pink triangle
stickers.
The triangles are intended to be a
sign of support for gay and lesbian
students. Not displayingastickcr does
not indicate you are homophobic and
unsupportive.
To many gay and lesbian students,
a displayed sticker signifies a person
who can offer positive support and
guidance during the students’ com
i ng-out process. Not displaying a slick
er is not a sign you are homophobic. It
simply means there are others more
comfortable discussing the issue of
sexual orientation.
The intent of the stickers was not to
divide faculty, create a blacklist of
homophobic professors, not to ad
vance a political agenda. It was sim
ply to create a more comfortable at
mosphere for gay and lesbian students
on this campus, and for this we sup
port Dr. Jolly’s conviction on this
issue.
David Bolkovac
*— -—-——- co-chairman
Gay/Lesbian Student Association
James Mehsltng/DN
Oppression
Mr. Beineke — another poor, dis
illusioned, young, white heterosexual
male — in his missive to the editor
(DN, Oct. 18) failed to observe that
while he has the right and the privi
lege to file a complaint regarding
unfairness in employment, others like
myself are not extended that courtesy
simply based on sexual orientation.
Unlike Mr. Beineke and others who
whine incessantly about their dwin
dling privilege to oppress, 1 can lose
my job, housing and I ivelihood based
on a bigot’s whim. In fact, rights that
all Americans supposedly have — or
are bom with, according to Beineke’s
letter — arc in reality reserved for
those with characteristics that mirror
his own. If you don’t get it, maybe a
course in history will illuminate the
situation.
The people involved in the gay and
lesbian rights movement are not seek
ing “special rights,” only fairness.
Mr. Boltc, time will tell, was fired
basedentircly on his perceived sexual
orientation, not his job schedule. Is
this really an extension of American
values? The same values that arc pur
ported to exist? There is neither fair
ness. justification nor righteousness
in discrimination. Yet this is the value
held dearest to America’s heart.
If oppression did not exist in the
forms of racism, sexism or
homophob ta, t he re woul dn ’ t be a need
for “special interest" groups clamor
ing for rights and offending the ear of
the oppressor.
While we all may have been creat
ed equally, gay and lesbian people
certainly are not accorded that in our
daily lives and I, for one, plan on
clamoring until my rights arc secured.
Perhaps if Mr. Beineke stepped out of
his fear, anger and ignorance, his
ability to clarify might be enhanced.
It’s a long shot, but I suggest it.
C. Douglas-Ybarra
graduate student
. sociology
Athletes
I wish to share with you one of the
most uplifting experiences 1 have had
with UNL student-athletes.
Today I met two members of the
UNL football program who were vis
iting residents of the Milder Manor
nursing home. The fine, young men,
Larry Townsend and Jared Tomich,
were visiting with a 94-year-old lady
who has been a friend of mine for
several years. It surprised me that
these pleasant young men would take
time off from studying or watching
NFL football on Sunday afternoon to
spend with those often forgotten by
the rest of us.
My hat is off to Larry and Jared for
selflessly giving of their time as they
have. We all need to tear and sec
more of the good things our student
athletes do off the field or court.
D. Scott Steen
Lincoln
Gay rights
Well, Jason A. Beineke (DN, Oct.
18), I am sick and tired of people with
your kind of attitude. You will never
comprehend the apparent reasons and
needs for things like affirmative ac
tion.
Since you will never be a minority,
you cannot be a credible speaker on
their needs. Have you ever been de
prived of something that is rightfully
yours because you are black, a woman
or gay? Being a “young, white, het
erosexual male” with ignorance for
justification will get you absolutely
nowhere.
Members of the gay and lesbian
community feel there is a need for
legislature to protect their jobs if in
danger because of their sexual orien
tation. If someone fired you just be
cause you were a young, white, het
erosexual male, wouldn’t you want
protection?
You have a special-rights platform
to stand upon and scream. And that is
if you are fired because of discrimina
tion, you have the right to restitution.
Everyone should have that basic right.
But are we all living in the real world?
Until we can all live under the same
magnifying glass, one that doesn’t
discriminate because of color, creed,
gender, sexual orientation and so on,
this system will have to do. Com
plaining won’t help the situation.
Being gay or lesbian also doesn’t
lessen your ability to wait on custom
ers. If you think people who are open
about their sexuality have no place in
the work environment, I wonder how
you feel about ethnic groups and wom
en. But obviously they have an open
door policy for bigots.
Jacqueline Ann Baez-Thompson
sophomore
communications studies/prt-law