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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 13, 1994)
Opinion Nebraskan Thursday, January 13,1994 Nebraskan Editorial Board University of Nebraska-Lincoln Jeremy Fitzpatrick.Editor, 472-1766 Rainbow Rowell.Opinion Page Editor Adeana Leftin.. Managing Editor Todd Cooper.Sports Editor JeffZeleny.Associate News Editor Sarah Duey. .Arts & Entertainment Editor Staci McKee.Photo Chief I m l< mi \l Too many leaders Bill introduced to limit commission s control To move forward, the University of Nebraska must have strong leadership and direction. There is no lack of leaders for NU now. Under the current system, the NU Board of Regents, the president, the Legislature and the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education all vie for control ofNU. Like a ship with too many captains, the University of Nebraska stands still while its authorities bicker about who is supposed to be at the helm. This problem may be solved by a bill introduced into the Nebraska Legislature Tuesday by state Sen. Jerome Warner. The bill, LB 1063, would limit and more clearly define the powers of the coordinating commission. The coordinating com mission was established by the Legislature to help eliminate duplicate programs in Nebraska’s public colleges and universities. In the past, this vague definition has allowed the commission to interfere with budget concerns. The bill states that the commission “shall be policy based ... and shall not invade the institutional governance or management authority of any governing board.’’ At a time when we must fight for every dollar, NU must have one voice and one stand when our budget comes before the Legislature. Arguing between the commission and the regents makes us look foolish and makes us an easy target for cuts. Passing LB 1063 will help get NU moving again. By limiting the powers of the commission, one captain can emerge to steer NU into the future. That captain should be the Board of Regents, the men and women elected by Nebraska voters. Pressure China Sanctions needed to thwart oppression Barring a last-minute breakthrough by negotiators, the United States will cut China’s textile quota Jan. 17. The Associated Press reported Wednesday the move could cost 300,000 Chinese their jobs. The Clinton administration decided to cut the textile quota because it said China had failed to curb huge illegal textile and clothing shipments. China’s government said the decision was unfair to its legal textile industries. But there is a good reason for the Clinton administration to take action against China that has nothing to do with textiles. The United States should approve sanctions against the Chinese because the Chinese continue to engage in human rights viola tions against their own people. Tiananmen Square has largely been forgotten, but the oppres sive government that caused it is still in power. China is a large trading partner with the United States, and our government has resisted acting against China because ot a fear of the economic backlash. That may be the most economically safe move for the United States, but it is not the right one. Continuing trade with China amounts to the indirect support of a government that kills its own people. The Clinton administration should cut China’s textile quota whether the Chinese continue illegal trading practices or not. The Chinese stand to lose about $1 billion in sales from the move. Maybe that is what the government officials need to convince them the United States will not do business with oppressive regimes. I mu no \i i'( ii k \ SufT editorials represent the official policy of the Spring 1994 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. I i 111 u I'm i< \ 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 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 tun 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. Requeue to withhold names will not be granted. Submit material to the Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448. 7 mY'Rt uWWi N* PfeVffi — \r r. Ill (.Ill s Sll WkS Activist past creates empathy Each day we must determine how to treat our friends. We have rules and standards gov erning what we do and how to go about the business of being friends. Seme time ago, I decided to intro duce three close friends of mine who were all involved in the pro-life move ment. I soon became a 1 ittle uneasy at the thought of introducing the three. I knew my wife and my mother, both liberals, would think I was crazy. And my liberal friends would feel betrayed. It’s entirely appropriate to bring together friends who share a common interest, be it music, art, film, sports or politics. So, what’s the big deal? Anti-abortion activism reminds me of my family’s experiences during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Like the pro-lifers of today, we too were protesters. 1 learned that protesting had pain ful drawbacks. Every day, I remem ber watching my parents make picket signs. I recall the pungent smell and the shrill sound of Magic Markers as they screamed across fresh poster board. I can still hear the reprise of trium phant hymns and the drone of protest songs. To a spectator, these images may seem dramatic and heroic. When I was a preschooler and my mother was running for the school board in a segregated district, FBI field agents often made impromptu visits to our home to intimidate my family. My mother reminds me still of how I’d stand behind her, clutching her skirt. We were ostracized by neighbors for being crazed zealots. The press depicted us as fanatics with little re gard for the law and for those they feared we’d harm to advance our cause. The status quo fears you; the intel lectuals humor and mock you. In gen eral, you are belittled for the crime of going against the norm. It’s easy to draw parallels between then and now. We hear much about the pro-life movement and the pro choice movement, but not about the I can sympathize with both sides. I know how it feels to be perse cuted for going against the norm, but I also know how it feels to have someone else control my rights. individuals most involved—the wom en seeking abortions or counseling and the protesters who so passionate ly believe they are only doing what is right. When a physician who performs abortions is killed or a women’s cl inic is bombed, the entire movement and all those associated with it take the blame. No doubt, some pro-lifers sneer and say, “Serves 'em right,” while pro-choicers proclaim, “Sec, that proves they’re crazy.” But these are just extremists. 1 can sympathy with both sides. 1 know how it feels to be persecuted for going against the norm, but I also know how it feels to have someone else control my rights. Should we presume to know the sum of a person because of his or her identification with a particular group? And, as a member of a group, would I want to live up to the unrealistic expectations of others, thus willingly submitting to their summation of me? Nah. No thanks. It seemed reasonable to take an other look at arguments for and against abortion before deciding whether to introduce my three friends. At the very least, it’s extremely confusing. From the pro-life side, there seems to be a persistent call to preserve life, to save a child. From the pro-choice side, we hear calls to “allow a woman to choose what to do with her own body!” The arguments are centered on “Who-has-the-right-to-do-what to-who.” It isn’t crystal clear. So often the subjective nature of both sides’ arguments transforms oth erwise calm and rational people into angry sorts who resort to generaliza tions and name-calling. While both sides claim to value life, they also act in oppressive ways that deny each other’s right to exist with dignity. Oddly.each side is quick to call the other a killer. I ’ m glad to have kept an open mind and feel empathy for protesters in general. The first time I crossed a picket line was some 25 years after the civil rights movement, when protest ers claimed the film “The Last Temp tation of Christ” presented a “harm ful” depiction of Christ. I thought, “Wow, so this is what it’s like to represent the establishment.” I had never observed a protest as a spectator, much less defied one. It made me think for a moment. I balked. But hey, Barbara Hershey, David Bowie, Harvey Kietel, Martin Scorsese and Harry Dean Stanton? What can I say; I went in. My choice to see a movie isn’t as difficult as a woman’s choice to have an abortion. I’m glad I had the right to walk through the nicketers, but I’m also glad they had the right to be there. I decided to introduce my three friends. I don’t think 1 am empower ing the pro-life movement, and hey, everyone can use more friends. Shaaki li a graduate itudeat la political tcieace aad a Dally Nebraikaa cduaiaiit. P.S. Write Back The Daily Nebraskan wants to hear from you. If you want to voice yi opinion about an article that appears in the newspaper, let us know. Just write a brief letter to the editor and sign it (don’t forget your student ID number) and mail it to the Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R Street, Lincoln, NE 68588-0448, or stop by the office in the basement of the Nebraska Union and visit with us. We’re all ears.