The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, September 02, 1994, Page 4, Image 4

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    Opinion
Friday, September 2, 1994
Page 4
Nebraskan
Editorial Board
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
JeJfZeleny. . .Editor. 472-1766
Kara Morrison.Opinion Page Editor
Angie Brunkow. .......Managing Editor
Jeffrey Robb. Associate News Editor
Rainbow Rowell.Columnist/Associate News Editor
Kiley Christian. .Photography Director
Mike Lewis.Copy Desk Chief
James Mehsling.. Cartoonist
Ql (> I I > oi I III W I I k
“Now, the UPS man can smell my house from three
blocks away.”
— Diana Lynch,
owner of The Flicker Shoppe,
a store specializing in candles
“We showed the nation that Nebraska has a pretty
good defense, and we can stay on the porch with
the big dog.”
— Doug Colman,
Nebraska linebacker
“Our church lives according to the Bible. We do
make a stand on what the Bible says, and some
times that doesn’t go over with other people.”
— David Casey.
Lincoln Christian Church minister
“I suddenly woke up and realized how much con
trol they had taken over my life. They make all this
seem so innocent, but really you’re giving up your
rights to make your own decisions.”
— Mark Larson,
former church mem for
“Sometimes students will challenge me and they
have more energy, but experience really counts for
a lot in this game. It’s what you have in your head.”
— Graham Spanier,
UNL Chancellor, on playing racquetbatl
“When it comes time to execute someone, it’s truly
a damnable debate. It’s an emotional issue more
than anything else. It’s the cutting edge of human
emotion.”
— Chtis Eskridge.
UNL professor of criminal justice
“I don’t see any reason for a game in Dallas over a
game In Kansas City or Oklahoma City. The people
down there Joined the Big Eight. The way I under
stood it, they were going to take the Big Eight
rules.”
— Tom Osborne,
Nebraska head football coach, on a Big Twelve championship game
“I just don’t see your leadership, Ben. If I were in
your shoes, I would have trouble looking people in
the eye.”
— Gene Spence.
Republican gubernatorial candidate.
to Governor Ben Nelson
Editor’s Note:
The Daily Nebraskan editorial board aplogizcs to readers
who may have been offended by a drawing of Harold
Lamont Otey in Thursday’s opinion page. The drawing was
inappropriate and in poor taste. The Daily Nebraskan regrets
the error.
I Dl I OKI M l’( >1 M \
Staff editorials represent the official policy of the Fall 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 i 11 i< rni K \
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 run as a guest opinion. Letters and guest opinions sent to the newspaper become the
property oftbe 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, ifany. Requests to withhold names will not be granted. Submit material to the Daily
Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448
m TAEUKK
was Vjrrw those
APPEALS anywav?
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History lesson
Regarding Jamie Karl’s column
“Reunion of American lowlife” (DN.
Aug. 26,1994): You arc a sad, scary
child.
I must congratulate you, however,
for obviously you arc a man who
knows the answer to everything. How
uncommon for an adolescent college
student.
What you need to understand,
though, is that Woodstock (1969) was
a rock concert. Nothing more,
nothing less. That it has been
canonized into something more than
a rock concert only reflects the
intellectual bankruptcy of those in
your line of “work.”
If you and other so-called journal
ists actually had an original thought,
you could be writing something
useful rather than spitting out die
same old ridiculous right-wing
diatribes. Was it really the hippies
and rock ‘n’ roll that destroyed
America?
Your premise that “the radicals of
the ’60s and the Woodstock genera
tion forever changed America and her
“societal standards” is so stupid it’s
laughable. (Do you not have any
entrance requirements for the
University of Nebraska?) I’m sure
there must be a history professor or
two on your campus. You might
make an appointment with one and
ask them about Watergate, Vietnam
or Kent State.
The f abric of our society was
indeed destroyed in the ’60s, as
Richard Nixon proved to us that
American politicians and the
“system” were as corrupt as any other
in the world.
You mock the spirit of the ’60s
counterculture, yet your understand
ing of the era has all of the intellectu
al sophistication of Rush Limbaugh.
If nothing else, the counterculture in
the ’60s believed that love, peace and
harmony were reasonable, attainable
pursuits. While these so-called
“lowlifes” may be written off for their
naivete, is there really something
wrong with wanting love and peace?
Or arc you a neophyte Nazi, fright
ened by the idea of equality for the
races and an end to war?
Try to ieam something while you
are still in college. You might start by
reading a copy of Howard Zinn’s “A
People’s History of the United
States.” No doubt it will surprise you
to learn that since 1492, America has
always been a corrupt society that
preys on the lower classes. (Did you
ever hear the one about slavery?)
If, in spite of your ignorance, you
somehow really do learn something,
you might become a journalist who
has something useful to say.
If all else fails, get yourself one of
those “marijuana pipes.” You are
going to need something to console
yourself 20 years from now (when
you arc the one with “wrinkles, flab
and all”) as you sit and read yet
another article by an intellectually
lightweight 20-year-old asshole
explaining to you how every decent
thing you believe in is a canard.
Charles Lilly
Chicago
James Mehsltng/DN
Pro-life
This is in response to Lori Lyn
Arthur’s editorial “Test gives birth to
option” (DN, Aug. 30,1994). Ms.
Arthur makes many generalizations
about the pro-life movement that I
would like to clear up.
First, she states that the pro-life
movement’s answer to every unwant
ed pregnancy is adoption. This is not
true. Right to Life is eager to work
with the woman and find an option
other than abortion for the woman
and her child. This is sometimes
adoption, but it also can be the
woman keeping her child and finding
support from others in the communi
ty. There are people who will help a
woman through her pregnancy and
afterward so that the woman can keep
her child and yet also make a good
life for them both.
As for the statement that only
healthy white babies arc wanted, this
also is untrue. There arc more than 3
million singles and couples on
waiting lists for adoption, many of
whom would be thrilled to adopt any
baby, even the ones with special
needs.
It is just a matter of getting in
touch with the right resources. For
those who do chose adoption, there is
always open adoption, so the mother
can know what happened to her
child.
Ms. Arthur says she is not for
abortion but wants women to have
this choice. But the choice comes
when contemplating sex. This is
where the choice is, not after. The
pro-life movement believes that in
most cases the woman made her
choice when she decided to have sex.
Now she should deal with her choice,
not kill it.
If she’s not ready to be a mother,
maybe she’s not ready to have sex.
Mary Baye
senior
secondary education
Death penalty
This is in response to Debi
Schneider and Sheila Whitmore’s
letter concerning the death penalty
(DN, Aug. 30,1994). I understand
that everyone has the right to stand
up for what they believe in, but as
hard as I try. I can’t understand the
reasoning for your bleeding hearts.
Do you enjoy spending your tax
dollars so Otey can get a free educa
tion plus cable? Why should we cater
to these sick bastards when they
should pay for their crimes? I’m so
tired of everyone standing up for
convicted killers like they’re some
kind of heroes.
i ncn merc arc me peupic wim
think the electric chair is too cruel.
Well, heaven forbid we hurt our
precious Harold. Do you think he
thought that striking his victim in the
head with a hammer was too cruel?
I personally think they should let
Bjorklund sit on Otey’s lap on Friday
morning. But as we all know,
Bjorklund will have a long and
prosperous life at the state penitentia
ry.
Speaking of Bjorklund, rumor has
it he wants to change his name;
maybe he should consider Harold
Lamont Otcy — there might be an
opening.
I don’t live too far from the prison,
and it wouldn’t bother me at all if my
lights dimmed at 12:01 a.m., because
I’ll already be grinning from car to
ear knowing justice has been served.
Jeff Carroll
junior
construction management
Robert Powell
senior
construction management