Opinion
Monday, January 16, 1995
Page 4
Editorial Board
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
JeffZeleny
Jeff Robb.
Matt Woody
DeDra Janssen. .
Rainbow Rowell
James Mehsling
Chris Hain
j
... Opinion Page Editor
.Associate News Editor
Arts & Entertainment Editor
..Cartoonist
.Senior Reporter
. Editor, 472-1766
Managing Editor
Deeper meaning
Take time to reflect upon King’s dream
Today, we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. Or at least
we are supposed to.
Today, we commemorate what would have been his 66th birth
day. Or at least we are supposed to.
He was struck down by a bullet on April 4,1968. With a bang—
not with a whimper—the man was gone.
Today, we remember King and his dream. Or at least we are sup
posed to.
What does Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday mean to the city of
Lincoln?
Is it just another day when all of the banks are closed? Is it just
another day without mail delivery?
This impression is given at
first glance.
At the University of Ne
braska, business goes on as
usual. Today is just like any
other day. Sure, UNL has sched
uled for noon today a Martin
Luther King Jr. Day gathering,
which comes standard with a
speaker.
Undoubtedly, the address
will be interesting and informa
tive. Hopefully, it will also be
invigorating and inspiring, be
5 jwj cause the city of Lincoln doesn’t
James Mehsfing/DN always fit in with King’s dream.
On Sept. 30,1994, Francisco Renteria was stopped by UNL Po
lice officer Charlotte Veskma because he fit the description of a man
who was wanted for violating a protection order. Some say it was
because he was Hispanic.
Regardless of why, it does illustrate a major problem in Lincoln.
And it brought more hostile reports of racism throughout Lincoln’s
minority community.
It would seem that not everyone understands the essence of Mar
tin Luther King Jr.
All people — black, white, Hispanic, whatever race — need to
recognize the importance of King’s ideas.
King preached of a world where skin tones didn’t matter and where
people saw people for what they were —just people.
The University of Nebraska should recognize King’s birthday by
canceling classes. Unfortunately, that would only be a symbolic move
— yet it’s one that should be made.
Having a day off from work or classes might be, to many, just an
opportunity to attend a Martin Luther King Jr. Day sale at a depart
ment store. After all, how many people take other holidays, like Vet
erans Day or Memorial Day, to reflect upon their true meanings?
Certainly, everyone should think about why we have holidays,
and not just that we do. And Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday is no
different.
We must understand and embrace King’s message. It is one of
equality and hope for the future.
In today’s times, that is something.
Editorial policy
Staff editorials represent the official
policy of the Spring 1995. Daily
Nebraskan. Policy is set by the Daily
Nebraskan Editorial Board. Editori
als do not necessarily reflect the views
of the university, its employees, the
students or the NU Board of Re gents.
Editorial columns represent the opin
ion of the author. The regents publish
the Daily Nebraskan. They establish
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pervise the daily production of the
paper. According to policy set by the
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rial content of the newspaper lies
solely in the hands of its students.
Letter policy
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 mate
rial submitted. Readers also are welcome to submit
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lished. Letters should included the author’s name,
year in school, major and group affiliation, if any.
Requests to withhold names will not be granted.
Submit material to: Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska
Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448.
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readers say: j
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Send your brief letters to:
Daily Nebraskan, 34
Nebraska Union, 1400 R St.,
Lincoln, Neb. 68588. Or fax
to: (402) 472-1761. Letters
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verification.
Pro-life — all life
The sad reality is that another
individual has chosen to use
violence in his response to legal
abortion. Once again, the pro-life
movement takes a step backwards.
True pro-life individuals stand for
life — from conception until
natural death. The small minority
of confused and clouded “pro-life”
individuals very much weakens and
hurts the pro-life movement.
On the afternoons I stand outside
of Planned Parenthood, I hold no
weapon, no fierce or fiery words —
only a sign that reads “ABORTION
KILLS CHILDREN.” I stand with
my sign to bring awareness to what
abortion is — the ending of a
child’s life. Therefore, the only
weapon that I and the majority of
pro-life individuals hold is the
truth.
In a society that has chosen to
condone the silent deaths of unseen
and unspoken individuals, the pro
life role is simply to bring aware
ness to others: in our workplaces,
classrooms, homes, dormitories and
families. No violence is needed in
our activism. There is enough
violence in the act of abortion.
The change from a pro-abortion
society to that of pro-life will not
occur by a bullet. It will occur by
getting involved, by showing that a
woman like myself can be both
feminist and pro-life.
We are husbands, wives,
teachers, doctors, senators, students
and children. We are religious and
nonreligious, supporters and
opponents of many causes, but in
agreement on one thing — ABOR
TION KILLS CHILDREN.
As true pro-life individuals, it is
our responsibility to speak up and
get involved. We, in no way, can
support Salvi or any other confused
“pro-life” activist. Although we
cannot support what abortion
providers do, we recognize that
they are deserving of their right to
life —just as unborn babies deserve
their right to life.
As I, as so many others, stand on
the street comers of America
holding our signs, do not be afraid.
We are not holding guns or
weapons. We are only holding the
James Mehsling/DN
words of truth. We stand for life
and we are doing what we can,
peacefully and prayerfully, to
defend that life.
Sara E. Schlife
freshman
business management
CBA report
Brian Allen’s letter (Jan. 13)
assails the Daily Nebraskan for
publicizing an “unsigned, unsub
stantiated document” on the “chilly
climate” for women in the College
of Business Administration.
That document was signed by
four members of the Committee on
Women of the American Associa
tion of University Professors, UNL
Chapter: Helen Moore, Jane
Conoley, Mary Beck and Christina
Brantner.
If the document had been
anonymous, then Dean
Schwendiman would not have
requested that the Dean and
Executive Committee of my college
investigate my participation in that
report and with the Committee on
Women.
He made the request. They
declined to do so. I do not know if
my committee colleagues were
similarly targeted.
The “Committee of Concerned; ,
UNL Professors'” has a number of
faculty peer review groups to which
they could bring their evidence or
complaints for consideration under
committee rules of procedure. I
doubt that these reviewers would
reach the same conclusions as the
Concerned Professors, but it is the
responsibility of a grievance
committee to draw its independent
conclusion.
Helen Moore
chair and professor of sociology
‘Poor are selfish’
Several thousands of years ago, a
Levite family, living in the ghettos
near the banks of the river Nile,
voluntarily gave up their newly
bom baby for adoption by the
daughter of the wealthy Pharaoh.
She provided him with the best
education money could buy.
The leadership opportunities his
adoptive parents provided him
could never have been given to him
by his poor parents. This child,
Moshe, led his people to freedom
from slavery and provided them
with a everlasting Covenant.
I had spent two of my most
formative years as a youth in a Boys
Town-type home where I worked
half time and studied agricultural
sciences half time. During these
years I learned to appreciate
discipline, teamwork, a hard work
ethic and homework. I missed my
parents and my siblings, but the
experience was very beneficial.
The moral of the story is if you
want your child to be a world-class
leader, put him or her up for
adoption in a wealthy home, or if
you are prepared to settle for an
electrician, send him or her to a
Boys/Girls Town.
Father Val Peters and his
dedicated staff would welcome
them all with open arms. If the poor
people would not be so selfish, we
could eradicate poverty in one fell
swoop. If they could only share
their children with the wealthy, we
could wipe out crime and
homelessness once and for all.
Ezekiel Bahar
George Holmes Professor of
Electrical Engineering
