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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 1995)
Belief in angels offers coofort They watched over you as a child. They’re with you on road trips. You may even wear them on your breast. Angels, and more specifically guardian angels, can be found in art and literature dating back to pre Christian times. And they’re back again. They’re portrayed as cute, bare bottomed cherubs as well as tall, graceful, horn-wielding messengers from on high. In literature they hold the roles of saviors, compan . ions and messengers of both God and Satan. Cheribum, Seraphin and Archangels. Andrews and McNeel’s book “Angels”, says that according to some archeologists the first depiction of angels occurs around Babylon between 2500 and 1000 B.C. Others point to earlier paintings in Egypt and Mesopotamia. History’s great artisans and scribes have altered angel’s physical features, creating pop culture angels. In “Angels”, it’s pointed out that “the earliest angels, even the ones in the Old Testament, did not have wings.” And within in the last several years, there has been what may be considered a resurgence of those pop-culture angels. You’ve all seen the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Remember the lesson learned? Whenever you hear a bell ring, another angel has earned her wings. Angels appear on clothing, literature is full of them, interior decorators plaster them and art stores can’t keep enough prints of angels in their racks. Gold angel lapel pins are immensely popular right now. Women of all ages either wear one on a regular basis — or at least own one. Raphael’s painting, “Sistine Madonna”, contains what seems to be “the” pictorial image of angels today. . Jessica Kennedy “The idea of guardian angels is appealing to our disillusioned society. The painting contains two angels; small, infantile, with small wings, looking upward. The background coloring is yellow and the cherubs are rosy toned. Why the resurgence Maybe the same reason that the Christian right has had an increase in membership. In a society where the news is filled with death, destruction and violence people want — or rather need — symbols that give hope. The idea of guardian angels is appealing to our disillusioned society. We want to believe that there is something out there representing love and what is good. Guardian angels help fulfill that need. When you think of guardian angels, what kind of feelings or emotions do you have? I’d lay odds that you have positive thoughts. Or warm memories about an incident where you felt your guardian angels were involved. You don’t have to be religious or even a Christian to believe in angels. The idea of angels spans most religions and religious beliefs. In fact, some people believe that guardian angels are deceased family members watching out for their best interests. Society loves the idea of the protector. Disney played on the idea of a guardian angel in “Pinocchio” with his character Jiminy Cricket. A conscience watching over the actions of Pinocchio, of society. Attempting to.keep us out of trouble. Psalm 91:11-12 states it beauti fully: “For He shall give his angels charge over there, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” Isn’t it nice to believe that there’s someone watching out for you? That someone, or something,. has your best interests at heart? When you’re young, your parents watched out for you, when they were around. How do you explain all the other times you escaped disaster when they weren’t? Those moments when you look up at the last moment to see a car rushing toward you. When you find a lost pet. When an old friend calls you when you’re having a bad day. When you remember that crucial fact on the big test. Luck? Chance? Coincidence? Maybe. But I want to have something to believe in. I want to cling to that faint glimmer of hope that some higher order cares if I live or die. That somehow makes the day go a little easier for me. I don’t think that believing in guardian angels gives up my right to free will, my ability to choose my actions. The major decisions are still up to me. But if Psalms is right, and I suspect it is, then guardian angels are there to keep me from scuffing my toe. Kennedy is a Junior advertising/broad casttng/pubUc relations major and a Dally Nebraskan columnist* Offending others a guarantee wen, uic uauy i^cuiasRan nas done it again. They obviously don’t learn much from past mistakes. Once again they have chosen to run advertisements of exotic performers. Performers who, if given the opportunity, could more than likely breast-feed the entire state of Wyoming. Maybe you didn’t notice the advertisement in Monday’s paper. Maybe, like me, you opted to soil yourself at home rather than attend Monday’s classes. But it happened. Right smack dab in the middle of page eight, ; Mountain Honey and Brandie, two girls who will hie dancing at BJ.’s Hideaway in Lincoln, are seduc tively posing for all the student body to see. I can see the oh-so-warranted letters to the editor already. I am of course offering a failed attempt at being facetious, because actually, 1 applaud these advertise ments — if for no other reason, because they deeply offend a great number of humans. You freshmen won’t remember this, but last year this campus went through a type of social upheaval. The ruckus was over a video advertised in the DM which featured, as everyday as it may seem, naked, females shooting a game of billiards. Many students were outraged because their paper, which is partially supported by student fees, printed these kind of ads. Personally, I was offended at how easily everyone got offended over that ad, and no doubt the one that ran Monday. Why can’t the people of this great country understand that everyone is not the same, our likes and dislikes are not the same and — other than Ed McMahon — it’s nobody’s occupation to be inoffen sive. Now it’s true that most of my male features are hard to distin- - Steve Willey uWhy can’t the people of this great country understand that everyone is not the same, our likes and dislikes are not the same and— other than Ed McMahon — it’s nobody’s occupation to be inoffensive. ” guish with the untrained eye, but they are there. Therefore as a male, I am bound by law to support both morally and financially anything that invites the possibility of naked females. Needless to say, I’m not the _ least bit offended by these types of advertisements. I don’t see where people get the audacity to say that certain adver tisements should not be allowed. For instance, I’m not particu larly fond of runzas. (I currently have a public lewdness lawsuit filed against the DN for running Runza ads.) But should a multimil lion dollar business cease to exist because of my preference? Of course not. Instead of calling the world unfair and pouting in hie comer with my arms folded, I cnoose to turn the page — and later throw eggs at Runza’s numerous Lincoln establishments. You see, I’m realistic enough to realize that not all people care for runzas and naked billiards. I’m also liberal enough to realize that there are those who enjoy watching naked woodchucks eat runzas while shooting pool. (Note to reader: This is solely Steve’s fantasy and the DN assumes no responsibility for his perversions.) That’s what makes this country great — its diversity. What a horrid world this would be if we all had to be inoffensive. First of all, the entire city of New York would commit suicide. Even I have been called offen sive. My most recent offense was being slightly obese and playing basketball as a “skin.” I had to accept the fact tnat my existence is offensive to certain sport spectators and nuns. I wasn’t upset. This country wasn’t founded on whining and complaining. It was bom from hard work, calloused hands, and the never-ending desire to consistently fail chemistry. I’m damn proud to be a part of that tradition. I’m so sick of political correct ness. Call me fat, I won’t cry. Run all the Runza ads you want, eggs are cheap. My granpappy used to always say, “Son, there’s three things you can count on in this world: The sun always comes up, your granmammy poots in her sleep, and you’ll never be able to. please everyone.” Immortal words I’ll always cherish. Of course, my granpappy is the same man who still wants “one night alone” with RuPaul, so take his advice for what it’s •; worth. Willey is a juior ag-Joa realism major aad a Dally Nebraska* colaflulst Research gave him a future if A BARRY GROOVY WEEK CONTINUES! If you wish to enroll in the student insurance program offered by UNL, you must do so by September 21,1995!!! Brochures and enrollment applications are available at the University Health Center; student information areas at the Student Union, or by calling 472-7435. International students were automatically billed an tuition statements for the foil premium of $207.00. Spring/summer premium will be billed on spring tuition statements. If you have private insurance and wish to have the UNL insur ance removed from your tuition bill, you need to show proof of your coverage and sign a waiver at the Health Center _business office. Visit International Affairs Friday! Have you ever considered studying abroad? There's no better time than the present! 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