OlNDN
Wednesday, October 25, 1995 Page 4
Nebraskan
Editorial Board
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
J. Christopher Hain.Editor, 472-1766
Rainbow Rowell.Managing Editor
Mark Baldridge.Opinion Page Editor
DeDra Janssen...Associate News Editor
Doug Kouma.Arts & Entertainment Editor
JeffZeleny.Senior Reporter
Matt Woody.Senior Reporter
James Mehsling.Cartoonist
Break tradition
Teams’ racist names deserve the boot
It reverberated throughout Fulton County Stadium last weekend,
practically shaking the home of the Braves.
It wasn’t a warrior’s cry. It was a fan’s chant — the “Tomahawk
v Chop.”
^\ The 1995 World Series opened
with two straight victories for the
L Atlanta Braves over the Cleveland
WL Indians.
^ Braves. Indians.
| After a devastating strike, Ma
V/ jor League Baseball must be so
I proud that its two best teams are
/ meeting on the field in the Fall
I Classic.
It’s a shame, though, that these
are also the two worst-named
* teams in the game.
. Yes, the year is 1995, and our
f country still turns a blind eye to
f racism;
——uuviousiy, mere are iar worse
Bret Gottschall/DN . , ,
things than sports teams named
after ethnic and racial groups.
But there’s no reason for such names as Redskins, Chiefs, Braves
or Indians.
Again, though, is it that big of a deal?
Some people say American Indians are being honored by such
teams.
More like mocked.
Would we tolerate a team called the Brooklyn Jews, whose fans
wore yarmulkes and Stars of David?
We say we’d never stand for such a stereotype. But look no fur
ther than Game 4 of the series tonight for proof that we do.
These teams insult, not represent, the people for which they are
named.
The Atlanta Braves weren’t even established in Atlanta. Maybe
Bostonites were more sensitive to American Indians when the Braves
kept their home there.
Regardless, it’s time for those teams with ethnically and racially
insensitive names — who no longer or never did represent their
namesakes — to find a new name.
Last year, St. John’s University abandoned its old name, the Red
Men. Now Big East teams must face the Red Storm.
The school was able to keep its colors, and a new name perhaps
only increased school spirit, if not merchandise royalties.
Did St. John’s break a tradition with its move? Yes, but the school
decided, as should the teams on the field tonight, that it was a tradi
tion it could live without.
A tradition of racism.
Editorial policy
Staff editorials represent the official
policy of the Fall 1995 Daily Nebras
kan. Policy is set by the Daily Nebras
kan Editorial Board. Editorials do not
necessarily reflect the views of the
university, its employees, die 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 die paper. Accord
ing to policy set by the regents, respon
sibility for the editorial 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 material
submitted. Readers also are welcome to submit mate
rial 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 of the Daily Nebraskan and cannot be re
turned. Anonymous submissions will not be pub
lished. Letters should include the author’s name, year
in school, major and group affiliation, if any. Re
quests to withhold names will not be granted. Submit
material to: Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union,
1400 R SL Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448.
"TACT-. DELICATE PERCEPTION OF
THE RIGHT TWUG TO DO
OR SW WITHOUT OFFENDW
Tripped up
The recent lamenting of Mr.
Baldridge over a lack of legalized
drugs and prostitution (“LSD shines
on one bright day,” Oct. 23 and
“Legal prostitution beneficial,”
Sept. 11, respectively) is about all I
can stomach. One gets the idea he
was born a generation too late.
It is no longer necessary to refer
to an argument based on divine
authority— which some of us still
consider primary — in a debate over
free love, abundant drugs and hard
rock and roll. The results of a selfish
philosophy are all about us —
indeed they are consuming us.
We live in fear; our families
are broken; our hearts know no
peace.
Legal and abundant drugs and
prostitution, Mr. Baldridge? No
thanks. Maybe something new
like a little self-discipline, self
control, self-sacrifice and concern
for others.
Mark Nispel
Graduate Student
Classics
Tripped on
Mark Baldridge wants to feel
trippy? He should have seen the
Phish show on Saturday.
That is an experience.
Paris Heckman
Lincoln
Catholic lesson
In response to “Religion de
tached from reality” (Oct. 20) Ms.
Sch warting has a lot to learn about
the Catholic faith. It has remained
almost unchanged for over 2,000
years. It’s held the same beliefs
since its origins.
hope, challenging believers to
accept transcendent moral truths.
Truth is the ultimate reality, always
applicable, but not always conve
nient, popular and gladly, not
politically correct.
F&gP&fy^li stutjji Chifith ^
history to discover how it has indeed
changed over the millennia.
While you’re studying what the
Church really teaches, take note that
the rhythm method has gone the way
of the Latin Mass, communion rails
and Baltimore Catechism.
The Church promotes Natural
Family Planning (NFP) which works
in harmony with a woman’s God
given fertility signs of cervical
mucous discharge and basal body
Tripped over
Mark Baldridge’s “acid
trip” column on Monday is
just another example of
irresponsible media that we
don’t need.
I’m sure Mr. Baldridge
won’t be bragging about his
drug use to his children. We
don’t need to hear about it
either!
James Mehs//ng/DN
Not everyone at this university
has been in school as long as the
author and many underclassmen are
very impressionable, still forming
their identities. The last thing they
need is Mr. Baldridge glorifying the
use of hallucinogens and preaching
for the freedom to do so.
What he fails to mention is the
statistics of young people who
experience permanent psychological
damage from using acid.
Come on, DN, and Mr.
Baldridge, how about exercising
some control over what you print.
uranted mere are
times when the Church seems
outdated and not practical, but if a
person should look deeper than the
surface she would find out that it
makes sense.
Perhaps Ms. Schwarting should
take an adult Catholic class to grow
beyond a child’s learning of
Catholicism.
Nicole Russ man
Senior
Elementary Ed.
temperature to signal the
onset of ovulation. When followed
properly it yields a success rate of
99.7 percent, better than the Pill,
I’ve heard.
It’s shallow to think that chang
ing the Church will suddenly fill the
pews.
Come home. Stop by the confes
sional on the way in. Frequent
confession and the daily Mass is the
remedy for our morally corrupt age,
not a waffling, more moderate
religion.
Eric Black LimUII 4k Richard O'Hearn
Senior To Krista Schwarting: Project Manager
Geography Religion offers the last vestige of Facilities