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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 8, 1996)
My utopia Society’s problems caused by old politics I’m going to run the country under a different name, and I’m going to do so before I reach the ripe old age of 50. I am now only 19 years of age, and already I am sick of politics/ politicians. When I was younger, I would find out interesting facts and such about our government and see how they were applied to modem government. Recently, the parallels are few and far between. In the past year, the American people have had to deal with what I call the “Republi can Regression.” It all started with the last Presidential election, when the Republicans decided to make “family values” a part of their platform. But while they made it a part of their platform, they never really defined the term. We now have professional lawmakers telling us that things should go back the way they were 40 to 50 years ago — Mom stays at home with the kids while Dad goes and makes a living for the rest of the family. The kids do their homework and the boys play sports like good little American boys. The girls play with dolls and learn to be more like their homemaking mother. Think about it. Were things really any better 40 years ago than they are today? People were not supposed to talk about things that were facing them. We still had teen-age pregnancy, problems with drugs, the Cold War, and people had to pretend they were something they were not. How is this any better than today? That’s my point, it isn’t. So now we are faced with all sorts of restrictive legislation, i.e., the Communications Decency Act (thanks Sen. Exon), that take away from the basic right of free speech, in the name of family values. The act prohibits a person from doing the following.1’" !,:V' Initiating “... the transmission of, any comment, request, suggestion, Jennifer Marie Hasselqulst “Thoughts expressed in this column are not necessarily my own, especially if someone tries to get me for trying to overthrow a group of people in Washington who have no clue what it is like to he me. ” proposal, image or other communi cation which is obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, or indecent, with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person.” Whose definition do we go by on what this means? In theory I cannot be harassed by a fellow Internet user. But if someone would happen to flirt with me — it becomes illegal. Umm... errr, how are they going to enforce this? There maj^Be a need for regula tion on the Internet, but this is a bit excessive. I don’t like what they call family values* But, I am forced to live with their decisions. I don’t want to live with their laws, so I’m going to get rid of the “old” govern ment altogether. Instead of elected officials, we’ll have ATMs. That way the lobbyists can make deposits directly to the federal government. I’d cut out the middle man — that way, there would be no need for taxes, and the lobbyists could buy the votes just as they are right now, only it would be legitimate. The only tax that there would be is the standard stupidity tax. This tax would range from $10 to $1,000 depending on how stupid of an act you just performed in a very public place. For example, Dan Quayle would be fined about $100,000 for all the stupid stuff he did during his term as V.P. As for law enforcement, we’ll show the “liberal elite” old-fash ioned values by going back to the Biblical definition of justice. If you get caught stealing, you get your hand cut off; if you sleep with another man’s wife, you get... well, um... you figure it out. Other than that, everything would stay relatively the same, but differ ent. The only thing different would be truly different — people would be forced to think before they did something. In our current society, thought is generally not required — it’s not even encouraged. In most of my classes, all I have to do is regurgitate what was said in lecture or in the text. My only wish in this new world of mine is that people would THINK before they spoke. Disclaimer — Thoughts expressed in this column are not necessarily my own, especially if someone tries to get me for trying to overthrow a group of people in Washington who have no clue what it is like to be me. Hasselquist is a freshman biological sci ences major and the winner of the Replace Mark Baldridge for a Week contest. Melting pot Columnists’ diversity would help open eyes i ins semesier, i nave wriuen several columns in the spirit of controversy. My most potent being the editorial about the homosexual community. When I was writing the article, I never expected the response I received. I thank all who took the lime to voice their opinions on the subject, for you have given me a vision. I now have hope and reassur ance that people are alive and well. It’s great to see people are reading and actually thinking about issues. I must say, more than one good point was presented to me in the letters I received from some of the members of the gay community. The individuals who wrote letters to the editor should be commended, for they made me see things that I was not considering when writing the column. I will not retract my opinion, for it is mine, but those people have helped me understand a side to the homosexual community that I had ignored. Getting back to my vision, allow me to explain. The students of UNL need to be exposed to more diversity. What better way to expose the masses to contrasting views than through columns? There are many groups of people on campus feeling as if they have no say in anything that happens at UNL, Many feel suppressed, or even threatened. And I’m sure some of us are down on our school and wish there was a way to change the problems. African Americans on campus have much to say, and I for one would like to hear their voice. Mexican Americans held a rally in front of the Nebraska Union several weeks ago; imagine if they had a representative writing columns Bob Ray “Let’s cut to the chase; America doesn't know each other. Most of us only know our own color. ” for the DN every week. Imagine if you will for just a brief moment. An African American, Mexican American, Native Ameri can, Asian American, White-anglo male or female, a homosexual, a feminist, and last but not least a foreign exchange student. All of those people coming together as a team of columnists to produce the most interesting semester of editorials this university or any university has ever seen. The columns would be amazing. The emotion they could produce would be the most educational experience many of us would ever have at UNL. Just think how many stereotypes or biases you have about one or all of the above groups of people. And just think how wonderful it would be to lose the negative feelings so many of us have. A team of columnists with this kind of diversity is unheard of. I know for a fact it’s never been done at UNL, and I would be genuinely surprised to hear of it anywhere else. Let’s cut to the chase, America doesn’t know each other. Most of us only know our own color. It’s a sad fact, but damn it, it’s the truth. The assembly of a team of columnists with the latter caliber would be ground-breaking not only at UNL but all over the country. The snowball effect, alive and well, and. a! dream, well, that never dies. ' America is the melting pot of the world, and if we don’t begin assembling together, our pot is going to spill. The process of being friends has to begin somewhere, so why not in Lincoln, Nebraska? We must all remember that the generations ahead of us should not be our concern. It’s this generation, and our future children — the focus must be on the years ahead in America. As every good investor would say, we’re investing in the long-term, to hell with buying and selling short. I challenge those with a mind, those with a passion for change in America, and those who have ever had the dream of unity for the people. Share your opinions, emotions, problems and ideas by applying to be a Daily Nebraskan columnist. Applications are due Thursday, March 14, so please stop by the DN and pick one up. If we can gather a group of individuals with such great diver sity, the results will be in the spirit of America. We must get to know each other and start living our lives as friends, in this melting pot the rest of the world knows as the United States of America. Ray is a senior broadcasting major and a Dally Nebraskan columnist. Medical miracles start with research This weekend only 50% off-the-rack sale Wedding gowns and veils, bridesmaids, flowergirl, mothers and prom dresses Saturday. March 9,10-5pm Sunday, March 10, l-5pm (Only our most recent arrivals for 1996 wil be excluded) All sales final Sale excludes special orders Don't miss it! 2530 O Street Lincoln, NE • 475-3741 1996 SUE TIDBALL AWARD FOR CREATIVE HUMANITY HONORS: Denise Borton Sonia Holiimon Joan Mendoza-Gorham Kathy Parker Chuck Rensink Christine Timm AWARD EVENT AND RECEPTION SUNDAY, MARCH 10 7:00 PM St. Mark's Episcopal Church 1309 R Street Local Folks String Band & T. Marni Vos PUBLIC INVITED Summer Editor In Chief The Daily Nebraskan is accepting applications for the 1996 summer editor in chief. Applicants must have one year of newspaper experience, preferably at the Daily Nebraskan, anu be a student at the University of Ne braska-Lincoln this spring, summer or fall. The editor in chief formulates The Daily Nebraskan is pub editorial policy, determines lished weekly during the two guidelines for the daily opera- five-week sessions plus a New tion of the newsroom, hires the Student Enrollment issue, senior editorial staff, helps de- Applications are available in terminc the content of the edito- the Daily Nebraskan office, rial page, prepares the editorial basement of the Nebraska salary budget and reports to the Union, and must be returned UNL does not discriminate in its academic, admissions or etnphrtftnenl programs and abides by all federal regulations per tain iny to same. Publications Board. with writing samples by 3 p.m., March 15. Dail Receive $2 oft a resume package with this ad. One per customer. Grade A Notes at Nebraska Bookstore Lower Level • 13th & Q Street • 477-7400 B§ T&WMAWE Become a UNL Spirit Squad Member! Informational Meetings at the Nebraska Union (room will be posted) Tuesday, March 12 at 7:30 pm Wednesday, March 27 at 7:30 pm Dance and Cheer Demonstration and Informational Meeting (at the Schulte Fieldhouse at Memorial Stadium) Wednesday, March 13 at 6:30 pm Tuesday, March 26 at 6:30 pm Tryouts for Yell Squad and Scarlets on Saturday, April 13 For more info, or to get your free copy of the recruiting brochure, and Spirit Squad Calendar, call 472-4622