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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 25, 1996)
War temptations U.S. needs to be careful with military force I wonder how many fires the United States puts out on a daily basis around the world. Quite a few, judging by the nightly reports of American troops and ships being deployed cn masse to the four points of the compass. The latest development, mainland China’s conducting of wargames close to the island of Taiwan and its Nationalist government, has sent three American aircraft carriers and two Navy battle groups to the area. Ostensibly, these actions arc to discourage the Chinese from taking advantage of the opportunity to launch a full-scale offensive against the island. In light of what the wargames have resulted in so far (practice beach landings, missile tests), I would tend to agree with the decision to send the U.S. military there as a precautionary measure. But the fact remains that our country maintains one of the largest and best-equipped armed forces in the world. This is not a responsibility that should be taken lightly. What often starts out as a token show of force can rapidly lead to a full-scale shooting war. I think that the Gulf War has had a considerable impact on the current tendency of quickly mobilizing American forces as deterrents in world hotspots. By quickly defeating the Iraqi forces, our nation’s leaders became aware of the full potential alTordcd by a strong military. The temptation to use this might at will would appear on the surface to be a cure-all solution. Understand that each situation the United States gets militarily in volved in is different, to say the least. What worked in Iraq may not necessarily work in, say, China. Fred Poyner “Taking on China now could mean a long, hard fight for which the A merican military— and the American public — may not be j prepared.” Taking on China now could mean a long, hard fight for which the American military—and the American public — may not be prepared. it has happened before, with another small Asian country named Korea. History can be a great teacher. By getting uncomfortably close to the Chinese border, American forces under General Douglas MacArthur pulled regular Chinese troops into the fight, and dragged the war on for years. The situation in Korea never has been resolved, with U.S. troops still maintained as deterrents along the 38th parallel. Before bringing the military into the picture, the question of whether a deterrent show of force alone will be sufficient must be seriously consid ered by foreign policy specialists and those with the final say in deployment decisions. For instance, China is getting back Hong Kong soon from the British. Will this mark renewed activity to reclaim Taiwan, which China has always considered as its territory? Also, China’s population boom hasn’t slowed. As a nation with expansion requirements, the oppor tunity for territory acquisition could be well worth the risk. Yes, we have a vested interest in trying to ensure world stability. And yes, some actions that start out only as precautions, such as providing air support or stationing troops along borders, end up being the wrong actions. But constantly relying on military force without first consider ing all of the future consequences ignores other actions that may prove more effective in the long run, including diplomacy, economic sanctions and trade embargoes. Imagine the United States committed to two or three opera tional theatres the size of Bosnia. Now consider the hypothetical advent of another conflict centered on Israel that demands immediate American involvement. Then for laughs, create a brinkmanship scenario occurring concurrently with China. Sound unreasonable? Taken alone, any of these would present challenges and costs. But all at the same time? Have no doubt, we would be hard-pressed. The value of a deterrent lies in being able to have your bluff occasionally called. P»yierb« graduate studeut la museum studies a ad a Daily Nebraskaa columnist. Spring bore Break gets special attention but no action One week is not enough. It takes me at least a week to switch gears and come to terms with the fact that I am experiencing a vacation, and that I’m supposed to relax. By the time I’ve figured it out, it’s time to go back to the grind. Not that I did anything during this spring break. I had some glorious ideas about it — and none of them involved Padre, Cancun or any other spring break hot spot. Getting sloppy drunk with a bunch of amateurs just isn’t my idea of a good time. Since this is the last spring break I’ll experience at tire University of Nebraska, I thought it deserved some special attention. I was concocting elaborate plots about it as far back ae November. At first I thought about going to Canada. I’ve never been there. It has the advantage of being a foreign country, which would give me an excuse to carry my passport around. Then I realized how much I would hate myself if I traveled north after a long Nebraska winter. Fortunately, south had a few intriguing possibilities as well. I developed inexplicable fascinations with Argentina, Costa Rica and finally with New Mexico. But I was beginning to realize that my re sources were far more limited than my imagination. I don’t have a car. I started to interrogate travel agents or a daily basis, but they all insisted on quoting airplane fares that were well out of my reach. Then I found an accomplice. She had a car and shared my burning desire to get out of town. The list of tantalizing destinations grew by the day. Grand Canyon. New Orleans. Graccland. Get in the car and head south until we find something interesting. The plan we settled on seemed perfect. We would go camping in . Utah. We planned to drive to some forgotten and preferably uninhabited i r i Jennifer Mapes “The word ‘Utah’ fluttered through my head like a mantra. It sounded beautiful and magical. Utah glowed like a beacon in my addled mind. ” corner of the state, hike into the back of beyond and pitch a tent. We vowed to leave civilization behind and do away with all but the most necessary considerations of personal hygiene. This plan sustained me through the frenzied midterm season. The word “Utah” fluttered through my head like a mantra. It sounded beautiful and magical. Utah glowed like a.bcacon in my addled mind. The word sounded like a sigh of relief. About two weeks before spring break,my accomplice and I came to a startling conclusion. Both of us had to work through the break. And neither of us had any money. No time. No money. No vacation. So I’ve been rattling around Lincoln for the last week trying to find new ways to amuse myself. I got rcacquainted with “Sesame Street” and discovered Monty Python reruns on cable. I read a totally irrelevant piece of fiction. I wrote some letters. I surfed the net and trimmed my fingernails. I was not surprised to find that I was beginning to bore myself. 1 thought I’d try to get to the place we all like to call “caught up.” That’s the place where you can close your eyes without the nagging feeling that a monstrous list of things to do is looming over you, waiting to pounce. “Caught up” means that everything is clean, organized, finished, and cheerfully occupying its proper place. I would use the remainder of my break to finish my long-neglected homework and organize my life. I did clean my room. Well, sort of — what isn’t clean is hidden. The homework still isn’t done, but it rests in much neater and better-organized piles. My other spring break goal involved the bars. I resolved to have at least one drink in all the bars I never go to, except for the ones I avoid for good reasons. The bars have been pleasantly deserted. I didn’t have to stand in line to buy drinks. The sickly yellow glow of tanning-salon skin, which had become epidemic in the weeks previous to spring break, was gone. But 1 was getting bored with the bars, too. And I was feeling almost guilty enough about the homework to do something more than glance in | its general direction. Then a minor miracle appeared on my doorstep, in the form of an Australian friend with a backpack full of dirty clothes and an endless | repertoire of travel stories. I may not J have gotten out of town for break, 1 but what the hell. The party came to me. Mapes Is a senior advertising and his- | tory major and a Dally Nebraskan colum- | nlst Strange names run in family ancestry A man in Canada recently made a bit of news when he took legal steps to change his family’s name. His name has been Arthur Lawrence Death. He wants it changed to Arthur Lawrence Decth, which is the way it has always been pronounced, except by those who snicker and make wisecracks. The request for a name change is understandable. But what is sur prising i s the large number of people bom with unusual and potentially embarrassing names who choose to live with them. By searching a computerized national phone book program, 1 came across a wide range of names that could bring smirks from store clerks, bank tellers and traffic cops. For example, there is Martin Pecker, a businessman in Boca Raton, Fla. He is one of .several dozen Peckers scattered across the coun try. Of his name, Pecker says: “Hon estly, 1 love it. As a kid 1 got a lot of teasing for being a Pecker. But P grew up big—I’m 6-3 and 220— and my sons arc big, so people arc careful about what they say. And with women, I used to get flattering remarks. “Here in Boca, I have a physi cian friend named Zipper. We were in a society page together once. Zipper and Pecker.” Then there is James Pee of Bir mingham, Ala., one of a few dozen Pees, who seem to live mostly in southern states. Laughing, Pee said: “I’ve had trouble with my name since l was a kid. Spent 10 years in the Air Force, so I got a hard time there too. I’ve had nicknames 1 ike Pec-Pee, Urine, Little Pee. “Around Kosciusko, Miss., there are so many Pees that there is a Pee Cemetery. " '; Paul Crapper of Lehigh Acres, Fla., one of numerous Crappers, said: “I’m perfectly happy being a Crapper. People make remarks, but 1 just pass it ofF or say something like: ‘I’m like Alka Seltzer, I bring relief.’” Walter Crapp of Brownsville, Pa., feels the same way. “I never considered changing it. My grand father came from Russia and had a long name. So I just decided to keep Crapp and drop the rest.” Of her married name, Susan Geek says: “I believe we arc the only Geeks in North Carolina,” which might be a matter of debate. “People sometimes laugh be cause they can’t believe someone could be a Geek. And when I order a pizza by phone, they almost al ways laugh. But I’m in real estate, and I assure you that nobody ever forgets my name.” Among the more distinctive smmmmmmmmmmmmmmmMmmsmm Mike Royko names arc Murder or Murders. Danny Murders, 51, of Russellville, Ark., has done con siderable research on how the names came about. “When my ancestors came to the New World in the 1700s, it was Murdaugh, with a Scottish brogue. They were farmers and moved West. Later, in Tennessee, the census lak ers spelled it phonetically so it be came Murder or Murders. There were four brothers known as the Murders Boys. As far as I know, none of the Murders have changed their name.” A Killer named Christine, in Cheshire, Conn., says: “Oh yes, it is a daily conversation piece. People will say things like, ‘You don’t look like a killer.’ and I’ve oflen been askedtoshowan ID because people don’t believe my name can be Killer.” Jack Ripper, 60, who runs a sign companyin Detroit, says: “Sure, I get called Jack the Ripper about twice a day. Because of the Ripper name, people used to ask my mother, ‘Is Jack the Ripper your husband?’ And she’d always say, ‘No, but my son is.’ I like it. That’s why I put it on my business. People don’t for get a name like Jack Ripper.” Peter Hitler, 54, of Mequon, Wis., says: “Well, it is interesting, to say the least. Our family goes back to the 1700s in Circlevillc, in southern Ohio. There were a lot of Hitlers there. A Hitler Street,a Hitler cemetery. “There used to be a lot more of us, but they changed their names around World War II. “There aren’t too many Hitlers left. I’ve run across three or four. I guess the name is outlawed in Ger many. “I’m in real estate and not a day goes by without someone saying, ‘Oh my gosh,’ or ‘Why didn’t you change your name?’ Any time 1 present my credit card, someone makes a remark. But it is something you live with. I don’t think about it anymore.” Which is what a New Yorker named Ben Mussolini said: “Hey, forget it. I’ve been through this before. I don’t feel like talking about it.” And a woman who answered the phone listed for Jim Wicrdo said: “The Wierdos don’t have this num ber anymore. But so many people keep calling. I don’t know why.” a mgsmmm , * ms &_ Apply to be a DN columnist. j The application deadline for fall semester columnists has been \ extended to Wednesday, March 27at 5 p.m. j The DN seeks diverse columnists with strong opinions and j good writing skills. Applicants must be UNL students carrying \ at least six hours and a 2.0 GRA. | Pick up an application and sign up for an interview at the DN, j room 34 in the basement of the Nebraska Union. [ UNL does not discriminate in its academic, admission or employment programs, I \ and abides by all federal regulations pertaining to same.
