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Our
VIEW
Waco 2?
Show force, resolve in
conflicts with militia
Bring on the government!
This seems to be the rallying cry of mili
tias and splinter groups alike in the United
States today, evident by the recent events of
the “Republic of Texas” secessionists.
On Sunday, Richard McLaren, the self
proclaimed ambassador of the Republic of
Texas, and his followers holed up in a remote
region of West Texas—taking two civilians
hostage in order to facilitate the release of
two of their own from jail. But the key con
cession McLaren demanded was “...a refer
endum to allow Texans to vote on the inde
pendence issue.”
And inside his “embassy,” a trailer home,
Mclaren boldly said “We are in a state of war.”
According to McLaren’s lawyer Terry
O’Rourke, if officers move in for an arrest
“there (is) the potential for a lot of killing.” •
And once again the federal government is
forced to grind out another lengthy “siege”
on a splinter group.
McLaren’s group is fully aware of the
federal government’s trepidation concerning
another conflagration that could lead to, as
O’Rourke said, “another Waco.”
To that, we say — so what?
The U.S. government needs to stop pussy
footing around with these militias and nip
them in the proverbial bud.
Whether it be misguided secessionists or
self-purported “patriots,” the federal govern
ment should not show weakness. To avoid
another Waco or Ruby Ridge, the federal gov
ernment is setting itself up for more groups
to rise up and stake a claim for independence.
If a group proclaims itself independent,
and threatens the use of force—which would
certainly put the lives of law enforcement of
ficers in danger—the govemmenfneeds to
recognize the “rights” of these groiipsas “in
dependent nations.”
Then invade.
ireat tnese people as ioreign invaders on
U.S. soil, and as Marsellus Wallace in “Pulp
Fiction” said, “get medieval on (their) asses.”
As a sovereign nation, the United States has
every right to protect its own interests on its
own soil.
This should send a clear and loud message
to militias that taking people hostage and threat
ening the lives of law enforcement personnel is
justification for such unilateral action.
As law-abiding, tax-paying citizens we
shouldn’t put up with groups who threaten
officers of the law or laws which we have set
into place as part of our social contract.
What these groups don’t realize is the
federal government provides them with the
infrastructure to exist.
Do they seriously believe, that without a
federal government to protect them, another
foreign power wouldn’t find the U.S. to be
fertile ground — for a colony? Do they seri
ously believe that their stockpile of weapons
could fend off an invasion?
We hope not. But if so, then our own fed
eral government should show them what a
“foreign” invader could do—and at the same
time alleviate some of the brashness of these
“patriots.”
Editorial Policy
Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the
Spring 1997 Daily Nebraskan. They do not
necessarily reflect the views of the Univer
sity of Nebraska-Lincoln, its employees, its
student body or the University of Nebraska
Board of Regents. A column is solely the
opinion of its author. The Board of Regents
serves as publisher of the Daily Nebraskan:
policy is set by the Daily Nebraskan Edito
rial Board. The UNL Publications Board,
established by the regents, supervises the
production of the paper. According to policy
set by the regents, responsibility for the edi
torial content of the newspaper lies solely
in the hands of its student employees.
—
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ters to the editor and guest columns, but
does not guarantee their publication. The
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mitted material becomes the property of
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turned. Anonymous submissions will not
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Mehsling’s
VIEW
UOmTH^VW
1 Noo UDi.v; Ns
h lonq m OF
Cm FI6KTW6.
Ihinas vkw^ wet to beew oto\Niwiet
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. DN
LETTERS
So which is it?
I am writing in response to the
column “Oinga boinga” in
Tuesday’s DN written by Tagi
Adams. All of this multiculturalism
talk is getting out of hand. Either
these people are incredibly insecure
or they just like to hear themselves
talk politics.
Concerning Sigma Chi, there was
no malicious ceremony held for the
purpose of discrimination. That
fraternity was founded for one
reason. During the Civil War, men
of all different races and faiths
fought each other destroying the
very brotherly love that fraternities
were built on.
By the end of this war, the greek
system was nearly obliterated.
Several men from different sides of
the war decided to rebuild the love
mat mey once snareu. iney aia mis
by founding a sacred fraternity of
men who would not discriminate
and hate one another; a society of
brotherhood that would accept men
of every race and faith equally.
These men started a ceremony of
brotherhood that has lasted since
then that included igniting a cross
symbolizing a holy brotherhood that
would last forever — a brotherhood
for men of every color. The flames
only signify the power of the
friendship that greek men experi
ence.
It is incredibly selfish of anyone
on this campus to call this sacred
ceremony racist, and I’m sure that
every black man who saw what the
founders of Sigma Chi did to pull
the races together would roll in their
grave if he knew how little some
people appreciate what they did. I
hope this lack of appreciation is only
because of ignorance. These men
devoted the rest of their lives to
something that has existed ever
since — a group of men who exhibit
brotherly love regardless of race or
faith.
This is Nebraska, a state full of
com-fed conservatives. Of course the
majority of the people here are going
to be “homophobic” or anti-trans
sexual or whatever else seems
strange to a hard-working country %
man (or woman) who has been
taught what is right and wrong
according to the moral system that
has been passed down generation to
generation from the very men and
women who founded this country.
If you want to be gay or possess
both organs of reproduction, fine.
Just don’t tell me, and definitely
don’t show me. I truly believe that
the very issue of discrimination
would die if minorities would accept
the fact that they are accepted and if
they would quit reading into every
incident trying to find some display
of discrimination that they can take
their insecurities out on.
The men of Fiji meant no harm
in their festive celebration of greek
brotherhood, and there was no harm
done. Every college student knows
that islanders don’t run around in
grass skirts anymore ... but they did,
and no one is making fun of them —
it is only a theme.
r\___1 _ • _i.
aujruut' v^uwijjiaiii aunjui
ballroom parties where people wear
white wigs and dress as the Whigs
did? No, everyone knows that we
are not making fun of the Whigs, we
are only celebrating something that
occurred in the past as a part of our
heritage.
Are you saying that just because
the men of Fiji are not from islands
(as far as you know) that they cannot
celebrate the heritage of our world?
If you are, then you are racist. No
greek member would be ashamed to
have an islander or a black or a Jew
or an Indian or anyone else of any
color show up at a ballroom party
dressed in long tails and a white
wig.
The greek system exists to
provide a place for men and women
to make life-long friendships and
leam about life. No fraternity or
sorority excludes people because of
their color — this is not even an
issue. We recruit qualified men and
women from every faith, race,
economic group and geographical
background.
It is your choice whether or not tc
become a member of the greek
system, but if you choose not to, it is
you who is excluding yourself from
the ranks and there are no hard
feelings from the greek members.
We, the members of the greek
system, are here for scholarship,
brotherhood and the enjoyment of
life, not death, destruction and work
power.
We only ask that you not spite us
for our decision to join in this
system of friendship based on love
for one another.
Finally, about the “recommenda
tion” for Fiji to change their name,
their name was drawn from the F
and G in (F)i Gamma Delta, not
from Fiji islanders. FGD doesn’t
sound as good as DG or ATO, so
they got creative and came up with
“FeeGee.” There is no hidden insult
in their nickname, so please don’t
try to find one.
Aaron Lee
freshman
veterinary science
Raise the Roof
Have you ever been so excited at
a sporting event that you just stood
up and cheered? Nebraska football *
games can make you do that.
In the April 24 DN there was an
editorial informing the readers that,
according to Bill Byrne, UNL
students need to learn to behave and
calm their excitement during Husker
football games, but to be in Memo
rial Stadium on GAME DAY is too
exciting to sit still.
Students should be able to stand
anytime they want.
Cheering shows pride in the
school. The success of the football
team has given students something
to be proud about.
To rid the problem of standing
students, place all the students in the
lower tier of East Stadium. This idea
was suggested in the editorial and
seems to be a good solution. This
way students can stand, other'
viewers can still see and everybody
is happy. Perhaps the application
form for tickets should ask “standing
or non-standing section.”
I am paying more than $9,000 to
attend this school, and I am willing
to pay another $87 for football
tickets. I should be able to stand and
cheer when I want.
- Besides, if you want to sit down
... well, that’s what timeouts are for.
Anna Ebert
1 freshman
dental hygiene