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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 8, 1997)
Paula Lavigne OPINION EDITOR Jessica Kennedy EDITORIAL BOARD Erin Gibson Joshua Gillin Jeff Randall Julie Sobczyk Ryan Soderlin Our VIEW Rest in peace Media need to focus on Mother Teresa The world lost a media-enchanted princess, whose death and funeral have been drawing national attention with all the pomp and circumstance. But her death, as untimely and unfortunate as it was, has been overshadowing the lifetime work of a silent and poor saint, Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The national media have been showing video after video of Diana’s life, her beaus, her beauty, her charities and her family. Meanwhile, an old, wrinkled nun, whose life was dedicated to the service of others, the caring of the sick, the poor, the hungry - all of those things that transcend human beings from the animals, has been put aside. Her life and death went not unnoticed, but underscored. Her death, much like her life’s work, was quiet, meaningful and almost ignored by the national media. It seems the national media are more concerned wiin me grandiose, rarner man with the simple and the caring. With ratings* being the concern, and profits being the worry, it is no wonder the national media gave Mother Teresa such a small portion of their broadcast time. But in history and in the long run, whose / work, Diana’s or Mother Teresa’s, will have ' more bearing on the global community? CNN gave Mother Teresa a brief, not telling of her life’s work, but only saying that she was dead. It would be similar to a newspaper running only a mug shot with the words “Mother Teresa Dead” under it. It is a cold look at a person who led a warm life. But CNN was not the only national media organization that forgot about the saintly nun. The network affiliates followed the same path and were broadcasting the preparation of Princess Diana’s funeral live from London, showing pictures of flowers piling up in front of Buckingham Palace and of people crying in pubs. The national media have one week to correct themselves. They need to allow Diana to die, to be laid to rest. Then they need to chronicle the work of Mother Teresa, giving her the credit she deserves for leading a selfless life. Many people knew her name, her face, but how many of us knew her work? Of the charities and countless days she spent with the sick and dying, or of the nuns who joined her in that work? It is sad that the world lost Princess Diana, but it should be even sadder that the world has lost a humanitarian. Diana brought attention to charities, such as those operated by Mother Teresa, but die did not sacrifice die luxuries of life to aid die lives of those less fortunate. * Because in their equal place on earth, Mother Teresa was closer to heaven. Editorial Policy Unsigned editorials are the opinions of foe Fall 1997 Daily Nebraskan. They do not necessarily reflect the views of foe University 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 serve as publisher of the Daily Nebraskan; policy is set by the Daily Nebraskan Editorial Board. The UNL Publications Board, established by the regents, supervises the production of the paper. According to policy set by the regentSi/esponsibility for foe editorial content offNrnewspaper liessolely in foe hands of fcijfodent employees. -!--f—-! Latter PaHcy The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief letters to the editor and guest columns, but does not guarantee their publication. The Daily Nebraskan retains the right to edit or reject any material submitted. Submitted material becomes property of the Daily Nebraskan and cannot be returned. Anonymous submissions will not be published. Those who submit letters must identify themselves by name, year in school, major and/or group affiliation, if any. Submit material to: Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St. Lincoln, NE. 68$88-Q$48. E-mail: letters@unllnfo.unl.edu. ’ :--—-— - Haney's VIEW DN LETTERS Bikes need alternatives The article on “Sidewalk Riding Earns Tickets” (DN, Aug. 28) really struck me. It appears that the city of Lincoln wants to continue to ignore the problems cyclists face. The solution is not to post signs noting where you can and cannot ride as the article suggest ed, but rather to address the real issue - Lincoln needs bike lanes! Many cities - some larger, some smaller than Lincoln - have responsibly adopted this idea. I agree with Mick Rodysill’s comment that, “It’s a Catch-22.” Either option places cyclists where they are not safe. Biking on the sidewalk not only causes conflict with pedestrian traffic, but also with dangerous alley ways where cars pull out without regard to any sidewalk traffic. A pedestrian has enough time to stop, but a person on a bike even at a slow speed doesn’t have the reaction time to stop. The streets are far more dangerous. Unfortunately, many cars are not will ing to share the road. I bike everyday to school and work and have to constant ly be on my guard. Cars whiz past me at 40-50 mph and I just grip my han dlebars and pray they don’t clip me. I feel that it is totally irresponsible for the Lincoln Police Department to issue tickets for riding in restricted areas (Ninth to 16th streets, K to R streets) and not offer a safer alterna tive. The tickets will force cyclists into the most dangerous streets - down town traffic. As a growing, progressive city, Lincoln needs safe alternative routes for commuters and college stu dents on bikes. Maggie Pleskac Sophomore English The Grass is Greener I’m a graduate of UNL for both undergrad and dental school who’s now doing a residency at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Yes, they have a football team, but would you believe they don’t charge students for tickets to see games, bas i-... - - -- ketball included! It comes out of our student fees that are very comparable to UNL’s. All they do is swipe your stu dent ID! There is limited student seat ing, but for the most part, everyone who’s interested gets in. This was quite a revelation coming from UNL where I paid a hefty amount for just a football ticket, no basketball, soccer, volley ball, swimming, etc. UNL’s Athletic Department, though self-sufficient, needs to think about what it means to I---1 Aaron Steckelberg/DN be a part of the “university communi ty.” In addition, I do know where Bill Byrne lives - it’s Firethom Golf Club where he traditionally has a “Husker” carved pumpkin for Halloween every year that I’m sure you could borrow to wear on your head or maybe help him put it over his! Tegwyn L. Hughes, DDS UNL alumni True Fans As a reader, I thought Mr. Willey’s article (DN, Friday) was entertaining as well as valid on the issue of moving the student football seating section; however, I can’t share the same feeling of relaxation when I am sitting next to a drunken fraternity member who has just exposed his genitals to the public and begun to urinate in front of me. The student seating section should be a reserved portion of the stadium where students who love Husker foot ball can sit (or stand) to cheer on and support their team. Moving the section “out of the way” Shows Nebraskans that UNL is more concerned for their money and reputation than it is con cerned for its students. On the other hand, students can not take the privilege of their own entire section of the stadium for granted. Football games are about watching football, not seeing who can get the most drunk and be the most obnox ious. The student section has become, over the last years, increasingly lit tered, lewd and intoxicated. We as stu dents expect the luxuries of student benefits, but they come with responsi bilities. By consistently being the loudest, messiest, most intoxicated group, we are not displaying our “Husker Pride” in the best light. The football team is not the only group that represents the Huskers at the football games. Jeffrey M. Ray Junior Business Management Shooting back Regarding Lane Hickenbottom’s “Damage Control” (DN, Thursday): The only faint relief in this whole ordeal has been the spectacle of the members of die press either scamper ing to distance themselves from the verminous paparazzi or, like Mr. Hickenbottom, embracing them as comrades on journalism’s front lines. His argument that “we only take the pictures - you’re the ones buying the magazines” is only slightly more valid than a drug dealer claiming he only sells the stuff - you’re the ones shooting up. What would Diana have been with out the paparazzi, he asks? Probably alive. Gary Anderson UNL faculty
