The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, July 09, 1998, Summer Edition, Page 4, Image 4

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    Tim
KARSTENS
Good sports
If you ’re going to drink,
don ’t act like an idiot
KARSTENS is a news-editorial
graduate student and a Daily
Nebraksan columnist.
It’s coming! Although you may not be think
ing about it, fall is not far off. That means cooler
temperatures, gun-metal gray skies, falling
orange and yellow leaves and football. And
around here that means Comhusker football.
But be forewarned Lincolnites, for the beasts
are coming. It is the unruly, ungodly drunken
football fan. Certainly you know the species.
They migrate like so many sandhill cranes on
autumn Saturdays. They will land and nest in
Lincoln for two or so days to witness a hotly con
tested battle. (Well maybe not until Washington
or Ricky Williams ... I mean Texas comes to
town.) The only reprieve for besieged Lincolnites
is the occasional away game.
Please let me clarify for the uninitiated or con
fused. I am not talking about the majority of Husker
football fans. Most are well behaved and retain their
dignity while having a good time. I’m talking about
the five ner renters and their season of Hiah
Buffoonery. The five per centers are the small num
ber ofHusker fans who feel the need to drink them
selves senseless, and then display their wisdom to
foolish locals with stunning verbal gymnastics.
As a longtime resident, I have often wit
nessed this dearth of high-thinking. Comments
such as “only queers ride bikes,” or the crafty
“Hey baby,” can be heard any time anywhere. But
why is it this behavior increases on game day
Saturdays and often comes from a guy wearing
red and white striped overalls? I guess the joke is
on the recipient of these missives.
Lest anyone think I am wrong, misguided or
unfair, try it out. Go downtown after a game and
walk around. (Don’t take a dog though, because
drunks like to tease them for some reason. Trust
me, I know) As the night grows longer, it
becomes more evident. Take a notebook because
you will get some good material.
Let me cite one incident I personally witnessed
last fall after a game. Two couples swaggered into
a downtown establishment obviously intoxicated
and full of bravado. While waiting to be seated,
one of the men leered at other customers and com
mented about the hostess and her weight from
about five feet away. Do you think she heard it? Do
you think they would have done it in their home
town? Do you think any of them would have been
courageous enough to do that alone or sober?
I know the majority of Nebraska fans are
friendly and accommodating. Even most drunk
fans are friendly and well-behaved. I know — I
am a fan too. And if I can do it, others can too. So
chip in for the big win and clean up your act.
Editorial Policy
Unsigned editorials are the opinions of
the Spring 1998 Daily Nebraskan. They
do not necessarily reflect the views of the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, its
employees, its student body or the
Univerky 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 Editorial Board. Tne
UNL Publications Board, established by
the regents, supervises the production
of the paper. According to policy set by
the regents, responsibility for the editorial
content of the newspaper lies solely in
the hands of its student employees.
Letter Policy
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. 68588-0448. E-mail:
letters@unlinfo.unl.edu.
Haney’s
VIEW
■ •• J6& %-vi& " .-• jnif ■T
Barb I '
CHURCHILL
No Baloney
Hormel ambassadorship mired in anti-gay rhetoric
CHURCHILL is a gradu
ate student in saxophone
performative and a Daily
Nebraskan columnist.
Homosexual people are the only
group in the United States not afford
ed equal rights under the law.
What, you don’t believe me? Well,
then, just ask James Hormel, prospec
tive ambassador to Luxembourg.
President Clinton nominated
Hormel in October 1997, and expect
ed immediate confirmation. Hormel
is an active philanthropist and schol
ar, and Clinton did not expect
Hormel’s sexuality to be an issue.
Several prominent United States sen
ators, including Nebraska’s own Bob
Kerrey and Minnesota Democrat
Paul Wellstone, have supported
Hormel’s candidacy. Hormel’s nomi
nation sailed through the Senate
roreign Relations comminee lasi
fall, approved by a 14-2 vote.
But then Hormel’s nomination
stalled. Senate Majority Leader Trent
Lott (R-Miss.) will not send the issue to
the Senate floor for a vote because of
his personal beliefs. And unfortunately,
many Republican senators, including
our own Chuck Hagel, agree with him.
Apparently, Hormel’s personal qualifi
cations do not excusehis sexuality.
Whatls even worse than the stalling is
that many prominent news services have
either refused to cover the story or buried it
in the back of the paper.
Perhaps the major news services
are embarrassed by the Senate. Several
prominent conservative Republican
Senators, including Lott, Nebraskan
Chuck Hagel, James Inhofe (R-Okla.)
and Dick Armey (R-Texas) have made
statements that prove how little they
know about homosexuality and human
nature in general.
Or, perhaps the news services are
ashamed of Hormel. Hormel is com
petent and capable, but is also openly
gay. Hormel obviously unnerves the
Republicans; maybe he unnerves the
networks as well.
And the spurious rhetoric used to keep
Hormel’s nomination in limbo hasn’t been
exactly pleasant Inhofe said that Hormel
is “more interested in promoting the gay
agenda” than in promoting the United
States. Then, he compared Hormel to
David Duke, KKK Grand Wizard.
Oh, come on. Comparing
Hormel, a dedicated, honest law pro
fessor, a noted philanthropist to one
of the most racist men in the 20th cen
tury is ridiculous. White House
spokesman Barry Toiv said, “(This
statement is) outrageous. It makes it
more clear than ever that Mr. Hormel
is being blocked only because he is
gay and only by those who have the
most extreme agendas.”
However, Inhofe wasn’t the only
one making intolerant statements.
Lott likened homosexuality to “klep
tomania” and “sex addiction” in a
television interview, and when asked
whether homosexuality was a sin, he
said, “Yes, it is.”
Dick Armey (R-Texas) immedi
ately supported Lott, although he
avoided the word “sin.” Others who
backed Lott were Tim Hutchinson
(R-Ark.) and former football star
Steve Largent (R-Okla.).
Ralph Reed, conservative commen
tator and critic, believes the Republican
leadership is out of touch. So does Gil
Alexander-Moegerle, co-founder of
Focus on the Family, a conservative
Christian group. He has broken with
James Dobson, the other co-founder,
over the issue and has madean apology
to the gay and lesbian community.
Republicans have missed the
point here, and should be ashamed. If
Hormel were straight, he would have
been confirmed by now and packed
off to Luxembourg.
Locally, politicians are also at
odds. According to the July 3, 1998
Omaha World Herald, Kerrey asked
Hagel if he would meet with Hormel
regarding the ambassadorship. Hagel
agreed, and called him “a nice fellow.”
Kerrey was hoping Hormel’s
Nebraskan bloodline might help
Hagel to disregard the Republican
leadership, as his grandfather George
Hormel founded Hormel Foods in
Fremont in 1947. Or, perhaps Kerrey
thought Hormel’s outstanding record
of charity work would impress Hagel.
Hagel refused to budge from the
Republican party line. Hormel^s nomi
nation remains stalled. And Kerrey
seems baffled by Hagel’s intransigence.
But in Hagel’s view, Hormel’s
innate honesty and “niceness” just
didn’t matter. “(Ambassadors) are
representing America,” Hagel said.
“They are representing our lifestyle,
our values, our standards. And I think
it is an inhibiting factor to be gay —
openly aggressively gay like Mr.
Hormel — to do an effective job.”
Should a man who is otherwise
qualified to be an ambassador be
denied solely because he is gay, or
shouldn’t he?