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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 11, 1999)
EDITOR Erin Gibson OPINION EDITOR Cliff Hicks EDITORIAL BOARD Nancy Christensen Brad Davis Sam McKewon Jeff Randall Bret Schulte Our VIEW Action, not tears Make progress instead of mourning dead On Feb. 19, in Sylacauga, Ala., Billy Jack Gaither was beaten to death and thrown onto a pile of tires, where his lifeless body was burned beyond recognition. It could have been just another abhorrent murder, but Gaither’s case has received extra attention nationwide because of who he was. Gaither was gay; his only crime was living the way he wanted. And the two men who allegedly ended his life have become the latest in a parade of monsters who prey on others - beating and killing out of hatred and fear. People still act shocked when they hear of incidents such as this. They still put hand to mouth and occasionally wipe away a tear. They lament the lack of humanity, the lack of mercy and the lack of tolerance in ’90s America. And then, often times, they give thanks that such prejudice and hatred doesn’t exist where they live. But if you live in Nebraska, don’t get down on your knees just yet. Because even though we like to chastise others for failing to recognize everyone is human, we in Nebraska have a ways to go in meeting that standard. Sen. Ernie Chambers realizes this, and one of the bills he has introduced to the Legislature is designed to take a step toward absolute equality for everyone. i Because if you’re gay in Nebraska and you want to keep your job, you’d better make sure that you keep a lid on your private life; or else a pink slip could be in your future, and there’s nothing you can do about it. LB69 would change that. It would make it a crime for an employer to discriminate against a person based on sexual orientation. And in both a symbolic and real way, it would be another step toward official recognition of the gay lifestyle as an acceptable one. But seeing absolute harmony and justice done in the state of Nebraska appears to be a long way off. Because even as Sen. Chambers attempts to push the people of Nebraska toward the 2181 century, a group of 21 senators has put forth another bill that would do just the opposite. LB513 would amend Nebraska’s statutes on marriage, clearly stating that the only mar riages recognized in Nebraska would be between a man and a woman. The intent behind this bill is obvious. It is meant to pro tect Nebraska’s residents from the horrendous plague that is same-sex marriage. Please, senators, grow up. Nebraskans are never going to be seen as the most progressive bunch, and we’re never going to be responsi ble for the nation’s conscience. But as long as we’re here, and as long as we feel the urge to shed a tear for people like Billy Jack Gaither and Matthew Shepherd, maybe we should do our best to do what’s right. If not, we’re just as wrong as the people who took them away. Editorial Policy Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the Spring 1999 Daily Nebraskan. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the 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 serves 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 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.unf.edu. 3 Ritters VIEW i Faith and the facts I read the column by Mark Baldridge in the Daily Nebraskan (“Some may deserve to die but mercy is better,” March 4) and felt that a couple of things needed to be cleared up. First, there were two robbers crucified with Jesus Christ, not two murderers (see Matthew 27:38). Secondly, at the end of his article he makes mention of the passage in Matthew 25:31-46 where Christ talks about separating the sheep from the goats. Mark says that admittance into heaven is based on works. Mark says that “if you consent in your heart to the death of a prisoner and have never actu ally gone and visited a prisoner, then - according to Christ, mind you, not me - you get to pass on the left hand of God,” which means that you get sent to hell. This is totally contradictory to the rest of the Bible. Salvation into heaven is based on belief in Jesus Christ not by works. (Titus 3:5; Galatians 2:16; m Ephesians 2:8,9; 2 Timothy 1:9.) 18 The people Jesus is talking to in B Matthew 25 have already been sep- l| arated by Christ. They are separat- /p ed based on their belief in him as 'v their Savior and Lord. People who* | have a loving relationship, not a reli gion, with God will display Christ- like characteristics as they grow. They will want to help others because of the way God has helped them. A If a person truly loves God it is g hard, if not impossible, to not be compassionate on those who are in need. Matthew Menke senior agricultural engineering System errors In her column “Capital punish ment rightly serves justice,” (March 4) Jessica Flanagain appears to be con- ( doning the murder of innocent people, j Ms. Flanagain freely admits that there are flaws in the American judicial system and in the application of the death penalty, yet she glosses over the victims of those flaws. She nobly suggests reforming the system, yet she does not mention halt ing executions while we attempt to attain this judicial perfection. & I’m afraid that the Microsoft phi- vg losophy of “working out die bugs as ' you go” is not applicable when the “system errors” result in the deaths of innocent people. Sebastien Komer UNL employee Remember the fallen The biggest Husker fan died in a car accident Saturday. Many of you may not recognize her name, but Shirley Minton loved us, the Big Red. She was a lady who could brighten anyone’s day. She had a smile and a story to share with everyone. Minton was the journalism teacher at Papillion-LaVista High School and anyone who had her as a teacher would confess that she was the best. I was in her class for two years and will confess that she didn’t treat us like children and gave us all her full respect But what does this mean to the Huskers? ’V A part of our spirit just died. She never missed a game and enjoyed our campus. After the Husker football team took the National Championship in 1995, Minton wore all red for about 375 days, until they took the title again. She was featured in newspaper and maga zine articles and was invited to some football team parties, where she got to rub elbows with Coach Osborne and the players. Her Christmas lights were even red and formed a big N on the back of her house. Minton also loved to cook. She taught others how to make tailgate party foods. She was a pro at the football treats. Thanks Minton. Summer M. Spivey sophomore textile, clothing and /i desig" ^ -*r Matt Haney/DN
