EDITOR
Josh Funk
OPINION
EDITOR
Mark Baldridge
EDITORIAL
BOARD
Lindsay Young
Jessica Fargen
Samuel McKewon
Cliff Hicks
Kimberly Sweet
i---:
p Our
Silence
hurts
Gay union supporters
should speak out
When people break the rules, they
must be punished.
So, when the Rev. Jimmy Creech broke
United Methodist Church law by perform
' ing a same-sex marriage ceremony, he had
to pay the price.
For him, it was losing his ministerial
powers. It was simply a matter of church
law.
No matter that the law was enacted
about five months after Creech was found
not guilty of performing a same-sex mar
riage because it hadn’t been declared a law
yet.
And no matter that the policy is funda
mentally wrong.
The United Methodist Church sup
ports the idea that, according to God, gays
and lesbians have the same human worth
as heterosexuals.
Yet the church deprives those same
people of basic human rights - getting
married, holding office or even leading
certain groups - within its institution.
Unfortunately, the Creech affair in
itself hasn’t sufficiently challenged the
- unfair policy in the United Methodist
Church.
But it has brought attention to a phe
nomenon that is far from new.
Even if the church allowed same-sex
marriage ceremonies, the United States
won’t legally recognize the unions.
The policy in both the church and the
state could be changed. But only if those
who believe it should be changed will
stand up to the church and the govern
ment.
Some of the church’s pastors were dis
appointed in the Creech verdict, saying the
punishment was too severe and that
Creech was just trying to expose an injus
tice.
In May 2000, a mere six months away,
United Methodist Church members have
the opportunity to take steps toward
change.
The church will hold a national confer
_ ence where the same-sex marriage policy
can be challenged.
After hearing the verdict that stripped
him of his ministerial powers, Creech told
The Associated Press: “The church has
said it will use its power - legal power,
spiritual power and financial power - to
enforce bigotry. It is a sad day.”
It was a sad day.
But the results of that day should moti
vate, rather than discourage, supporters to
push for a much-needed change in attitude
in this country toward gay unions.
Use the power of numbers to force a
change in the United Methodist Church.
And maybe someday we can look back
and say that change was one of many that
instigated a change in U.S. law.
Editorial Policy
Unsigned editorials are the opinions of
the Fall 1999 DailyNebraskan. 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 PeKcy
The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief
letters to the editor and guest columns,
but does not guarantee tneir 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, 20
Nebraska Union, 1400 R St. Lincoln,
NE. 68588-0448. E-mail:
letters@unl.edu.
. . . r; %
■i \ ■>'
Obermeyer’s
■’ VIEW
IM ColL£&€ STATION} Tf^AS
! Four, 'iZARs ago... ^
y--^ i
..Mm mti ,^\ 5
&&mMW y^~^n|
/W.w&t, ouk
^I^nAcTotJ I «lm*mi OF/MB*'
pf^AR^PTOj^TfA/ J Cou€6HATTBM&CBNM& a
A ha/r / /s mt, #/r ;
50- AR£ y u/^ Z=o N££P A tiBVJ
meKt^BPfy , 5oRt/£ ^
-r— \ <VA0#/S SoceBF J
/ \. T&AM.;> ^y
Bicycle thief poetry
Columnist writes stolen bike verses to ease pain
Bear with me, folks. I’m going to try
and make light of my past month.
A wise man (aptly named Don
Wiseman) once said that “Bad luck
comes in three-packs.” Misinterpreting
what he meant, I searched to the ends of
the earth looking for this prestigious
three-pack of beer called Bad Luck.
After calling Don Wiseman (that
wise man) on the phone when I got back
from my futile journey, he reiterated his
words and explained that three instances
of bad luck happen to people in a short
amount of time.
I smacked my forehead for being so
stupid, but Don said nicely, “Sit down,
and take a load off.”
As I pondered what this statement
meant, he gently told me to just sit in the
chair.
My first encounter with bad luck
was when my grandfather, Frank,
passed away. This isn’t really bad luck,
but I’m just trying to fit it into what Don
told me. I’m trying to relate, brother.
My second encounter was just plain
rude. My Bronco II broke down, and I
tried to fix it myself. All I was trying to
do was avoid paying for a tow truck, but
the parking lot nazis were ruthless. They
called a tow truck (after I left a note on
my car explaining the situation), and I
ended up paying $300 for a bad battery
cable.
The third, last and closest encounter
(of a third kind) has left me in complete
mental disarray.
My beloved, well-groomed, sexy
bicycle was stolen. I feel raped, and I’m
sure my bike is scared and lonely.
It was a beautiful sky-blue
Specialized Rockhopper with a yellow
shock and yellow pedals that could
make an angel cry. It had great stickers
such as “Girl Power,” and a smiling cig
arette man on the top tube.
I christened my bike Calypso after a
drunken night of singing John Denver
tunes and riding on the wings of time....
Calypso went absolutely every
where with me, except the shower. Ya
know, it’s just weird.
Anyway, I really do feel that a part
of me is lost. I spent three years getting
that bike just so.
Rather than lash out at the people
around me, smashing their heads into
walls and calling them 15 dirty words at
a time, I have written a series of haiku in
accordance with the emotions that have
wracked my soul this week.
Most of you can share in my sorrow,
so if you need to cry as you’re reading
these haiku, feel free. I won’t laugh at
you until you’re done.
Haiku for pity:
She lost her bike. Bike.
The bike she rides with. Her bike.
Someone stole her bike.
Haiku for Calypso:
Calypso, my dear,
don’t cry. We will meet again.
Bike/human heaven.
Haiku for forgetting: *
Soaking in my tub.
Calgon, take me away, please.
Insurance smells sweet.
Haiku for the thief:
You seem like Hitler.
But without the mustache and
a penchant for theft.
Haiku for mixed emotions:
Bike thieves suck! Jerk-face!
Bikes and hearts aren’t toys, ya know?
Cry, cry, cry, cry, KILL!
Haiku for sweet revenge:
Maybe you were drunk.
I hope so for your children’s
sake. Do they have bikes?
Here is a poem written by Mark
Baldridge earlier this semester. His bike
was a red Murray Mt. Climber with a
“White Supremacy Sucks” sticker
To the thief who took my bike, left
unlocked, overnight,
You ought to be ashamed.
The wheels were worth more than
the frame.
The brakes squealed, the paint
peeled,
and I don’t think you’ll like the way
the seat feels.
It cost less than 80 bucks brand new,
and I’d had it a year or two.
You’ll get 5 for it, tops, maybe
caught by the cops,
If they get your buyer to talk
Meanwhile, I’ll walk
Mark and I have only two words for
those of you out there - if you see our
bikes, steal them back
' .> V; V: f
Megan Cody/DN
Karen Brown is a junior English andfilm studies major and a Daily Nebraskan columnist
3Our Opinions Suck!!!
i We need your help. Apply for a columnist position at the Daily Nebraskan.
3 We don’t offer a 401K plan, but we are willing to pay for a piece of your
$ mind. GetanappiicationattheDNofficesoronlineatwww.DailyNeb.com,
and return it with two sample columns to 20 Nebraska Union by Friday, Dec.
3,1999. The Daily Nebraskan is an equal opportunity employer and adheres
to all applicable hiring guidelines.
