EDITORIAL
JFK isn’t a memory
for many Americans
"Where were you when President Kennedy was
shot?"
For the vast majority of people on this campus, the
question elicits a blank stare and a shaking head.
Today's college students, by and large, have no memo
ry of Kennedy's assassination; most cannot even recall
the '60s.
Of the 250 million citizens of the United States, 112
million — almost 45 percent — are less than 30 years
old. When the nation's charismatic young president was
shot down in Dallas 30 years ago. these people were not
witness... they weren't even born.
Yet this country's media have nonetheless insisted
that memories of that fateful Novombor day will live in
every American’s heart forever.
It's clear that Kennedy is an enduring figure in the
minds of those who were alive in 1963. The record of
his deeds, the endless photographs of "Camelot,” the
perpetual rehashing of his tragic death — all these have
combined to make him a hero even to those who were
born long after he was killed.
And yet there can be no tribute to the man that isn't
tainted with opportunism. A 30-year anniversary is a
golden opportunity for people to put their two cents in.
In fact, lavish television specials and full-page newspa
per spreads have all sprung up of lato. not only to hon
or the fallen president but also, it seems, to perpetuate
the notion that his assassination has left an indelible
mark on us all... even though it probably hasn't.
Perhaps all this attention given to Kennedy is
designed to keep those who knew him from forgetting
him. Hut this claim is paradoxical. If his memory really
is that indelible, would wo need every other TV station
or newspaper to remind us that "Hey. the memory of
Kennedy sure is indelible, huh?"
A local I V station. KVAL, has created a mumpie-pan
series on how the nation — not just Eugene, but the
whole nation reacted to Kennedy's death. The very
fact that little KVAL feels qualified to comment on the
nation’s feelings in November, 1903, just goes to show
how cliched and formulaic the discussions of President
Kennedy have become.
You can almost picture the KVAL newsroom, with
veteran news anchor John Doyle dividing up responsi
bilities for the series: "OK, now who's going to do the bit
about how the nation loved to watch the Kennedy* play
football? Now. who wants to do the ‘Where you were
when JFK was shot?' piece? OK, then. Now. who’s going
to do the conspiracy segment?" And on and on. Nothing
new. just toeing the standard Kennedy line.
There's no question that the Kennedy presidency, and
especially its abrupt end, had a powerful impact on the
destiny of these United States. The anniversary of the
assassination needs to be acknowledged, but there's
very little to bo gained from the kind of acknowledg
ments that have so far dominated the media. All that’s
been created is a sort of thoughtless idolatry, a "cult of
Kennedy,’’ which, in its premeditated praise, doesn’t do
justice to the man, or to the people who admire him to
this day.
Oregon Daily
PO BO* tuGlWt OMiGON«.'403
The Oegon D*fy l ,s pot**hed darfy Monday ihrough Friday during the school
wear and Tuesday and Thursday during the lommei by the Or egon Daily Emerald
Put>t*shtng Co . Inc at the Untvervty of Oregon. t ugene. Oregon
The *mera« operates independently of the University with offiCM <*t Suite 300 of the
E/t> Mamor»al Umon and >s a member of the Associated Pte»*
The fmanUd <a private property The unlawful removal or use of papers n prosecutable
by law
Editor-In-Chief: Jafce Bern
Emerald
Managing Editor
Editorial Editor
Graphic* Editor
Fraalanca Editor
CaKey Andaraon
David Thorn
Jah PaaUy
Jeh Wmtari
Sport* Editor M*rvr
Editor lot Editor J«« P«*h*rdi
Photo Editor Anthony Fornoy
Sopplwhortu Editor lupy Solo
regnt editor scot
Associate Editor*: Scot Clemen* Student Government Activitys. Rebecca Memti.
Comwvr>. River* Jans*en. FSghat fducMtOty/AdnunaArahon
New* Staff: 0»v# CharOonnaau, Ricardo Devwo. Meg Oeooiph. Amy Davenport. Mt a
f ew*. Martin Faber. Saian Henderson, A/* HasaakW*. Edward Kioplenstem. 'Em Long
leong. Manus Meland. Trista Noel, Elisabeth Reenstierna. i.,* Sakscoa. Scott Simonson,
Stephanie Sisson, Susanna Stetten*. Jute Swensen. M chele Thompson-Aguiar. Kevin
Tnpp Amy Van Tuyt. Darnel West
Oenerat Manager Judy RecF
Advertising Director: Morn Waiter Production Manager lAcheie Ross
Advertising: Subrr Dutta, Nicwa HerimarV Teresa Isabe-'e Jed Marion, Jeremy Mason
Michael M iohe, Van V 0 Bryan II, Rachael Trmi Kelsey Wen Ang.« Wwjhem
ciaasitled: Becky Merchani. Manager Victoi Maya. Sm Tie Tech
Distribution: Brandon Anderaon. John Long. Graham Simpson
Bu*ln***: Kathy Cadjcme. Supervisor Judy Connolly
Production: Dee McCobb, Production Coordmetor Si i* .1 Abe n G>eg Oesmond. Ta«a
Gaunney. Brad Jos*. Jenni'er Roland. Nan Ttwigufi. Guyton Yee
Newsroom
Buetneee Office.
..... 346-55'1
.346-5512
Display Advertising
CU**H»ed Advertising.
346-3712
346-4343
O^CDfAW)!W>x
W j J \ 'irW
‘i&nil T*. A*v/J
MO fOk Alt
l k vo W, HL 1$
~-~r! 1
LETTERS
Tunes
in response to "Nonnin’s
letter, I'd like to nay you're right
The current KVVVA listening
audience is familiar with the
music that is placed on the sta
tion However, the point of my
original letter (which was edited
out) was that the current listen
ing audience consists of maybe
jo port ent of the student popu
lation II the station is interested
in the rest of us, then I think my
suggestions are worth consider
ing.
I am not suggesting KW\ A
turn into a Top-40 station (or
anything near it), but that t! he
an alternative station that an
average college student would
listen to. Since the average col
lege student is not a diehard
alternative fan like the majority
of KVVVA's current audience,
playing a few more recognizable
songs could bridge the gap
between KVVVA's current and
potential audience. That doesn't
mean promoting million selling
hands and passing them off as
alternative, hut playing may tie
two songs an hour by such
hands True, these hands are not
"college radio" anymore, but
just because they sold some
albums and made the Top 40 a
few times shouldn't oust them
front college radio. And besides,
there are plenty of recognizable
songs by non-huge hands, like
Belly's "Feed The Tree,” Toad
the Wet Sprocket's "All I Want,”
Alice In Chains’ "Man In the
Box.” etc.
The bottom line is that this
station is funded by the stu
dents, so it should be for the stu
dents. This includes the seem
ingly insignificant 80 percent of
the University students who lis
ten to more mainstream music
and thus obscure alternative.
Granted. KWVA is for break
ing in new bonds, but a more
effective way to do that could bo
to take a look at MTV — a hud
word? MTV brought Nirvana, an
unheard-of college-radio hand,
to the world by playing its
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" video
in between videos nv Genesis
and U2. instead amid a bunt h of
other basit ally unheard-of songs
on 120 Xtmutrs (which is essen
tially college-radio MTV). This
wav, the song got exposed to the
average listener, and the rest
was history.)
And finally, calling in
requests is not a solution. It’s
just orte song and back to the
same ol' KVVVA
Philip Abraham
Journalism
Unity
1 agree with Matt Fox's assess
ment that a religion's unique
ness is essential to its integritv
[ODH Nov 10). I also (relieve in
the danger of blind unity Yet
considering our world's frag
mented condition, and religion's
historical role as a unifier, 1 do
not believe that this danger
should keep us from an earnest
effort to find common ground
For a more grave danger exists
in our failure to act upon the cri
sis at hand.
As we search for new meth
ods of survival in a shrinking
world, independent investiga
tion of truth is essential. We
should >t fear unity, but rather
blind imitation, which is the
cause of prejudice, injustice and
uniformity (such as the one
found in the Nazi regime).
Therefore, we should not be
afraid to evaluate our common
assumptions and interpreta
tions, then compare them to the
spiritual teachings at the hearts
of our faiths. Nor should wo hes
itate to investigate the possibili
ty that within these spiritual
teachings is a continuous
thread, uniting us under our one
Creator, whom we have only
called by different names.
I admit that this may seem
like a distant hope, easily dis
missed by those who contest
that religions have never, and
will never, agree. But it is hope,
no doubt, that pushes us to new
horizons. 1 believe this is our
greatest hope; that In our beauti
ful diversity, we are oil members
of one human family. If found
within our hearts to In; true, tlit*
love and trust to sincerely
embrace our differences, and
truly live in peace, would be
ours
Nathan Cooprider
Architecture
Ride on
In response to David Cole's
letter (ODE Nov 17). reducing
car use is not a radical idea, nor
a crusade lead by a “bunch of
hippie kids." K the quality of air
you breathe important to you?
Do you enjov breathing? It is
indisputable that driving causes
more air pollution in Oregon
than anv other activity. I am sur
prised a general science major
would be so ignorant us to the
state of the environment. Hello?
Kver heard of air pollution?
Global warming?
Cole suggests going some
where else “if you find the air in
Oregon too polluted for you.”
Oregon is one of the few states
with a strong concern and con
sciousness for the environment
— maybe he should go some
where else. Kver heard "75T Los
Angeles7
I think he missed the point of
OSPIRG's "preaching.” The pur
pose of the Alternative Trans
portation Fair and Curb Your
Car Campaign is to encourage
participation in and promote
awareness about the alternatives
to automobile- dependent liv
ing. Unless you have some other
idea you haven't shared, there
won’t be a choice when there
are no longer current and future
sources of non-renewable fossil
fuels.
Break the bike out of the
garage, and ride to school or to
work. What are you afraid of?
Feeling great, getting a little
exercise and creating a better
place to live? If you have the
option but are simply too lazy to
incorporate walking or riding
your bike into your lifestyle,
why not ride the bus or carpool?
Try it!
Allison R. Wleland
Eugene