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 . 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