The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 85, No. 8, Ed. 1 Friday, October 17, 1997 Page: 3 of 20
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1997 3
I IMAGINE that by the time
this column is actually committed to
newsprint, it won't be raining any
more (or maybe it will be raining
again — 1 wasn't paying
very close attention to the
forecast).
In any case, 1 was sit-
ting inside, wondering why
in the world 1 had left my
umbrella in the car, when I
realized 1 still hadn't in-
vented a column for the
week, when it struck me
that 1 could just take a num-
ber of random thoughts
about rain and string them
together, possibly using
bullets, a quintessential Thresher-
style column construction which I
could then imbue with my own writ-
ing quirks, such as extremely long
sentences, many of which include
long, SAT-style words, tenuously
lied together with series of commas
and a variety of attempts at humor.
• Roofs are good; they keep people
dry. Covered walkways serve much
the same purpose for travel between
buildings. All this makes me won-
der why it is impossible to go from
the Mudd Lab arcade to the building
itself without getting wet in the rain.
• It is a lot more fun to sit around
doing nothing than it is to do work of
any sort.
• Ralph Adams Cram (the original
Christof
SHEU0R
COLUMNIST
architect of campus) was at one point
planning to put in a reflecting pool in
the academic quadrangle, but Edgar
Odell Lovett (first president of Rice)
talked him out of it (mos-
quitoes). That would have
been pretty cool.
• We could solve the
drainage problem and
turn flooding to our ad-
vantage by simply replac-
ing campus roads with ca-
nals. then retraining the
shuttle bus drivers asgon-
doliers.
• There is something very
presumptuous about be-
ing a columnist. You have
to imagine somehow that (i) people
will want to read this stuff, and (ii)
people will care. We all tell ourselves
that over here, but perhaps we're all
mildly insane. Most Rice students
are.
• High on the list of people who get
the least credit for doing the most'
work: university staff. I'm thinking
particularly of the Facilities and
Engineering people who get up early
on miserable mornings like today
and poke around puddles trying to
get drains unclogged. Thanks, guys.
• Is anyone reading this?
• There are few things quite as won-
derful as the first clear day after a
cold front. I've seen sunsets where
the sun spills down through the
clouds in golden rays, just like a
Baroque church ceiling. I've never
seen any angels, though, only West
University.
• The more people I get to know,
the more it strikes me that they've
all pretty much all been really de-
pressed at one time or another. Ei-
ther that means I have an uncanny
ability to meet people like that, or
that it's just part of human nature.
I'm opting for the latter, and it's, a
rather encouraging thought. If life's
bad, it'll always get better eventually
(or vice-versa, but we try not to think
about that).
• Another cool rainy day sight:
Lovett Hall with rain streaking down
its bricks and a misty background. It
makes me think of a Scottish castle.
• There are few things better on a
rainy day than a museum. At my
favorite museum, the Menil, you
never know exactly what you'll find
around-the next corner, the benches
are reallyvomfy, it's open long hours
and it's all free.
• The world would be a better place
if everybody played with toys now
and then.
• 1 should probably stop writing-
now.
Christof Spieler (Sid '97) is the
design consultant and a first
year graduate student in civil
engineering.
Empty political apologies demean victims
"Gee, I'm sorry." Those
words have taken on a new and dif-
ferent meaning in the past decade
— a meaning which lacks the true
impact they were origi-
nally intended to have.
That phrase's increased
popularity is another in-
stance where politicians
have taken a meaningful
concept, the apology, and
deformed it into a public
relations tool.
At first, I thought the
movement would pass.
The Vatican apologized for
blaming the Jews for
Christ's death. Then the
United States and Japan each de-
bated whether to apologize for atroci-
ties committed in World War II. The
U.S. government also considered
Anne
Kimbol
OPINION
EDITOR
dared their remorse over their role
in sending Jews to the Nazis. The
Swiss, who have received more bad
press then their neutral country has
ever seen before, has been
giving out apologies of a
financial nature,returning
the gold which was confis-
cated from the Jews dur-
ing the World War II era.
Relying on apologies
and public displays of re-
morse has become the
fashionable method of
handling traumas on a glo-
bal scale. No one actually
takes accountability for
the issues at stake. In-
stead, people point to governments
and others long gone to evoke the
changing of the old ways as time
goes by. In essence, the supposedly
saying it was sorry for slavery. Nc^w ^apologetic politician creates an air
it seems as if the world's leading
institutions are all jumping on the
apology bandwagon.
Now it seems as if
the world's leading
institutions are^all
• jumping on the
apology bandwagon.
ITie latest round lias focused on
the Holocaust. The Red Cross said it
was sorry for turning a blind eye to
the genocide taking place in Ger-
many. The French "have also de-
of empathy and a noise of sorrow
without acknowledging either the
current problem or addressing the
future course which must be taken.
This growing syndrome, which
leads politicians tospeak of remorse,
does nothing for anyone. It is the
most pure case of "too little, too late"
I have ever known. Generations of
discrimination, years of torture and
unbelievable uses of violence can-
not and will not be erased by the
three words, "We are sorry." The
appropriate response to such a claim
is, "Well, do something about it."
Governments and institutions
t hat feel guilt should not be allowed
to clear their consciences through a
brief press conference and a few
tearful words. They should be forced
to examine the consequences of
their group's past actions and dis-
cuss how the present and future
must be shaped in order to account
for the current underlying problems.
Apartheid, genocide, discrimination
and terror do not disappear with a
kind word and a photo opportunity.
These issues take time and effort to
overcome, and this aspect is being
ignored by .those who allow these
Hollow apologies to take place.
Global responsibility must be
taken more seriously. Nations, es-*
pecially powerful ones like the
United States, feel that they can get
away with anything as long as it is
done with a big smile or remorseful
sigh (whichever fits the occasion)
into an array of video cameras.
The International Court of Jus-
tice needs more power. The United
Nations' departments that research
and act against human rights viola-
tions and war crimes must have de-
fined goals andauthority over those
who violate the basic laws of
humanity.
Until this happens, our world will
remain full of empty apologies and
jyatiingless cries for forgiveness
Anne Kimbol is the advertising
manager, an opinion editor and a
Maker College senior
i i
^
J. "Jump
T r own risk," but
people up around
the block
wind and $20 to the guy
in the booth, I joined
their solemn ranks.
The five-story march
to the top of the crane
was agonizingly slow,
and my time actually
suspended in the air was
over in what seemed like a sec-
ond. When I got to the ground—
leaving my screams somewhere
up near the top of the crane ■— I
took a look at the cord from which
I had been dangling. Itwas ripped
nearly in half.
Most of us generally
take the safest way
out - the way with
the least chance for
failure.
Unfortunately, the
path of least risk is
also usually the
path of least
reward.
Looking back on it, 1 suppose
I should say, Tm lucky to be
alive. I won't take a. chance like
that again." My mother would
appreciate thatattitude. I'm sure.
But the fact Is, I'm not sorry that
{jumped, and, given theopportu*
nity, I would do it again.
There was Obviously a chance
that I could hurt myself or do
worse while jumping, butthe pay-
off — the adrenaline rush that
lasted into the next week and the
sense of -accomplishment that
came from overcoming my fears
—was well worth the risk. I cer-
tainly could have stayed on the
ground watching and avoided any
personal danger, butl would have
missed the rewards, too.
Bungee-jumping, of course, is
not for everyone, but flinging
yourself off of a five-story struc-
ture is not (he only way to take a
chance. At Rice, students are con-
•fronted with risks every day. Most
AIHIIAU
of us generally take the safest
way out—the way with the least
chance for failure. Unfortunately,
the path of least risk is also usu-
ally the path of least
reward. Anyone can sit
down for an-hour and
grind out a decent pa-
per on an acceptable
subject that most ev-
eryone agrees on and
get a solid B on it But
where is the reward?
The real thinking
comes in when writing
a paper on a topic that
no one else has consid-
ered before, or in tak-
ing a position that challenges
What people know about the sub-
ject. Not athletically inclined?
Take a risk, and sign up for an
intramural sport or two. You
might get annihilated when you
try to play, but then again, you
may turn out to be a badminton
prodigy.
It is probably possible to plod
your way through Rice without
ever setting yourself up for a po-
tentially major failure. People do
it here, just as they do at any
other school, and then go on to
get mediocre jobs and lead aver-
age, uninteresting lives, where
the highs are moderate and the
lows are not all that bad. Then
there are those who put it on the
line every once in a while, maybe
by taking a chance with a phi-
losophy class that could be over
their heads or even just risking
face to learrt how to kicker dance.
Members of this second group
will have to chalk up some heavier
losses — they may step all over
somebody's feet at their first
kicker party — but they will also
be able to count up higher suc-
cesses-^r that partnerwith die
sore feet mayalso turn out to be
a lifelong friend.
Cither Way, nothing is going
to happen to the person who sits
in his room with the TV on and
books open all day. He may not
suffer the same let-downs as his
risk-taking partner, but he will
not experience the same rushes
of success either.
If you're out near the Ley Stu-
dent Center next week, and you
see a small figure dangling from
the top of the bell tower with a
bungee cord tied to its feet, that'll
•be me. Onfortunately, you won't
be able to see me from your room.
Joseph Blocher is an opinion
editor and a Hanszen College
freshman. 1
Don't WHORE yourself
to the MEDIA
- unless, of course,
you write well.
Columnists are needed.
If you write well, good. If not,
give it a try. You can send the
clipping to your mom.
Emailjbhcher@rice.edu
or call 527-4801 for more info.
SINCE m«
Joel Hnrdi, Angclique Siy
Editors in Chief
Summer Durham
Anne Kimbol.
Husiness Manager
Advertising Manager
NEWS
BACKPAGE
Maya Halakrishnan. Editor
Terry Cartter, Editor
Michael Schwartz. Asst Editor
„ Packy Saunders, Editor
OPINION
COPY
Joseph Blocher, Editor
Rob Prentice, Editor
Anne Kimbol, Editor
Rose Wilde, Editor
FEATURES
ONUNE
Susan Egeland, Editor
J ace Prey, Editor
Zach Bonig, Asst Editor
ARTS * ENTERTAINMENT
Henimy So, Editor
Eric Mute, Editor
Christof Spieler, Design Consultant
SPORTS
Carter Brooking, I'age Designer *
Timothy Werner. Editor
Marsha Vaswani, Page Design**
Brian Stoler, Page Designer
PHOTOGRAPHY
*
Austin White, Editor
Jill Thompson, Ads Manager
Packy Saunders, Ad Production Manager
CALENDAR
Erte Mufloz, Macintosh Manager
Amy Krivohlavek. Editor
Brian Stoler. Distribution Manager
The Rue Thresher, the official student
newspaper at Rice University since 1916, is
published each Friday during the school year,
except during examination periods and
holidays, by the students of Rice University
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Unsigned editorials represent the,majority
opinion« {the Thresher editorial staff All other
pieces represent solely the opinion of the
author
Hie 77ims/iens a member of the Associated
Collegiate Press. College Media Advisers and
Society of Professional Journalists The
Thresher is rated an AC I' All American
newspaper
€ COPYRIGHT 1997.
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Hardi, Joel & Siy, Angelique. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 85, No. 8, Ed. 1 Friday, October 17, 1997, newspaper, October 17, 1997; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth246604/m1/3/: accessed June 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.