4 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, May 11, 1998 Edited and managed by CHRIs FARAH DAVID WALLACE students at the ' + Editor in Chief Editorial Page Editor University of Michigan Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of the 420 M ay nar d Stnreet majority of the Daily'seditorial board. All other articles, letters and Ann A yrbor, M 48109 cartoons do not necessarily refect the opinion of The Michigan Daily. An.AboMI480 The state House Tax Policy committee recently approved a bill that, if passed by the Michigan Legislature, will allow Washtenaw County residents the opportunity to vote in favor of taxing themselves to support the arts. This bill, similar to ones passed for Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, is an excellent medium for residents to contin- ue and expand their support of the arts. The Michigan legislature should approve this bill and allow Washtenaw County residents to lend their support through local funding. Rep. Kirk Profit, D-Ypsilanti Township, proposed this bill, which would enable Washtenaw voters to tax themselves up to 1.5 mills. The bill seeks to create a 12-member council, comprised of one representative from each county commissioner district. The council would suggest a millage, and voters would accept or reject the millage in a special election. The proposed legislation should New supplies Proposed bill would help funding for the arts strengthen the community's arts pro- grams by allowing residents to increase funding toward cultural activities on a local level. Provisions in the bill should ease the concerns of wary voters in Washtenaw county about abuses of their tax money. The council that proposes the millage would also oversee the dis- tribution of funding to permit only non- profit cultural organizations, function- ing for at least 18 months, to receive support. As Barry LaRue, president of the Washtenaw County Council for the Arts states, "It's only providing a legal mechanism or framework for. taxing authority." Possible beneficiaries include science centers, museums and performing arts groups. The funding could also support the building of facil- ities necessary for the these arts to thrive. Continuing to support and cultivate artistic development is important to the well-being of the county. Art is an essential component in forming a cul- tural identity, and it serves as a powerful reflection of the values and ideas of a group of people. Great works of art often come from unexpected sources, and funding those who wish to con- tribute their unique gifts to society is a noble undertaking. Funding has always been a difficult obstacle for artists, and even masters like Monet experienced shortages of money for more than sup- plies. Contributing money in the name of art is also an affirmation of one's individual rights, as the ability to create art is a direct result of the First Amendment. Continuing to exercise the right to artistic expression keeps these freedoms present in the American con sciousness. If this bill passes, the council must distribute funding in such a way that it does not restrict the content of proposed artistic works. Censorship often threat- ens artistic integrity, and restrictions on funding due to content should only arise if a proposal includes illegal activity. The council must recognize that those artists who push the envelope are the ones that society may later recognize as great innovators. Washtenaw county's special flair and appreciation for the avant-garde help create its unique identity. With its cen- ters of higher learning anchoring its recognition of the arts, Washtenaw coun- ty will continue to strongly support cre- ative efforts. This bill will help Washtenaw extend its appreciation of culture and art even further. Misplaced emphasis School violence overshadows other issues W hen two Arkansas boys opened fire ported the bills and has called for legisla- on their middle school classmates tion to mandate the expulsion of students and teachers in March, news reports of found assaulting teachers. the monstrous assault ignited America's A 1995-1996 Michigan Department of fears about the safety of the nation's Education survey revealed, however, that schools. The country's anxiety only less than one percent of students were intensified last month when a 14-year- expelled during the school year. And of the old Pennsylvania student fatally shot his expulsions, less than five percent stemmed teacher at a school dance: In the wake of from aggravated assaults. The study also the tragic stories, some Michigan law- found that no expulsions resulted from makers have begun a crusade to tighten homicide, kidnapping or sexual assault school safety. during that year. But despite the recent surge of media Meanwhile, the state's dropout rate attention surrounding school violence, hovers around 20 percent. Many school state statistics. show that the actual fre- districts languish because of underfund- quency of severe violence in Michigan ing. And, despite improvements this classrooms is very low. The new move- year, well over 30 percent of Michigan ment to make schools safer stems more students lack proficiency in language, from the emotionally charged nature of the math or science. But bills aimed at student safety issue than from a true statis- redressing these problems will not likely tical need to revamp security and discipli- materialize in the near future. nary protocol. In addition, the push for Neglecting these pressing issues will new regulations likely stems from legisla- continue to cripple the state's ailing edu- tors' and candidates' intent to use the issue cational system. of sensational violence as a political The proposals aimed at curbing weapon during election year. Lansing school violence show that Lansing is politicians should redirect their efforts working along the periphery of the toward remedying far more prevalent school improvement issue, sacrificing problems within the state educational sys- substantial educational problems in tem, such as low school funding and high favor of sensational, vote-getting dropout rates. details. Modifications of disciplinary Over the past few months, members of and safety standards would require no the state House have labored on a yet- financial commitment, would effect no unfinished 10-bill package intended to improvement in the actual quality of protect students, teachers and school per- education and would not furnish the sonnel. Among the proposals included in educational system with any new the package are plans to mandate the avenues for change. Consequently, law- expulsion of students who engage in makers should not expend dispropor- assault at school. Another one would tionate effort on the relatively minor establish alternative education programs problem of school violence, but should for expelled students. Preparing to vie for resolve to address the significant prob- a third term, Gov. John Engler has sup- lems that affect the state school system. Controversial definition Merriam-Webster should not redefine slurs Anew debate brews over the use of racial slurs. The focus of concern is not about who uses these words of hatred, but rather whether these words should be included within the listings of America's dictionaries. A petition exists to have the Merriam- Webster Company either remove or rephrase its listings for the word 'nigger.' The various versions of Webster's dictio- nary describe the word as being a term for a black person and an offensive slur. The groups behind the petition say that the word's inclusion and current definition in dictionaries gives the term legitimacy. Ugly as all racial slurs are, their presence in print do not give them credence. It is the usage of slurs in our society that perpetuates them. The makers of dictionaries have a responsi- bility to report on our nation's language. They have an obligation to objectivity, just as the media is obliged to report on incidents as they happen, withholding subjective inter- pretation in favor of reporting the true nature of events, whatever they may be. Last week, an Ypsilanti woman filed a lawsuit against Merriam-Webster for pro- moting the racist use of the word. "This is a derogatory word that dehumanizes a race of people," Delphine Abraham said. Even the NAACP in Baltimore is moving into high gear to deal with the corporation in question. It is good that Americans today realize the derogatory nature of this slur, but removing it from a dictionary, or even listing it as discriminatory and racist does not remove the problem. Though our nation is a young one, we have a past that unjustly treated many groups. The institu- tion of equal rights under the law does not mean that America is without faults. The alteration of a racial slur's definition in a dictionary will not prevent the innuendoes from remaining as a part of our language and culture. Perhaps these groups should focus their attention on why the word is really still in use today. Hliding this problem will not make it g away. Similar analogies abound. Bannin crime thrillers from TV will not stop vio- lence, nor will the suppression of a literary work like Hucklebety Finn erase America's racist past. There is no doubt that if the word were removed from the pages of all dictionaries everywhere, it would still be uttered somewhere. Racial slurs and vulgarities abound in dictionaries. Although they all have different meanings, none seem to be entirely accurate4 Merriam-Webster's policy is to print multi- ple definitions in order of the time in which they originated. The concerned groups demand the words' firm assimilation into the political climate of today, and thus disregard the objective purpose of the dictionary. Rephrasing these terms would only be a meaningless gesture. Unfortunately, the terms would still be used and their hate- filled meanings would remain the same. Ugly words exist because people have bas thoughts, not because dictionary makers need to fill up space. Our television shows, our news shows and our literature merely reflect our world; they do not create it. Words are powerful; "manifest destiny' the catch-phrase by which Americans over- ran North America, sounds prettier and eas- ier to live with than "genocide," the term many Native Americans might favor for the westward expansion. People who use hate ful words will keep using them, and wi] keep finding justifications for their use. The groups pressuring Merriam-Webster should reconsider their position on this issue.