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Page 4 The Blue Banner March 7, 1996 Review The Most Creative & Adventurous Travel Book Ever International Speaker G||_ WHITE ^ More than 75 Ways to find Free or ^most-free AccommcKiation, food, and Rides... In riirofK*, the U.K., North Africa and tfie Middli? E.i»t • Kc) Fails 36 CountriesSee Tourist SisliN • Rt-st als • BestSb^ilf'* Useful Addresses • 137 mWH%: On lop iaf im CnNUi CMim M C*»W.room, OM!CidlDi|| ttty tM Scift(liM«vi*Ach^4r»n •nr tetondhn. 3. MA«iftKotft IM 4. Bo&im C-n|;UiMt Available in the campus bookstore, "Europe on 84t a Day," shows readers how to take a budget tour of Europe. The only catch is that they must be willing to hitchike and beg for food and lodging from total strangers. Book promises cheap view of Europe Marissa DeBlasio Staff Writer While an entertaining read, “Europe on 84C a Day” offers some not-so-safe tips for the would-be traveler. With the trip to Europe based on hitchhiking, the wisdom, or lack thereof, of author Gil White almost equals the level of intellect shown by his inappropriate tips to travelers. According to the book. White originally made his trip through Europe in 1981. He claims to have modernized the information and costs to what can be expected now. However, he fails to mention the dangers of hitchhiking and talking to complete strangers in a foreign country. Despite this dangerous omission, White’s narratives are quite amusing and some of his information is actually helpful. He begins by informing his residers that the title is just a cost estimation. “I simply plucked the 84C out of the air to drive home the point that you don’t need thousands of dollars to go to Europe,” said White in his book. While this figure may sound questionable, if one is willing to put themselves in a little danger, it is feasible. White suggests cutting costs by being friendly and asking the residents of the country for food and shelter in exchange for gifts or work. According to White, talking to strangers is the best way to cut costs and learn the culture of a particular area. White also offers tips on how to hitchhike in the most productive manner. According to White, the number of rides he got greatly depended on where he was standing. He suggests that travelers stand on the entrance ramps to major highways, before drivers can see signs stating that hitch-hiking is illegal. So, according to White, it is fine to break the law as long as the driver does not realize it. Despite White’s lack of common sense concerning individual safety, some parts of his book are extremely helpful. He supplies the reader with a basic itinerary to follow and valuable information about each country. Mixed in among the facts and figures are amusing stories from White’s own experiences traveling. They keep the reader involved and spice the information up a bit when drowsiness threatens to take over. One really interesting example stems from his section on Poland.- After outlining information such as population and language, he branches into the category of “Peculiar Customs and Odd Expressions.” Included in this category are little tidbits of information no sane travel agent would tell their clients. According to White, be prepared for a long night when visiting with Polish citizens. Poles love to stay up late, talking and drinking - leaving early may insult them, so be prepared for a long night,” said White in his book. Granted, this is very useful information and lets travelers know what to expect. However, is it really necessary for White to go into the subject of drinking contests? Once the path of useless information has been cleared, sections on topic like “Best Scenery” and “Transportation” really are enlightening. White gives travelers an inside look on what is great to see, besides the normal tourist attractions. He describes the methods of transportation and even gives insight into the quality of trains and subways. The most useful part of the book is the listing of accommodations at the end of each section. These are found with each country and contain the location and phone number of inexpensive youth hostels all through Europe. The book is worth reading for the plot alone, his stories of traveling on foot or with strangers should prompt readers to either stay home or book a train. Native-American activist and actor believes that the government threatens the rights of individual Jack Walsh Staff Writer The U.S. government is destroying the freedom of individuals much like it has systematically destroyed the rights of Native Americans for years, American Indian Movement member Russell Means. Means, a Native-American activist, author, and actor who has appeared in “The Last of the Mohicans” and “Natural Born Killers,” spoke to an audience of over 7 0 people in Lipinsky Auditorium on March 28. Means is promoting his autobiography, “Where White Men Fear to Tread,” coau thored with Marvin J. Wolf. “I want Americans to be free,” said Means. “I believe that the individual in America needs to start acting like Means believes elected officials are guided more by the wants of special interest groups than by the public interest. “Anytime your elected repre sentative deals with a lobbyist, he is doing something unconstitutional,” said Means. Means said the patriarchal Ameri can society cannot experience true freedom until women are given their deserved voice. He said the meaning of freedom can be learned from the matrilineal traditions of his Lakota Oglala Sioux tribe and other indig enous peoples. “Anywhere in the universe, females are the only creatures that can create,” said Means. “The women have to re take their rightful place in the uni verse.” Means said the patriarchal Ameri can society revolves around the fear of God and of one’s own government. He said his mother taught him true freedom comes when one is free from such fear. “You have to understand the con cept of freedom and what it is, and if you don’t, you vote,” said Means. “The most intelligent people in this country don’t vote.” A professed anarchist. Means said the United States was founded upon anarchist prin ciples that were intended to protect the individual from a strong government. He said that the government is in the process of repealing these freedoms The Republicans try to maintain this "I want Americans to be free. I believe that the individual in America needs to start acting like one. -Russell Means, Native-American activist set forth by the Bill of Rights. Means said that First Amendment rights to freedom of speech, press, assembly, and religion and the Sec ond Amendment right to bear arms are constantly under attack. “You can’t let government dictate what your lifestyle is all about,” said Means. “If you do, you don’t know freedom.” Means said policies which restrict individualism, such as current efforts to establish uniforms in public schools, remind him of the Native American boarding school system he was forced into as a boy. “Welcome to Indian America,” said Means. “Indian policy has become American policy.” Means said he has been arrested for 13 different offenses and was only convicted of “rioting to obstruct jus tice,” a conviction later struck down as unconstitutional. He said he was able to use the Constitution as his defense in all cases. Americans should read the Bill of Rights and know how to use it for their own protection. Means said. Individual freedom will continue to suffer under the current counter-pro- ductive two-party system. Means said. “You need to find an alternative party other than the Demo-publicans,” said Means. fear of government by advocating a law enforcement buildup. Means said. “They believe that punishment will instill discipline,” Means said. Means said, as a result, prisons have become the number one growth in dustry in America. He also said the government perpetuates the false no tion that police officers are under equipped in dealing with criminals. “The Asheville Police Department is so well armed that they could give Canada a good fight,” said Means. Means believes that true discipline comes from within the individual. “When you have freedom, you are free to be responsible,” said Means. “You don’t need the government.” A matrilineal society, said Means, is more peaceful than one controlled by white males. He said there are no words for “war” or “warrior” in any indigenous language in the Western Hemisphere. “If you have a matrilineal society, the chances for war are greatly dimin ished,” said Means. He said a mother’s empathy for the feelings of other mothers prevents her from letting her son harm another man. Means said government programs of relocationrthe reservation system, and the forced fostering-out of children to white families have destroyed the Native American matriarchal tradi tion. He said that because many Na tive Americans are raised in boarding schools, few know how to be good parents. “The things I learned after I was forty, I should have known when I was a teenager,” said Means. He said that were his people still free, he would have been better ac quainted with the wisdom of his an cestors rather than with the alcohol ism, neglect, and violence that char acterized his life as a young man. Means said that white America can not understand a matrilineal society and that patriarchal societies con stantly violate the customs of their indigenous peoples. Anthropologists, archaeologists, and historians are among the biggest perpetuators of this cultural genocide. Means said. “The scholar community is patently patriarchal,” said Means. “You’ve been robbing our graves with complete free dom up to and including today.” Means said'that instead of looking for relics in graves, scholars should listen to what Native Americans have to say. He said that Native Americans have a strong oral tradition they like to share. “I don’t know of Indian people that have ever turned down anybody or turned away anybody,” said Means. “I like to tell people that I know about our history,” said Means. “If you know who your ancestors are, you are who you say you are.” “I feel sad in my heart because the young people of my nation know me as the father of Pocahontas,” said Means, who provided the voice of Chief Powhatan in the animated “Pocahontas.” “I want them to know that I know the pain of being an Indian in America.” Means hopes to see freedom for Native Americans in his lifetime. “I see a hell of a good struggle,” said Means. “I’m going to see a free Indian nation somewhere in this hemi sphere.” “If you persevere with good goals, good things happen to good people,” said Means. After nine assassination attempts upon his life, he said he often won dered when the good things would start. Means, however, said he will soon fulfill his life-long goal and become an elder. “The most important lesson is to be the best human one can pos sibly be,” said Means. [Review Rumbles from the East Troy Martin Staff Writer Chances are if you’ve turned on a TV in the past two weeks, you’ve been assaulted by at least one commercial for the new Jackie Chan movie “Rumble in the Bronx,” and if you thought the ads were impressive, wait till you see the movie. Chan proves once-and-for-all that he is one of the most entertaining actors of the martial arts film genre. Unlike the majority of American martial art features, Chan, who does all his stunts, as the outtakes of him breaking his ankle shown at the end of his film proves, injects a great degree of Three Stooges-esque humor into his fight scenes. Goofy expressions and comic sound effects are rampant, as well as purposely flamboyant acting. A stylistic strength of “Rumble in the Bronx,” is that it seems it was made purposely campy. The voices are dubbed (Chan does his own) and dia logue is reminiscent of most of the “kung fu” films of the seventies, the lines are simplistic and are delivered melodramatically. Its even more rare to feel that way after seeing an action adventure movie, but “Rumble in the Bronx” is a welcome exception and delivers on all counts. Perhaps Chan will finally get his rightful place alongside Bruce Lee in American pop culture. ATTENTION SENIORS! The 2-day event for you to satisfy all your graduation requirements is: Wed., March 20 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thurs., March 21 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Highsmith Center Old Cafeteria Also: Artcarved Ring Days Mar. 18 & 19 Josten's Ring Days Mar. 20 & 21
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March 7, 1996, edition 1
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