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g THE GAMECOCK ♦ Wednesday, September 11,2002 SOUND OFF ONLINE POLL Create message boards at Have you been desensitized by www.dailygamecock.com or Sept. 11 signs and slogans? send letters to the editor to www.daUygamecock.com. gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com Results published on Fridays. IN OUR OPINION The reason we survived One year ago today, the worst attack that ever occurred on American soil disrupted the lives of every citizen of the United States. On that day, 2,801 Americans lost their lives in the attacks. Some were innocent victims headed for a routine day at work. Others were police officers and firefighters who died in their efforts to save lives. That morning, a somber mood encompassed the nation. Despite the horrors and the magnitude of the tradgedy, a new feeling of American pride emerged. Despite our sadness, we were proud of all our citizens. Even in our great loss, we knew many had died selflessly trying to save others. And even after both the World Trade Center Towers had been leveled, countless crews of firefighters and police officers never left the scene. Pushing themselves to their limits, they pressed on in search of survivors. Even in Columbia, the lines to donate blood were overwhelming to see. Surrounded by tragedy, America was a unifed nation that day. But as we reflect one year later, we wonder how much of that powerful emotion remains. For months after the 11th, we couldn’t turn our heads from the television and the radio. We couldn’t hear enough about what had happened. Yet now, we change the channel. The slogans “united we stand” and “God bless America” don’t have the same effect they did even six months ago. You will never forget that day; that’s a given. But don’t let the cliched messages desensitize you. On Sept. 11, we were all brought together in ways we had never experienced before. If we let go of that, we let go of what so many workers died for. We live in a great nation. We experience freedoms that some cultures only dream of. But though these freedoms can leave us vulnerable to attack, holding on to the pride we found a year ago will keep us from ever falling for good. GAMECOCK CORRECTIONS In a photograph (“A Divided Message”) in Monday’s paper, the group is participating in the annual Stand Up for Life March and Rally sponsored by USC Students for Life and South Carolina Citizens for Life. The group is not affiliated with Carolina Christians for Life. If you see an error in today’s paper, we want to know. E-mail us at gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com. On Sept. 11, we were all brought together in ways we had never experienced before. If we let go of that,, we let go of what so many workers died for. ABOUT THE GAMECOCK Editor in Chief Mary Hartney News Editor Adam Beam Asst. News Editor Emma Ritch Viewpoints Editor Chris Foy Asst. Viewpoints Editor Erin O'Neal The Mix Editors Justin Bajan, Charles Tomlinson Sports Editor Kyle Almond Asst. Sports Editor Matt Rothenberg Photo Editor Candi Hauglum Head Designer Katie Smith Page Designers Samantha Hall, Julia Knetzer, Shawn Rourke, David Stagg Copy Desk Chief Jill Martin Copy Editors Jennie Duggan, Tricia Ridgway, Holly Totherow Karen Vaught Online Editor Bessam Khadraoui Community Affairs Kiran Shah CONTACT INFORMATION Offices on third floor of the Russell House. Editor in Chief: gamecockeditor@hotmail.com News Desk: gamecockudesk@hotmail.com Viewpoints: gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com The Mix: gamecockmixeditor@hotmail.com Sports: gamecocksports@hotmail.com Online: www.dailygamecock.com Public Affairs: gckpublicaffairs@hotmail.com Newsroom: 777-7726 Editor’s Office: 777-3914 STUDENT MEDIA Faculty Adviser Erik Collins Director of Student Media Ellen Parsons Creative Director Susan King Business Manager Carolyn Griffin Advertising Manager Sarah Scarborough Classified Manager Sherry F. Holmes Creative Services Derek Goode, Earl Jones, Kimberly Myles, Melanie Roberts Advertising Staff Adam Bourgoin, Justin Chappell, Amanda Ingram, Bianca Knowles, Denise Levereaux, Jacqueline Rice, Stacey Todd The Gamecock is the student newspaper of the University of South Carolina and is published Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the fall and spring semesters and nine times during the summer with thd exception of university holidays and exam periods. Opinions expressed in The Gamecock are those of the editors or author and not those of the University of South Carolina. The Board of Student Publications and Communications is the publisher of The Gamecock. The Department of Student Media is the newspaper’s parent organization. The Gamecock is supported in part by student activities fees. One free copy per reader. Additional copies may be purchased for one dollar each from the Department of Student Media. TO PLACE AN AD The Gamecock Advertising: 777-3888 1400 Greene St. Classified: 777-1184 Columbia. S.C. 29208 Fax: 777 6482 'NOW '''- ' _ _ Now: Fighting for the First JASON L. RAPP GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM The media should be allowed to do its job. Being naturally defiant, I re fused to let last year’s terrorist at tacks on my country scare me for any significant amount of time. I reasoned then, as I do now, that we shouldn’t allow coward ly people who hide in hills on the other side of the world to dictate what we fear, their worldwide network notwithstanding. But survey results released two weeks ago by the First Amendment Center and American Journalism Review suggest I have far fewer people in my comer than I imagined. It would appear, sadly, that the cowards have rendered America a cowardly nation. In doing so, they’ve come dangerously close to defeating us. ' A whopping 49 percent of those surveyed think the First Amendment gives us too much freedom, and 42 percent think the American press has too much freedom. I present these facts as evidence that the “legal ize marijuana” movement has become too powerful. I can only assume people fail to realize that the First Amendment is what makes us unique among nations. The five freedoms protected therein are why al Qaida flew 747s through our buildings and national psy che in the first place. They are why we are simultaneously loathed and exalted around the world. And it now looks as if half of us are biting the hand holding our meal. The reasoning given to ex plain such opinions is that me dia questioning inhibits the gov ernment in the war against ter rorism. Horse pucky. The media are watchdogs, and governments without watchdogs turn into gov ernments that oppress women and return their countries to the 12th century. Without the media raising questions, U.S Attorney General John Ashcroft would likely have arrested and detained even his mother by now. Without the me dia raising concerns, President Bush would have invaded Canada for its maple syrup, per haps without first informing Congress. Bush was reportedly overheard reasoning to defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld, “We don’t grow syrup in Texas.” The terrorist attacks have in deed scared Americans. Given our seeming vulnerability, that’s understandable. Pearl Harbor should have been enough to de liver us permanently from our isolationism, but we allowed time to take us back. Now that a foreign enemy has again dealt us serious harm, fear is making some doubt those things that make us great. That reaction is the wrong one, and it scares me more than hill-hopping terror ists. On American isolationism, I offer that media questioning con tributed to Bush’s decision to seek world support before we try to topple Saddam Hussein’s regime. I agree that Hussein needs to be ousted, but we need to make a clear case to the world before heading to the Middle East. I don’t like joining the ranks of those nations who in stigate war, but there’s no other way to end the threat Hussein poses. Had media questions and Bush administration dissent not surfaced, we would face a war in which we have little support and many enemies. Most of the people surveyed ' could not name the five rights guaranteed by the First Amendment, yet inexplicably feel it gives us too much free dom. I don’t fear terrorists such as Osama bin Laden, al Qaida and Saddam Hussein; I fear ig norant Americans who need to understand that without the First Amendment, we’d be no better than the people trying to kill us. And they will have won. Rapp is a fifth-year print journalism student. Then: In the shadow of death COREY FORD GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM Every student should pitch in and help out. EDITOR’S NOTE: This col umn was written one year ago af ter the attacks. Our beliefs, our freedom, our way of life are what they want us to change. The University of South Carolina and all other institu tions of higher learning come into play now. We must not give in now or change our lifestyle; in essence, that would signify a to tal victory for these terrorists. At Carolina, we must continue our classes, our activities, our meet ings and our athletics events. We must never give any indication that we will bow down to their desires for a chaotic and ob structive society. Yesterday was without a doubt a watershed in American history. Students were stunned and shocked by the events, and more importantly, many stu dents had relatives in Manhattan or were working at the Pentagon. This was not a time for class. I therefore respectfully request that President Palms, Provost Odom and Associate Provost Greiner instruct all faculty mem bers to discount yesterday’s classes for attendance purposes. I think this is a fair measure, es pecially for students with loved ones in these war zones. Multicultural Affairs Director Brandon Ray has already dis cussed potential situations with some international and Muslim students. I urge the student body not to prejudge any student any student on this campus. All Americans have developed a sense of rage toward this inci dent. Muslim-Americans are Americans, too, just as citizens of English, Scottish or Irish de scent are citizens. On days like today, however, it is imperative that we abandon the distinction of Italian, Scotch Irish, African-American, Asian American or any other label. Today, we are all Americans. Tuesday, we were all victims. Whether or not you have embraced this country and ev erything she stands for, she has embraced you with free doms no other peoples in his tory have even dared to dream. The more important question. however, is what are you will ing to do for her people in their time of need? Will you care? Will you give blood, donate to the relief fund, enter her ser vice if she needs you? Student Government has con tacted the Red Cross to inquire about the possibility of having an on-campus blood drive. However, because of the over whelming crowds at local banks, they do not have the time, staff or resources to have one at Carolina. Yet, APO will be run ning shuttles to the local Red Cross shelters. As your president, I call on ev ery student to donate blood, if physically possible. We have a duty to help those who would have certainly helped us if we had been attacked instead. In the next few days, Student Government will be selling rib bons to show our support and the proceeds will go to the rel ief fund coordinated by the Red Cross. So be on the lookout for this outside the Russell House. We lost thousands of our citi zens yesterday. If you do one thing — donate blood or donate money — then you have done something. As president, that’s all I can ask. Thank you. Ford graduated in May and was student body president. Holding on to the reason I’m mad PHIL WATSON GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM It might be a year later, but I’m still mad as hell. It’s been exactly a year since my roommate burst into my room and woke me up from a late night to tell me the news. Since then, I’ve clenched my fists in anger every time I watch the TV and see some guy across seas burning an American flag while carrying his 10-year-old son, wearing a mock dynamite suit, on his shoulders. A lot of people seem to have come to a peaceful acceptance of what happened. I have not. I’m still mad as hell, and I hope that’s exactly where all 19 of those bastards are right now. In fact, that’s exactly where any one else who helped them, sup ported them or cheered for them can go as well. After looking at the TV for a few seconds, I choose the punch ing bag I keep in the hallway as a release. You might have cho sen a wall, a few curse words, loud and angry music, or tears. I spent several minutes furi ously telling my roommate what I wanted to do to the murderers. I cursed at whoever did it, and the fanatical beliefs that brain washed them into doing it. A friend and I played rac quetball that afternoon to alle viate some of our collective rage. He usually wins, and that afternoon he really beat me worse than usual. Some people, such as my friend, can turn their anger into something tan gible; others just let it boil up like a covered pot on the stove. Many people let their anger do just that shortly after Tuesday. There was madness and grief all over the place. Unfortunately, there’s not one specific island these homi cidal menaces live on. Getting rid of them would be easy if that were the case. Rather, they are hidden all over the world, brain washed by an extremist sect that hates advancement and loves destruction. It became apparent that more people will take these fanatical views and carry out mayhem af ter Islamic leaders from around the world would not denounce this kind of violence. They will not re solve that killing pregnant wom en, little children and whoever else might be at a shopping mall on a Saturday afternoon is wrong. I’ve heard all the excuses and lip service, but the fact remains, they will not say, as a joint group of religious leaders repre senting one of the major faiths of the world, that blowing up a school bus full of children is wrong. This worries me greatly. I’ve grown to hate the cliched words associated with that Tuesday. They’ve been spoken in the news hundreds of thou sands of times, and I wince ev ery time I hear them. But we will be hearing them more be cause of the many people across the world who are in love with the hateful ideology that en courages death and destruction as a means of spiritual gain. There was a program on cam pus last week called “One year later, what we’ve learned.” One year later, what have I learned? I’ve learned that America, no matter how imper fect it might be, is still a light house for freedom and individ ual rights, and it’s under attack by people who think ravaging dozens of virgins is only a blown-up school bus full of chil dren away. _£___I_ Watson is a fourth-year print journalism student.