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comumenlary Tuesday, February 18, 1969 - Page Two Columbia, South Carolina A Casualty, Not A Fatal'ty Friday the Carolina campus suffered its first casualty of the racial war that has continued in the South for almost 100 years. Like the conflict between the eastern and western powers, it is a cold war - one of nerves and tension, and it constantly threatens to erupt into belligerency. The incidents Friday, which very nearly turned into open conflict, were inevitable. They were signs of the great gap between the blacks and whites of our community. The blacks are frustrated and angry, and the whites are scared and proud. These two forces will come into open conflict even tually unless there is some sober thought given to the situ ation on campus. The campus situation is far better than that of most of the state and the rest of the South, but it is still far from what it should be, considering Carolina's place as the leading institution of higher learning in the state. We accept mathematical axioms and chemical formulae, but we fail to relate our learning to our social environment. We prove that the best way to do anything is to do it to gether, but we can't accept others into our society because theirs is a different color. We derrogate and torment others out of shame. Yes, the clash was inevitable. There did not have to be an issue over "Dixie." It might be good that it has come and we have survived it -we have come through unscathed. In that case we could thank the many "student leaders" who helped to incite it with their constant bantering of the "fight song" of a long-dead school of thought. Such "re sponsibility" in student leadership is a comfort to those who have resisted giving students a greater hand in the running of the schools of our nation. The situation of the campus, however, is no better for the Friday incidents if we do not stop to take a long look at the state of affairs we are living in. If we cannot recog nize our brethren as our equals and try our best to accept them, we can look for trouble in the future. Just as our forefathers resorted to violence two hundred years ago when they were the victims of government and not the participants, so will these people one day find that their only redress against inequity and suppression is war. Here on campus we must meet our brother and work out our differences peacefully or neither of us will escape trag edy. Maybe there is someone who has the authority and the willingness to get these two groups together and try to find a way to avoid tragedy. Old Rivalry, New Friend It was the North-South Doubleheader and fans at Char lotte Coliseum were in for a few surprises. Carolina's Game cocks shocked UNC's second-ranked basketball team to the cheering of Clemson and Carolina fans alike. Saturday night the Clemson pep band, wearing Go-Gamecock hats, played the Carolina fight song. And some Carolina fans were even seen singing Tiger Rag. It was North vesus South in Charlotte and old rivalries seemed secondary in the fever of the moment. When part of the Gamecock band was unable to reach the Coliseum be cause of bus trouble, the Clemson band stepped in and the strains of "Hey, let's give a cheer . . ." still heralded the Gamecocks' second win, this time over N. C. State. It was North versus South and Clemson fans proved they can cheer with the best of them. - HARE Founded Jan. 30. 1903 with Robert Elliott Gonzales as the first editor, The Game. cock is published by and for the students of the University of South Carolina aemni weekly during the college year except during holidays and examinations. Trhe opinions expressed herein do not neiesisarliy refiect tihe views of the adiminis tration. tihe fac'uity or the student body as a whole. Ofices of Theae 0cec249are in Rtoom 308 of the Russell Hue on the niesity and 777-8178 (Newaroom). icThe Gamecoc pub erepresente nationallyb National leuationalsAdvertisnig Ser Collegiate Press Association. Subscription rates are 86 per year. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mike Krochmalny ASSOCIATE EDITOR BUSINESS MANAGER Mary Jane Benston Jack Padgett MANAGING EDITOR ClStp ASST. MANAGING EDITOR Ji.anaae NEWS EDITOR .KnHr SPORTS EDITORJmHae ASST. NEWS EDITOR Fred Monk, DnaShl,EdeCe ASST. SPORTS EDITORDinCapol FACULTY EDITOR SsnRs SOCIAL AFFAIRS EDITORShryhay CHIEF OF REPORTERSRoleWer CHIEF P'IOTOGRAPHERWarnudo ADVL'RTISING MANAGERChlsAlxne ASST. ADVERTISING MANAGER iob lt CIRCULTIONMNAGERCabrnaStepp REPOTER: Bll Atma, Sirle uhann.anabSchll, F.Adie Cen Shile Cok.WaterDerie. eren udey.Sehaa Le lknrDSuanK eChpoe Jery alaree. usn Jsesen Dvi Jensen.th Ken,KitySuCsani Rons Mils.0. arin ebey.Pa Muhi. JanNea. da r Waereleno Newman ew a lrd n e er, C tan Sl er e c ton e.v e dy ten, stryFr an e s . M ar C T Res n dale Joe Usry Rdlph White, Ala Winters, Alyce Youman, Jan Surratt, L.ynn Ring. 'Dixie' 'Beloi Dear Mr. Kroehmalny: It is with great displeasure and grief that I am writing this letter but I believe this matter 'AWARE's d 9 Idiocy Dear Mr. Krochmainy: Concerning the recent issue that has hit Carolina, AWARE's desecration of the Confederate flag has made pubic the organi zation's stupidity and idiocy. Be cause of their "open-minded ness," AWARE has branded the Gamecocks' symbol of rough and readiness and will to win as an element of backwardness, segre gation, and rebellion that should be abolished and burned. Are t h e a e self-proclaimed demi-gods who are not even "aware" of themselves capable of substantiating their condem nation of the Confederate flag concerning its pertinence to our University? Due to their "open mindedness," t h e s e misplaced nonconforming conformists have ruffled the feathers of the stu dent body and are doomed as an organization unless serious retri bution on their part is made. Burning the Confederate flag is not only spitting in the face of the University, but also com mitting a serious offense against the state -- two good reasons for the discontinuance of AWARE and any other organization who desecrates our symbolic flag and the pride of our University. DANIEL E. TAYLOR A Sta 'The Charg4 (With apologiee to Alfred, Lord Tennysvon) 1 Half a brain, half a brain, Half a brain had they, All in the valley of Stupidity Rode the six hundred. "Forward the AWARE group! Burn up the flags!" they cried. Into the valley of Stupidity Rode the six hundred. 2 "Forward, the AWARE group!" Was there a grain of sense ? Not that the members knew Hut violence was recompense. Theirs not to make reply, Thei1-s not to reason why, Theirs but to scream and cry. Into the valley of Stupidity Rode the six hundred. 3 Powder keg to right of them, Dynamite to left of them, We can give your organisati Send The. Gamecock the What's up-. What organization...-. When' Where--_ _ Who can we get further info fr ved By requires immediate attention. Upon reading the headlines of the Feb.- 11 Gamecock, I was shocked by the possibility of the banning of the song "Dixie." "Dixie" was written by Dan Emmet, a native Ohioan who wrote the song after joining a Negro minstrel company. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, "Dixie" was created a a "hooray" song for the com pany's show. Emmet got the idea from strolling showmen who on cold, dreary days in New York would say, "I wish I was in Dixie Land." The song is be loved by the entire nation. It is apparent by the crowds that fill the Coliseum during the basketball games that "Dixie" is Other Offenses Dear Mr. Krochmalny: If we do away with "Dixie," let's also abolish the playing of the national anthem. After all, it (the national an them) could possibly offend the Chinese, Japanese, Indians, Ital ians, Lebanese, or other such MINORITY groups on campus. ROBERT E. WERTZ III TOM YARBOROUGH WAYNE WINGATE HARTFUL MIMS 101 tement Of Pri e Of The Ligi Southerners in front of them Needing little spark; Stormed a twith curse and yell, Eyes closed they rode andl well, Stirring up a lethargic campus, Making it a mature man's hell. Thus rode the six hundred. 4 Sparked all their matches bare, Sparked as they caught in air Igniting all the anger there, Acting irrationally, while All the world wondiered. Caught in a blood-red smoke Feeble minds cracked andI broke; Black man andi white Reeled from the savage stroke Shattered and sundered. 5 Dixie to right of them. Yankees to left of them, Campus cops behind them Volleyed and thundered; Boredom had faded fast, Hippies and Grits had fought at last, Racial peace was a thing of the past, on better coverage . . [ ...if you help us. info on your next activity.[ __ _ _ _ _ __ _ __m The E received with strong enthusiasm. The song adds color and is taken in a "hooray" state of mind and certainly does not offend normal sensibilities. A democratic society is one which upholds the interests of the majority while respecting and listening to the beliefs of the minority. Now I ask you, do the majority of the students at the USC basketball games disap prove of the playing of "Dixie"? The Association of Afro-Amer ican Students requested the ban of the playing of "Dixie" be 'Paranoic I Dear Mr. Krochmalny: The recent request of the As sociation of Afro-American Stu dents to ban "Dixie" and the Confederate flag appears to be a good example of paranoic dis position. I admit that at one time these symbols stood for ideas and in stitutions regarded very unfavor able today, but just like the be liefs of the )eople have changed, so have the meaning of these symbols. For example, what tune can be more appropriate to the spirit of a sporting event than "Dixie"? Concerning the flag, I cannot find an excuse for it, but I will object to the proposal on the grounds that the flag, and the other symbols do not bring to my mind the attributes claimed by the Association of Afro-American Staff Photo by Ralph Jarrells wciple it- Headed' What in God's name for. Out of the caves of apathy, Violence made its way, Out with the six hundredi. 6 When can their glory fade ? 0 the trouble that they madie! All the world wondered. Honor the fight they made! Honor the Idiot Brigade, Noble six hundIred! -MIKE THOMAS Filmsed On Ca. University Carolina . ... and Durham... PITY POOR PAXTI ...just how much I can a young man stand? THE 3rd WEEK * 1:40 -- HELD OVER 5:20 -7:10 Starting March 1' Seat Engagement Winter" . . . Ticets Go I :ntire cause the song offends normal sensibilities, but is burning a flag sensible? If the destruction of the "Con federate Flag" is sensible, then it is against the South Carolina state law. When laws are broken because of a misconception by a radical minority group whose presence thus far has only been to stir up racial dissension, then the basis of a democratic society has been destroyed. I sincerely believe that the banning of "Dixie" and the pres ence of the Confederate flag will )isposition Students. This makes me think that the majority of the people do not react to the symbols for the alleged reasons, but react to them as meaningless symbols that they like for the symbols' sake, as I do, andi that the al leged reasons of the symbols are only real in the minds of the protestors. Only the voices of the protestors are a reminder of the symbols' past meaning. What factor lies under these protestors that makes them take such a course? Is it some hidden hate or bitterness? Are they un able to look at the world without finding enemies everywhere and in everything? Or are they look ing for a scapegoat to the real problem they just can't lick? Be what it may, the problem seems to lie within the protestors themselves. Their alleged higher ideals, when viewed in connection with everything else they say and do, appears to be a thin mask covering the deplorable truth behind. GONZALO LEON 'Against Th Dear Mr. Krochnalny: I know you have received many letters concerning the request by the Association of Afro-Ameri can Students to ban the Confed crate flag and the playing of "Dixie" on University property. I know these letters have covered - many personal beliefs against granting their request and I hope that you give this one a little consideration, too. To begin with, I live in the city where the War Between the States originated with the firing on Fort Sumter. In Charleston, the Confederate flag andl "Dixie" are held in high esteem. We still respect the flag, it ranks in es teem only behind the American flag andl the State flag. There are three things I abso lutely refuse to give up: my love for the United States, my respect for the State of South Carolina and my heritage of the Sou'h andl the Confederacy! I am against the banning of the Con federate flag and "D)ixie" from the University. I have also noticed at a few of our home games, esp)ecially those who have Negroes on the opplosing team, several of the Negroes attending USC stood up) and1 clapped for the opposing team. I feel if these people are not enough a part of the Uni versity to give their team all their support, theun they are not enough a part of the University to request the Confederate flag upus At The Of North At Chapel Hill )N OUIGLEY eve 3:30 A A E $_ Fbuusqg 2 . Reserve "THE LION IN On Salae m Sun. Feb 2 qation' only create a situation which will inevitably lead to greater racial strife. ROBERT L. PRATT A Letter To The President Dear Dr. Jones, I have learned from press re ports that demands have been made to ban the Confederate flag and "Dixie" from the USC campus. If these demands are yielded to in any manner, I, as an alumnus, will wi hhold my personal financial support from the University. It is imperative that the USC administration not join certain other schools in kowtowing to a miserable handful of assorted un washed, furctionally illiterate and thoroughly mixed-up indi viduals, who would attempt to have the majority of students and faculty live by the desires of the minority. This is sheer non sense and should not be tolerated for an instant. I urge you, Dr. Jones, andi the faculty and trustees to expel im mediately any student or group of students, black or white, who undertake to create disruptions on the Carolina campus. I would also suggest that such groups as AWARE, Students for a Democratic Society, and united black students, r a t h e r than "Dixie" and the Stars and Bars, he excluded from the University community. Sincerely, JOHN T. LOTTICH Class of '66 e Banning' and "Dixie" be taken away from those who still respect them. I hope students who feel the same will stand up and be no ticed and request the Confederate flag and "Dixie" not be banned. JIM McDANIEL The Blossomn Shop FLO)RISTS Devino and Saluda