Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Poor leadership brought about SMC's demise MR. FARRELL: In last Wednesday's edition of The Gamecock was a letter from Peter Brown and Phil Sharpe I lamenting the failure of the Student Mobilization OoOimittee as an effective force on this campus. They cited the alleged apathy of the students of the University of South Carolina as the cause. I do not take the liberty of speaking for the students of USC nor for any group. I can only speak for myself and the picture as I see it. First of Letter 41, I, as one student, will never niss Student Mobe or their ideas n how change should take place. I trongly support the ultimate goals ind the ideals which lead many oeople to join it. It was a total lack if finesse and their lehumanization of students which :illed SMC, not apathy. The problems are still there and feel that most reasonably in elligent students are well aware of hem, without the self-appointed nessiahs of liberalism which :omprise the hierarchy of Student Kobe there to "bring the obvious to he eyes of the student body." Most orward thinking, liberal students I iave encountered prefer to think of hemselves as enlighted in ividuals with a common goal JANTZEN knit coort wash-dry polyester and yelloi welcome. DA ;to the rather than sheep following blindly in the path set down by the war lords of SMC. There has been a realization that the tactics and characteristics of the Student Mobilization Com mittee tend to alienate their op position rather than break it down. The leadership of Student Mobe seems to prefer however, to stick to the infammatory rhetoric so reminiscient of the heyday of destruction in the late 60's. There is no longer any expressed desire on the part of most students for a repetition of such action. People are finally beginning to get together and work con structively for the betterment of all. If the leaders of SMC prefer to think of this as apathy, they ob linates go together for faultless Orion acrylic cardigan, 17 shirt, 13.00. Both in navy, light Y; s-m-l-xl. Men's Store, streel 'S 0a editor viously have little or no confidence in the ability of their fellow students to think without the guiding light of Student Mobe to lead them. I, as an individual, apparantly have more faith in other individuals than the leadership of what was SMC. I sincerely hope my confidence is not misplaced. MIKE CRAIG God is God of love, peace,power MR. FARRELL: I don't know what kind of God T. W. Whacker believes in, but I question whether it is the same wardrobe planning. Machine .00; striped placket collar blue, red, olive, brown, ivory level. Mail and phone orders God who is real to me. My God is a God of Love and peace and power, and it is unfortunate that Whacker's arguments for God should be presented violently and emotionally and not lovingly with the calm assurance of faith. Such methods as Whacker's reflect poorly on believers who should be setting an example of love and conern for believers and non believers alike. I wonder, T. W. Whacker, do you really believe in God, in Jesus Christ, or merely in denominational religion which has served as much as a source of hatred and division as of faith and edification and inspiration. Many of your arguments are valid but best expressed in love and not in anger. Indeed, though he would choose to believe so, man is not truly rational. He has made, for thousands of years, the same mistakes of war, hatred, selfishness, intolerance, bigotry, hedonism etc. If man were rational, surely in thousands of years he would have irradicated, not increased such evils. But man has chosen to disbelieve in moral absolutes and live by the principle of "me first." Literature, marches, demon strations, philosophies, wars and statues have not served to eliminate hatred from the heart of man. Even those who throw the words "love" and "peace" around most frequently really have little idea of the true meaning of love and peace. Love doesn't mean accepting anything as true just because someone believes it. Such a philosophy is prey to deceit and disillusionment and even those who espouse it always reject someone, somewhere. Love requires that we respect and love someone whether he is right or wrong, even when he has been cold heartedly cruel and evil. Love isn't license. There are times when love requires that we say, "no, you can't to that - it's wrong." Parents and children are the best example of this. A loving parent will tell his child he is wrong to throw rocks at the kid next door, but somehow people believe that when one reaches the "magic" age of puberty and or emotional maturity that love requires pulling all the stops and accepting any behavior, any opinion as right and truth. Respect the person, love him but don't deceive him by letting him believe anything he does, says or believes is right. Even if for nothing more than keeping sense of humility, everyone needs to admit that he has at times, been wrong. Hut getting back to love itself, how many people on this campus really love the older generation? Most people love only those who agree with theirs. It takes more soul to love the cop who busts you and do him a favor when he's down instead of seeking vengeance, but how many do It? The typical reaction is to be bitter and hateful to anyone who puts you down. But love is hard work. It's creative, not destruc tive, and it's the way to bring people together. It's hard to love someone who's kicked you around, but nothing of value was ever worn easily. Unfortunately, few are willing to make the effort. .UDITh ANN MNlrWIADOimaMSI