The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 13, 1983, Page 8, Image 8
-opinion.
" .-.'V . i ' . \ 1." \ >f \ :v
IAf m i w ...
wasmngtons victory
ends ugly election
One of the ugliest elections in the nation's5
history has drawn to a close.
Rep. Harold Washington held a marginal lead
over Republican Bernard Epton yesterday in the
city's mayoral race.
With 9 793 of 9 Q14 nr**rinrts rp>nnrt#*H ?t 9 ? m
today, Washington had 636,136 votes, while
Epton had 595,694 votes.
Epton, however, refused to concede, vowing
he would claim the election from a "neck-andneck"
finish.
Washington, seeking to be elected the city's
first black mayor, and Epton, hoping to become
the city's first republican mayor in 52 years,
were guilty ot one 01 the most vicious mudslinging
campaigns ever.
It is sad that a city with such a strong political
tradition as Chicago had its biggest turnout since
the 1944 presidential election over racial, rather
than political, views.
Perhaps comedian Bill Cosby put it best in his
guest editorial in USA Today.
Cosby wrote, "When I look at a person, I am
cognizant of his color. If he tells me, I am aware
of his religion. As we talk. I become aware of
what he believes in life, and we can have differences.
"But, if it is the sight of a person's color, or the
shape of his nose, the texture of his hair, the size
of his body, that makes me feel more relaxed
meeting him, or uncomfortable meeting him,
then I have no freedom to judge that person on
tnc basis of what he may really be capable of
doing."
The citizens of Chicago voted yesterday ? not
on the basis of what each candidate was
''capable of doing" ? but on whether he was
white or black.
This is what they will have to live with until the
next election. And while they are doing serious
soul-searching, perhaps they can rebuild
Chicago's political tradition.
Oscars a ioke
Overlooking the fact that Monday night's
Academy Awards telecast was perhaps the most
poorly designed show in the organization's
Mistory of poorly designed shows, the results also
exposed all of the Academy's academic
problems.
Surely the special effects in "E.T." did not
surpass even Spielberg's "Close Encounters of
the Third Kind." Did the Academy even consider
the innovation of "Tron," (an otherwise
mediocre film)? And "Gandhi" for Best
Cinematography? What about the stylistic
superiority of Andrzej Bartkowiak's
cinematography in "The Verdict"]
These arguments could be endless. But until
the Academy acquires some open minds (not to
mention better guest hosts), the Oscars will
remain a three-hour joke.
(aomecoc h 1
j Editor in Chief
Richard Mevers
'
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News Editor Chris Handal Copy Editors . . . David OeWitt, Mark
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The Gamtcock welcomes letters and Quest editorials. All letters and guest
editorials must be typewritten, triple spaced on a 65 space Ime.
Letters should he no longer than 300 words and guest editorials should be limited
to one newsworthy subject no longer than four typed pages. Letters and guest
editorials MUST be signed with the writer's name, telephone number, matlmg
address, class standing or faculty position and major. Pseudonyms are unac
cepteble, but the writar's name may be withheld upon request if the circumstances
warrant.
We reserve the right to edit guest editorials and letters.
Address letters and columns to: Opinion Page Editor, Gamtcock, Drawer A, USC,
Columbia, S.C. 29208.
-letters
Today's soci
Editor:
Does anyone remember "My
Generation" by The Who.... "Talkin'
'bout my generation...." I'd like to
talk about my generation, but there
isn't much to say.
The emotional energy earlier
generations gave to their causes
appears to be absent. Critics of "my"
generation point to this as a sign of
immorality or amorality. I disagree.
I think this generation is very
moral. We are more intelligent and
more logical than any previous
generation. Talking to many of my
peers, I find complex standards of
logic in the making of moral
decisions.
My generation is so logical that it's
not surprising a computer was made
Man of the Year by Time magazine.
Ours is the morality of the word
processor. We have intellectualized to
the exclusion of the emotional
possibilities of the intrinsically
subjective human experience.
Other critics point to this lack of
fervor as a sien of anathv and in
sensitivity. Who's apathetic? We are
proud of the fact that, for the most
part, we can buy any damn product
for our amusement we want. And of
course, the suffering of others is their
own fault for not wearing the latest
fashions.
What are we doing to ourselves? We
can laugh about the old people who
are too slow to get out of our way, and
USC should
RHitnr
This is a letter from a disappointed a
alumna of USC. I am writing to you in
do something to get us back into the
ference.
As you well know from past history, C
Carolina out of the ACC, claiming 1
because of their standards and his r<
before and after he got out of the con
that.
Our basketball program cannot begir
teams for recruits. Who wants to play ii
can be seen at the ACC schools on telev
Washington, D.C., to Atlanta? They h*
know, in the final 16 and one natior
second year in a row.
Carolina has been embarked on a w
1964 with precious little to show for
football appearances ?- and we never
could not even gpt a National Collegiat
bid when the~NCAA picked teams like
and Marquette.
As an independent school we arc goin
The New York Daily News in a colu
South Carolina was likely to get into t
That will be a shame. We should be ir
was one of the original members of t
ference and a charter member of the A<
If what I hear is true and they (the A
back into their conference, I suggest
playing them in football once we honor
signed. Why does the board of trustees
Holderman do nothing? Why does Bob I
There are so many layers of admit
now .it seems like it is being run by (
aren't interested in this lady's feelings <
can't afford to contribute but $100 ner 1
Club, but I am second to nope in my I03
in my interest in all Carolina does. Spo
%
r"* l,"~
iety insensiti'
we can casually discuss the political
ramifications of the Holocaust over
lunch; but when is there time for
feeling? When is there time for
emotional empathy with the pain of
others who are greatly removed from
us in time, distance and experience?
I would like to say we haven't
become desensitized to the suffering
of others, but I don't know. The
popular attitudes trivialize suffering
and ridicule the emotional depth of
experience.
I have seen the "beautiful" people
in tneir circus suits continuing the
status quo their parents continued,
and I have seen the hubiis and
shamelessness in the faces of these
fashion clones as they sneer across
the classroom at the sons and
daughters of the common working
folk.
The shamelessness of my
generation is noi in wnai ll says ana
does, but in what it feels. Or rather,
what it doesn't^ feel ? compassion.
When are we going to put away our
"toys" and cry with all those who
have never known anything but
crying? And when will we share not
just what we have, but who we are as
humane beings, with all those who
have never been shown a single act of
humanity?
The desperation of human culture
rises today from the heap of logic and
complacency that fills the void in
emotional depth. And as life sinks into
be readmittei
us something to be
nd frustrated fan and all this jealousy b<
the hope that you will stopped jamming <
i Atlantic Coast Con- And I heard that
Invitational Touri
Joach Paul Dietzel got only 1,000 students
he could not recruit You put N.C. Sta
ecora was a disaster will see standing r<
ference. So much for A final note ? if
just boycott ciga
i to compete with ACC Carolina.
n Columbia when they Economics migfr
ision all the way from Please do sometl
id four teams, as you
lal champion for the
inning program since ""
it. A few rinky-dink
win any of those. We
9 Athletic Association
Southwest Louisiana
g nowhere. /*"7N
mn blurb April 2 said j
he Metro conference. rt+Zf /
i the ACC. Our school
ne oia southern Con- AUi
iCC) will not admit us J LjgxZ
we immediately stop ll
the contracts already \\ CUjIJ
do nothing? Why does "
darcum do nothing?
listration at Carolina V^IS?fr |
General Motors. They rwr*ifiii
one way or the other. I
/ear to the Gamecock u,
^alty to the school and ' nOrc Wt
rts is supposed to give Rescue"
Wf~tzmr\ cum?: onw i ^fil 4
MM VAVVJL/ orsvn, ivvyil, BUM
stay flexible:;
^ lifli
fj&B
*
bs> - Tr f IT,.,
,S r5"
j
ve, apathetic
boredom, we strive to find bigger and
better thrills to try and convince $
ourselves that we are still human
K/\irirfc itiA ofill (aoI n--4
wviiigii, uiui nc 01,111 11X1 cillUUUlia. DUl
these are only shallow responses to
passing amusements, anu soon the
void is even larger and more painful.
This generation has the task of reevaluating
not the political or
economic systems of the world, but
something more essential and basic ?
how we are to relate with one another
as individual to individual. Until we as
individuals reach a high level of
responsiveness to the lives of each
othpr And rpsnnnsihiltv fnr eanh nthor
the current world crisis will only ^
deepen its own mire.
However, let me state I am not
implying our generation is singularly
responsible for the world's problems.
I am not saying all members of this
generation are shallow and callous or
that all members of other generations
are not. But I am trying to increase
the awareness of certain trends of
now we may characterize ourselves
and how others may perceive us to be. ^ 1
In conclusion, I apologize for taking
such a large issue upon myself to
discuss, but each of us must search
our individual consciences to understand
our roles and responsibilities
as individuals and as a single
humanity.
Brian Melton
Journalism senior
d to ACC *
happy about and to cheer about instead of
;tween programs at Carolina. The crowds
Carolina Coliseum about seven years ago.
out of 11,000 fans at the second National
lament appearance by the Gamecocks,
showed up.
4^ TTM/1 Lv I- iL _ L n^i: ../v..
ic tuiu uiNV/ uacK in mai i^onseum anu ytm
x>monly.
the ACC does not admit Carolina back let's
rettes, furniture et al made in North
it be the answer.
hing.
Marian Gibson
(JSC alumna
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