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Government abridges freedom of press "When circulation falls, sensationalism take* over...." This is an argument made by Mark Newman with respect to the issue freedom of th< press covered by the Athenian Literary anc Debating Society Wednesday. Is the press taking advantage of recent interna tional crises to sell papers? Should the freedom ol the press be restored? These questions are heavy or many people's minds, especially with the horrifi< ? 1 /xT t I x-v /X o 1 n U /X y-v ?!/> ? -% t r> f /-V C A ?V1 n?*1^0 ' I IcUCS tJl wuc spictMlcu uvci iuu)i ui rvmtnta ; newspapers. Any restraint placed on the press in the transpor tation of communication is wrong. It is wronj because it would provide the government an addec measure of control, in this case the control of infor mation over its citizen's minds. This is a power that no government should hole and is one the U.S. Constitution seeks to dem through the enforcement of the First Amendment However, one might argue that today's press lack: a code of ethics. This is exemplified by the attack on U.S. Marine: in Beirut. While the press was responsible for th< accurate and unbiased report of events, more ofter than not the public was exposed to scenes of grieving families or mangled bodies. This might reminc one of the press coverage of Vietnam in the 1960s and '70s when the public was exposed to scenes ol U.S. soldiers torturing the local residents. Even the die-hard realist would agree that it's time the press got rid of the gore and started covering the facts and issues. Another topic covered by the Athenian Literan auu ucudiing oov.iciy is uic ngui vji tiic ^jicss uui iv divulge sources. L.ike many professionals, doctor and lawyers, the reporter is allowed to maintain th strictest confidentiality with regard to the source o his information. Is this a right that places the pres above the U.S. judicial system? If the press is above the law in divulging sources one can only hope that the ethics and morals of to day's reporter is such that yellow journalism doesn become the norm. The larger question at hand is the relationship between the press, the White House and the Pen tagon. Within the past 10 days, the White Hous< has instituted serious news control policies in rela tion to the takeover of Grenada. Reagan believe: ihe presence of U.S. reporters would weaken ou position there. Such anti-press policies could be compared witl Stalin's control of the press in totalitarian Russia ii the 1940s. In this case, the government has made itself th sole source of information about the presence c American troops, planted on foreign soil, without proper declaration of war, and with inevitab military and diplomatic repercussions. The holding of such information, violat< everything for which democracy stands. It is true the press needs to smooth out rou^ spots on its standard of ethics. However, no 01 said that this life was going to be easy. In fact, 01 might generalize that life is not pretty. One wou like to think that the reporter often finds the sto he must cover as distasteful as does the public f< which he is writing. If the American people would rather build a w* around themselves and plead total ignoranc maybe they should become a society like the 01 I described in George Orwell's 441984" and allow tl big brother to control, direct and exclude us. I ottor nnlirt/ bUliWI J The Gamecock encourages letters and gue editorials from USC students, faculty and staff. Letters should be limited to a newsworthy top I and follow the paper's guidelines as explained the mast. Letters should be typed and signed with tl author's name, class, major and phone number. Opinio > , fig surtom* 111 <j[ to w& k?h ; Stewt- Mm I ^T&YOU.W'-Jg^j S 5 > U.S. too invoh i To the Editor: * The United States, with each passinj day, seems to be stumbling her wa; back into new Vietnams across th< ; globe. Our presence in South America Lebanon and Grenada should be of th< utmost concern to responsibl American citizens. / The United States has had a reputa 3 tion of spreading herself thii S throughout the world for many years e Policing the world and stuffing th f democratic ideal down the throats c less domineering communities of tli ;s world is a huge job, a job that is irr possible when the citizens of these m ; tions resent the Yankee presence. The United States shouldn't commi , American troops to quarrels and skir mishes in areas where American help i neither wanted nor appreciated by th ) majority of the people in that land Putting our noses in conflicts that th U.S. government should stay out o only creates greater resentment fo America and her foreign policy. s Whenever the issue is the halt o r communism and perpetuation o democracy, the United States shoul< ^ support a government representing th people of such given nation?suppoi ^ by means of guns, missiles and plane* but never American bodies to figh [C another nation's battles unless r friendly nation doesn't possess th numbers to combat a formidabl a enemy. le = Blue laws in rh ^^'tor: The South Carolina Blue Laws n enforcement from the stateLegislat constituents, including the voting p Id often involuntary acceptance of thes rv by a greater number of South Carol ^ Despite some positive and sincere are promoting a seemingly unpopul; impinging on many citizens' democi An example: "The...purpose in...the legisl e* religious...purpose of the statute is i set aside a uniform day of rest fc ie state's legitimate concern for the in and general well-being of its citizen: The statement, written 18 years aj virtually govern and regulate our < consumers. The changes taking plat socio-economic structure and ideal ? fastest and most intensive metamor] this legislation passed in 1965 is stil 'St We must analyze our governing tr if it is the time to nurture new ideals solete to rest. For without change, | These goals cannot be accomplish in blems cannot be solved unless an gram, aimed at informing the publi restrictions, is employed. he :>N Jl? u^ ' ~r--? ' ? - "~^r " ?c~ - LetterS #ed around globe, History should have taught the I United States a lesson in Vietnam. The y South Vietnamese didn't have their e heart in the struggle, for if they had, , U.S. troop involvement would not e have become so large. If you have a e sucker willing to dirty his shoes to get your hat out of the mud, you let him. The Grenadian invasion is quesn tionable for the reasons President ;. Ronald Reagan gave to Americans in e his public statements. Protection of >f American lives is important, but there le was no indication that the new govern1 ment had any intentions of letting i- harm come to the American citizens in Grenada. Some of Grenada's officials it asserted that there was no grave or immediate threat to American life, s Some of the students reported there e was no immediate threat to their lives. Avoidance of further chaos on the e island is another shaky excuse for the f invasion. Never have I heard of an r overthrow of an old regime where there was no confusion, no curfew nor f some sort of imposition of some form f of restrictive law. d Restoration of democracy in e Grenada is not the right or respont sibility of the United States or the ;, other Caribbean nations involved in it the invasion. The citizens of Grenada a must decide for themselves the type of ie government that suits the needs of the le country. The only viable excuse for invasion ihibit progress, s iceive active support and . ^ ure and a number of its ublic. The voluntary and e laws is being challenged .. . _ r? n i. ai t Iinians than ever before. uupv ubsk unier intentions, the lawmakers ^evvs E,,'tor jr system and set of rules Ass! News El)i"" -atic ideals. Opinion PaBe Editor i Ent. Editor at ion is secular, not Asst. Ent. Editor not to aid religion, but to sq ',?rrH.t , r , r , Asst. Sports Editor . r the furtherance of the Wire Edjtor iprovement of the health Photo Editor h Asst. Photo Editor go, is being used today to Graphics Editor economy, commerce and :e since 1970 in our entire Newsroom c havp ar\nA thrAimVt tlio I Rucinacc flffinn a tiUT v ^V/IIV IIIIWII5II IUV> VflfbP phosis in the century; yet, 1 being used today. The Gamecock welcor aditions and ask ourselves editorials must be typew and to lay the old and ob- Letters should be no lor progress cannot be made. 10 on? newswor,hv subi ed and consequential pro- "d',0"al? MUST J* si? ongoing, systematic pro- fess c asj stan mg or , 7 .. c a 1 but the writer s name ma ic about the Sunday sales ^ 4. . . J We reserve the right ti . ... .. I Address letters and col Brad Weller 1 Columbia, S.C. 29208. Journalism senior | student says was the construction of the air strip for probably Cuban and Soviet utilization. A Cuban-Soviet airfield would undoubtedly be an act of aggression that couldn't go unnoticed. The Marines in Lebanon exemplify tne greatest character and love ot nation that anyone could display. As a soldier, I salute these brave men who follow orders without question. Being a soldier, I can understand the meaning of "mine is not to question but to do." If our government truly loved and appreciated her soldiers, the government would not let a soldier move around in a hostile environment with unloaded weapons. Unloaded weapons will not ensure Marine lives. Our presence and objectives in Lebanon need to be clearly explained. These objectives should be fulfilled. Attacks on the Marines can't be tolerated from any party. Someone must pay for what has happened to my comrades. Being asked to fight for your country is not difficult for most soldiers, but being asked to die without a fight is unbearable. Reagan, please exercise care, extreme care, when playing with our lives. Curtis Gadson Chemistry senior >iuu6iu says iomecock Editor in Chief Johnny Boggs Curt Cottle Copy Editor Mark Armstrong Chris Hendal Copy Editor Beverly Simmons David Hill Copy Editor Leigh Jones :llen McCarthy Copy Editor Alan Seim Julie Jameson Copy Editor Mark Farmvr Joan Kirchner Jeff Rogers General Manager RonEmler Andrew Millar Ad Manager Linda S. Haines Leslie Dunson Business Manager Jean HatcheH lary Ann Hollis Production Mgr Mark McEwan | Joe Jackson Graduate Asst Wanda M. Hite I Beth Harrison Adviser Mark Ethridge Jr. I 777 7181 Advertising 7774249 777 3888 Production 777 2833 nes letters and guest editorials. All letters and guest ritten, triple spaced on a 65 space line. iger than 300 words and guest editorials should be limited ect no longer than four typed pages. Letters and guest d with the writer's name, telephone number, mailing ad acuity position and major. Pseudonyms are unacceptable, iy be withheld upon request if the circumstances warrant. > edit guest editorials and letters. ; umns to: Opinion Page Editor, Gamecock, Drawer A, USC, H