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Domestic division hurts U.S. image The redeployment of U.S. Marines in Beirut is an acknowledgement that Reagan's policy in Lebanon has failed. Politicians from both parties are making this argument in light of Reagan's recent decision. Others view this announcement as political in origin during this election year. Whatever his reasons, the majority of the American public is relieved that U.S. citizens will be evacuating within the foreseeable future. Our exit will be slow, possibly coming in a month, but it will have significant domestic features that have caught many politicians and experts straddling both sides of the fence. Our presence in Lebanon was purely for peacekeeping purposes. However, this mission was nullified when Shiitc and Druse militiamen turned their heads to reason and escalated their slaughter along religious and political lines. There is little use in aiding a country that obviously doesn't want to be helped, as exemplified by President Amin Gemayel's cabinet members' resignations. Now the maior issue is not the loss of American lives hnf rhp pfferf that the frnnns' withdrawal from Lebanon will have on U.S. global image. Are all capitalists afraid of war or is this another victory of the guerilla sector? There are two schools of thought that attempt to answer this question. The first is historical. Since World War II, the United States l as had a policy of interventionism, or providing aid to countries in danger of tailing to negative forces. Lebanon certainly i ; litied for U.S. support in this respect.But wc a en : *t there to fight Gemayel's war. We learned a difficult lesson in Vietnam, thus we won't be fighting anyone else s battles soon. Maybe the world will look at U.S. actions in Lebanon as a sign that the United States will help when needed, but she will not intervene unless American lives are at stake. The Shiites and the Druse now have only themselves to kill. The flip side reveals an unethical decision made by a heartless American bureaucracy by withdrawing our support, we are condoning the likely occurrence of a bloodbath. Isn't the United States supposed to be the good guys? Beirut is, and will continue to be, a political playground for the men and women in Washington. Congressmen who once demanded the immediate withdrav al ot U.S. troops five months ago are now crying over the tarnishment of the American image. Those who once accused Reagan of being a murderer aren't proclaiming that his decision was less than noble. Remarks like these are a sad commentary on the state of affairs in Washington. The lengths that people will go to contradict the actions of the president include switching alliances so as to never provide the president with the slightest scrap of supnnrt In<;tf?ad of wnrrvina ahr?nt Ampriran 1r?c< I - D '"V ? ....VI.VU11 of face in Beirut, perhaps we should concerr ourselves with the loss of international respeci because of domestic division. ^(aomecoc k i Editor in Chief Johnny Boggs j Managing Editor Chris Handal I Copy Desk Chief Curt Cottle Copy Editor Pamela Armstrong News Editor David Hill i-iopy Editor Ron Bracken msm. mews cuiitii juiiii uvmei i^opy cmior Leign Jones Opinion Page Editor Ellen McCarthy Copy Editor Alan Seim Entain. Editor Leslie Dunson General Manager Ron Emlei Asst. Ent. Editor Margarita Pate Ad Manager Linda S. Haines Sports Editor Jeft Rogers Business Manager Carolyn Griffin Asst. Sports Editor Andrew Miller Production Mgr Mark McEwan Photo Editor Joe Jackson Graduate Asst Wanda M. Hite Asst. Photo Editor Mary Ann Hollis Adviser Mark Ethridge Jr. Newsroom 777-7101 Advertising 777 4249 Business Office 777 3888 Production 777 2833 j The Gamecock welcomes letters and guest editorials. All letters and guest editorials must be typewritten, triple spaced on a 65 space line. Letters should be 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, mailing address, class standing or faculty position and major. Pseudonyms are unacceptable, but the writer's name may be withheld upon request if the circumstances warrant. We reserve the right to edit guest editorials and leiters. Address letters and columns to: Opinion Page Editor, Gamecock, Drawer A, USC, Columbia, S.C. 29208. y \ -S \ rc x Here m have. The \ NA KAES Of J 36" <AA)U/*J derelicts OAJ vruoeAif //saai< mii/^ TAtCf? tOO^SE. x o<v Hu/ntfJ sexirtur-j ! s AlwD UJHY BuTreit-fUSS Fall out cF T?e ?kv.' , \ l" N I I I \V \ ^ ^ \ \ - s> // Lt Students hope fans To the Editor: Last Saturday's win over the Fighting Irish of Notre D< was definitely an uplifting experience for our Gainee basketball team, and we hone this weekend's eame with rivals, the Clemson Tigers, will be no different. In the true spirit of Gamecock basketball, we'd like to s repeat of the same kind of Carolina enthusiasm that shown at this year's USC vs. Clemson football game. V like to see the entire Carolina Coliseum filled with fans w Student questions To 1 U llll. L.UIUM . IU I W(l. The accusations made by Timothy settled for u Thomas, Towers president, in Mon- his. day's Gamecock that question the One of the validity of the licensing of the my administ Residence Hall Association elicit some which we wer long-felt concerns on my part as to the ? despite Th ability of Thomas to represent respon- and ratificati sibily Towers residents. One of the I Thomas is Towers president, a Stu- the new adrr dent Government Senator, Residential licensing of tl Life Committee Chairman and a him. member of the Student Organizations Upon atte I ir???ncino Pr\mmitt#>p \/r?t it onnoorc V-?n mAPtinn FaK Liiwujiiig wiiiiiiiuvv, jvi ?v appvui o nv UIVV11115 * ^ ^ has nothing better to do with his time had to deal p than attempt to block positive and The issue w constructive efforts to bring about number of p change. coming Stud After trying to work with him in the from last yea RHA since he assumed office, I can more mana ^ honestly say that characteristically polls would b when a consensus was reached, 2 to 1. This s Thomas remained unconvinced. Completely i Thomas seems to confuse his represen- see the logic tative role with one of an unrelenting his mind, no devil's advocate. After patient at- The best tl Intel fin AT&T's Innn.Hic y mm m m m %wi. ^ ^ V To some, as the recent television commericals said break-up of AT&T is a frightening thing. To others, as to a major stock brokerage house will reveal, the break going to be a very profitable thing. But to most Americans, with all the talk of rising p rates, local phone companies, long-distance phone cornp; access charges and new repair and installation procedure break-up of AT&T is turning out to be very confusing. There is some good news, however, for those who are fused and apprehensive. Last week, the Federal Commu tions Commission decided to place a one-year moratoriu long-distance access charges that were scheduled to go ini feet this April. The FCC's ruling means individual phone customer small business customers will not have to pay local \ companies a 12-month charge merely to have access to distance service. _?__?-??n y&m * ? xwtir , hartnett J7 ./ ,-r ?? :? g^ c"-??^ : t, \ ( 1 I jffprS wear black for game ing black at Saturday's game. It would definitely show our line spirit and determination for a win over the Tigers despite our ock recent losing streak. In addition, it will get the team psyched our for a win and show them that the fans are still behind them. ee a Charlene Gunnetls was Journalism Sophomore /e>^ Karen Bowman ear_ Computer science sophomore iwers president's ability son with him, we usually as another senator did, is change the nanimous votes, minus subject. Chances are he will leave the meeting early, and rational discussion last accomplishments of can resume. 1 dare to speculate his con ?ation, and 5'ne with duct is similarly contemptible and e especially cautious, was counterproductive at SOLC meetings, omas ? the formulation However, Thomas' Towers Governion of our constitution. ment ? despite disenfranchising some first accomplishments ol ? has tended to sponsor more prolinistration has been the grams than any in recent years! Still, lie RHA, again in spite of were I a constituent of his, I would resent his childish representation of my nding a Student Senate interests in groups such as the RHA, 1, 1 found that they, too, Student Government and the universiolitely with his obstinacy. ty at large. as the reduction ot the Frustrations in dealing with him oiling places for the up- vhnulfl hp rponrHf?ri K\; ctnHpnt ent Government elections as an occupational hazard; they will r's 26 to 10. To reach this find this good experience for the geable number, Towers future. The only real losers will be >e reduced from last year's Thomas' 1,500 Towers constituents, eemed unjust to Thomas. who may not be heard if he ever comes n character, he would not up with any legitimate complaints, in this, would not change Michael McMullen r would he compromise. Past president, ling to do in this situation, Residence Hall Association tance access charges thp II . - < - ... , ...v- nuwcvci, me oan is only lor one year, which means that a call Congress could reinstitute the access charges in June 1985. -up is The FCC said it wants the extra year to study the possible effects of the access charges to see if they would force some peo>hone pie to give up phone service altogether. mies, The gap between the haves and the have-nots in America is s, me large enougn already, it needs no further widening by pricing poorer people out of the telephone market. People, no matter what their incomes, should have access to telephone service, at con- the very least for use in medical emergencies. nica- The FCC's decision not to allow local phone companies to m on pass along access fees to residential and small business conto ef- sumers is a commendable idea. The concept of large corporations subsidizing a public good may not sit well with the large s and corporations, but for consumers it is certainly a welcome >hone decision. |ong_ Indiana Daily Student Indiana University