The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, February 10, 1984, Page 6, Image 6
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<
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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
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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
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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,
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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
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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
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xwtir , hartnett J7 ./
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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