The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, January 28, 1985, Page Page 8, Image 8
Page 8 ? .laimary 28, 1985 Opinion THE GAMKC(X:K ^
Bigot
Judge's racial reference
nrootoo oniiolit 1/ cnth an Is
Of l/Ull/J ULjUUII i y . ociuaui\
li is an embairassment (o South Carolina whci
one nl its judges hearing a ease refers to someone as i
"damn nigger" in his courtroom.
Retired Clue! Justice Joseph Moss used the tern
Jan. 16 in reference to a group of blacks objecting tt
the conviction of Hobby Ray Harrison, anothei
black, on charges of shooting a white Pendletor
teacher..
Moss, who has worked as a special judge since hi'
retirement to hold down the backlog of cases ii
several circuits around me state, mane me remark n
an Anderson County courtroom while hi'
inii-ophone was on, causing several people to heai
him. I he court stenographer also recorded it in iIn
official record.
In response to Moss' blunder, a resolution denoun
cine the term was introduced in the state House o
Representatives l;isi week by freshman Rep. I rani
Mcliride. McBritle said the remark indicated th<
indue should no longer hear cases.
Ih.u is iho understatement ot the year.
It's s;kI when a 20th ( enturs South C arolina judgi
uses this type ol oHensi\e language to describe an in
di\ idual ol another color. I his is no longer I he era o
s|a\er\ or segregation, but it is frightening that so
ineone determininu the late ol another can haibo
this kind ol bigonei. attitude.
Rep. Robert Woods asked the Mouse I ridav n
ei\e the resolution immediate consideration, bu
several lawmakers objected, postponing any discus
sion ol the matter until an undetermined dale.
\\ h; 11 is \uont! Willi llu'si- ni,imli,\> this lil.ii.in
iliMctMiil tor human equalilx musi be addresset
now.
Mcliride said he thinks (he resolution has a goo<
chance of passing, but is sure there will be a figh
about it on the House floor. There is nothing to figh
about, ( ailing someone a "damn nigger" is wrong
and Moss should be condemned for saying it. Ob
\iousl\, the House should be condemned for pussy
fooling around about something so eut-and-dried.
Moss has expressed surprise that anyone would b
upset In the remark, which he said was not a raeki
slur. "Damn nigger" is a racial slur in the pures
X.IIH.-, <11 HI i:\lM MMIl' MIUWS II.
No one has the right to refer to another in such
degrading fashion. If Moss is reprimanded, othe
big ?is can take note that such beha\ior will not h
.oleiatcd in today's society.
Leslie Dimson, editor-in-chie
Reader disagrees
I o (lie editot:
\s .1 native ol New York, I felt 11 necessary to icspond
lolin I)einer's editorial, "Subway Hero Itnbarrasscs U.S."
ihe Jan. 21 issue of f lw Gamecock. As a person who has ri
den the subways tor many years, I have had the misfortune
witnessing a couple of needless crimes on the subways. I l<
that one has to take precautions against those who feel
necessary to criminally and or violently infringe on the rigl
of others.
I his is not to say that alleged subway vigilante Bcrnha
(ioet/ had to shoot the alleged harassers, but he could 11
stand In and allow these alleged perpet rators to rob him of I
money, or quite possibly his life.
I ortunately, I have never been a victim of a mugging or a
other villainous crime. Vet, who can predict how we won
react it anyone of us were in similar or worse situations
Cioet/, and had been mugged (or worse) before. Sure. 1
could say we'd never do such a thing, but would you really s
the same thing after being mugged once or twice?
bloom County
f\Re -me exctwo -mmy his am mp
mp pramnc eeztmt a iuppte"... "8/me
SCRIPTS fOK YES. I wink M/m/BS HIS LAWYER MP 0(A
fume ensopee evemnino matching running snoes "...
of your. life * ts PLANNev &INKLCY pies nr aoe 37
I OUT Nicecy CHOKINO ON A CRO/SSMT"
r
1
; Lawyers' wo1
\ ncu co:ilio\crsv is hicwill}!, aiul it
111.1 s Iv more intense than the in
lamiuis s".00(1 vol Ico pot iiKklont ol
' last \cai
I he I (Mi .luurmil lias
icporioJ tli.u pnvatc law \ or* ha\oool
1 lllllll IIIUk.ll .h .J.'U 111 11 I IV 11 I ! 11111 MR' Jj
| uoxeinment m ilie past txxo xears. I d
win Mcese, President Keaean's I
I nominee lor attorney eeneral. is askinu
( taxpayers u iooi ihe bill tor more than |
S700,()()() in personal leyal expenses. ||
As can be expected, questions have
already been raised as to whether
laxxyers liaxe been charinni! exorbitant
prices. At a time when Keayan is talking
about restricting student loans ex en
0 more, \xe now heat that some lawxers
il can make in a day xxliat a semester ol
.1 I ... I ? C s -
I Mlium ill L ">V a>M\.
I really didn't know what a la\\\ei
^ docs to merit up 10 S285 ail hour, so I
called some friends in Washington and
asked ihem about a lawyer's day.
c What 1 found was amazing.
Because the actual leu a I duties for
. I he i!o\ eminent take onl\ about 45
minutes to complete, the iesi ot ihc
Letters
*u
vvmi iiiaiidyiii
As for ihe police, ihey obviously canno
10 ihc lime. Kathei iluin spending so many
m using 10 apprehend farebeaters, ihey slum
id- nunc on ilie subways and platforms w hen
of crimes are committed.
:el Consider this situation: three youths e
ii wilh the hopes ol' mugging some "poor so
us scared to icsist. Suddenly, iliey change th<
how a lew days earlier some teenagers had
rd some "poor soul." l itis is not intended to I
lot ol the Cioetz shooting, it is only saying that
lis will think twice before trying to hold some
this will in turn save someone from heart
ny death.
ild Cioet/' actions should not be conside
as Perhaps Cioet/ should have considered cc
we joining an organization such as the Guardki
ay lection of crime concerned people fight ci
weapons, and have been proving how eft
by Bf
wul. 1 60
y kc wotjr e>
'5 nccqing
nm. mibrmcoi
; I m ivmorn
1 rmse, mill
SUPftofci
THE PJ6HT"P> '
LIFE:
KILL A
abortionist
>
rlt a ctpal at
.. i in
John Deiner
Managing editor
j
clay is spent doing odd-jobs that keep
hundreds ol lawyers htis\.
I or instance. I awyei Smiih goes to
work c\eryday at 5 a.m. ? not to
worry ahoul his clients' tesimioin. but
to cut the lawn in front ol the White
Mouse. He even trims around the Rose
(iarden
Alter serving breaklast to Nancv
aiui Ron. Smith goes and leports to I d
g editor's 'Gc
i be everywhere all can he.
unnecessaiy hours l"o close. I would
i Id be concern rated sent in his editorial i
l' far more heinous were: "Better to be
liter a subway car
ml" who looks too
. it minds, recalling
I been cut down In __________
lie a satirical sketch
maybe some hoods | ?j}|%?
one up, and maybe
ache, pain or even |
. Editor in Chief
red embarrassing. lesiie J Ounson
xnbating crime by Managing Editor
m Angels. This col- John Oemer
rime without using Copy Oesk Chief
(M'liw ?his Iiiflhrvl *? r
mini rdimur
> News Editor
srke Breathed Ron Brarkell
Asst. News Editor
^ W.C Oawson
7H05B fWC Entertainment Editor
fuy-r Andy Duncan
*e More/ms ifo'c
* m-sews* "?? S,
Tracy Mixson
/ 1 Asst. Sports Editor
v -Jm V Joe Sitar;
Wire/Opinion Editor
^ .'i;?-V J Mans.i Porto
?J Photo Editor
\ l) i Joseph Garnelt
If Assl Photo Editor
Job Rir.ker
\
S285/hour
Mccnc wheic lie pieces ilie suit Meese ^
plan-* to wear lo eahmel tueelinus aiul
( onuicsMonal hearings.
Moose then gives him some more
wotk to do. like calling up the budget
department and asking where (his
week's check lor S80.000 is. He may
even shuttle thtoueh some legal .briets
or glance at a case book.
About 10 o'clock Smith ambles over
to Wallet Reed Arim Hospital. I verv
day lie's scheduled to per tor in a btain
transplant on any government official
willing to pay $285 an hour. ^
I hen it \ back to the White I louse to
piepare Nancy and Ron lunch and do
some liclu White Housekeeping.
It lie's lucky. Smith gets to spend the
iest i?i his afternoon at the Justice
Department del ending one of
Reagan's cabinet members in court. II
not. he has to sweep some ol the po.or
oil Washington's streets.
And there ;'ie plenty ol pooi in the
I nited States for him to sweep away.
W hen I aw vet Smith goes home at
Illilill. IK" S put 111 it 5-O.Tilll-IHHll IIit>
I he icM dI us have to pa> I'or it. ^
iotz' column
like to quote a supportci ol Cioet/ who
o the \?'u York Daily \cws. His words
judged In 12 thai) carried by si\."
Valerie Hallback ^
Journalism sophomore
Gamecock
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 news
worthy sub|ect no longer than four typed pages. ^
letters and guest editorials MUST be signed with J)
the writer's name, telephone number, mailing ad
dress, class standing or faculty position and ma
|or Pseudonyms are unacceptable, but the writer's
name may be withheld upon request if the cir
cumstances warrant
nr leseive ine ngni 10 eon guest editorials and
letters
Addiess letters and columns to: Opinion Page
Editor, The Gamecock Drawer A. USC. Columbia,
S C 29208
General Manager Ad Managnr
Ron Emler Doug Truelilood
Adviser Graduate Assistant
Bill Rnuers Rnn Hnrhanan 1
I
Nowsroom Advortising
777 /Ifl! 777 4249
Rusiims Ullicu Production
7/7 i:)'..: 7/7 2833