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Viewpoint * 6 Monday, February 2, 1987 ftAMFPflPk'??OMBM ?? M???? iibi????? ?I Fanatics State should not let small group of fundamentalists taint papal visi w w In September, Pope John Paul II will make a histori< visit to South Carolina. Protestants and Catholics alike ar< looking forward to this momentous occasion, and Soutl Carolina will receive more press coverage and worldwide attention than it ever has. Unfortunately, however, soiru of this attention will focus on a few kooky individuals in tent on disrupting this rare papal visit. A movement has begun to protest the Pope's trip ant some fundamentalist Baptists are proposing a billboarc campaign that will reveal the evils of the Pope and the Catholic Church. This would be laughable if it weren't sc embarrassing to the more normal-minded citizens of this state. The last thing the state of South Carolina needs is self righteous billboards littering its highways refuting Catholic doctrine and spreading common misconceptions about th< Catholic Church. Imagine people driving in from out of state and seeing those defamatory billboards loom at them from the side o: the road. No one should have to be exposed to such ; tasteless display on the behalf of the fundamentalists. The Pope's visit to this state is an extremely wondrou: thing, and it is pathetic that a handful of false prophet: would try to spoil the event for the many who are eagerb looking forward to it. The efforts of these fire and brimstone zealots overstej the bounds ot religious freedom, not to mention goo( taste. They are overtly saying to more than 70,00( Catholics in this state, "You are evil and you are wrong.' The best thing this state could do is to totally remove itself from this loathesome minority and pay no attentioi to it. Religious intolerance has no place here or anywher else in the United States. The protesters are probably harmless, but thei strangeness is reason enough to keep a wary eye on them They have come up with some of the most bizarre indict ments of Catholicism imaginable. These arc bitter indict ments that have no basis in reality and are totally devoid o Christian love and understandine. Thev sav with convic tion and utter belief that the Catholics "are gonna tak over" if the Pope is allowed to come here. In a state that i solid Baptist, that remark is not only dim-witted, but era/, as well. The worst possible thing that could happen at this poir is if these people can establish a following here or abroac As long as they remain small, they are only aggravatin nuisances, and only slightly potentially dangerous. If pec pie will begin realizing that they are just a handful of ofl the-wall fanatics, maybe they will slither away. But, if they are allowed to grow and to spread thei disturbing message across the state, they won't be the onl ones who will look stupid. When the world press descend on South Carolina in September and it sees a group c fanatics denouncing the Pope or billboards denouncin Catholicism, we will all look ridiculous and backward. It takes an open-minded populous to welcome with ope arms a man who is the leader of a religion with which the have no association or feeling. We hope South Carolin will keep that in mind. People outside the state would e; pect a demonstration of ignorance and intolerance by pe( pie here. It should be our aim, however, to show the coui try and the rest of the world that we accept the Pope wit open arms and open minds and that no group of peop will cloud our judgment or respect for him or for tl Catholic faith. I Hi- " Write us a letter Tell us what's on your mind. I otters must There is a limit c he typed, double-spaced and no more than the same w riter. 250 words. Include name, address and We reserve the r telephone number for verification. Names on outdated topic will nol be withheld. Guest editorials are topics. limited to 5(X) words. Indicate whether you Write to: V arc a student, USC staff member, or com- (iarnecoi k, Drawc munity member in letters and editorials. C olumbia, S.C. 2( # m|a VJMCflUU V/WI* ? < . Bigots unwillir "> On Saturday, Jan. 24. the citizens of Foi J syth County in Georgia, who stand for th 3 Old South, the traditional, bigoted South thj i separated all life into two cultures, wer overwhelmed. r> _ . - - Twenty thousand people marched silentl 1 through the small town of Gumming to sho1 C their faith in equality and their desire to live i peace. The residents protesting the marc r were shocked by the numbers and th seriousness of the marchers. They were unprepared that day just as the arc unprepared every day to walk on groun that is changing under their feet. They are n< f ready to accept a free society. It is not in the past, their memory, nor can they imagine with enough strength to believe it possibli They have lived secluded from integration i s an old world, and it's hard for the old t Y change. Some of the men waving Confedera flags were young, but their thinking is old an it too weak to face realitv. American societ; j even world society, is moving in a directic g rz: r ' [Letters to th ' Sundial picture sundial y r ago anc !'t lacks accuracy ? g Preside To the editor: In the issue of The Gamecock n dated Wednesday, January 21, _ :y 1987, there appeared a picture of ^Q| |3 a larup tractor behind a aranitn <- block. The caption below the pic- lAfpi -j_ ture read: "Construction is tak- WwCI ^ ing place on the Horseshoe for a sundial." 1 was dismayed that To the " The Gamecock was seemingly not In r le aware of the history and Jan. 1 ie significance of this particular would campus area. statem First of all, the picture was at the C( I least two months old. Anyone ideals who has seen the site in question sland recently will attest that the work Carol I is almost complete. The moment recogn captured on film and displayed in King*! The Gamecock occurred in federa November as ground was being Generi broken. federa Secondly, and perhaps most Davis importantly, the construction is more, not for just any sundial, and the 1 tl sundial in question is not new as clearec implied by the caption. Rather, it soldier is almost 60 years old. The class a granite monument in the picture The S< I was a gift to the university by the the n 1927 charter class of Omicron trampl ! Delta Kappa. The site, lying bet- ideals; ween Currell College and bably McKissick Museum, is being more t refurbished by the university as a ciples < result of a significant faculty gift t he (J and through the contributions of Southt } ODK faculty, alumni and student soldier members. Omicron Delta Kappa but fo is a leadership society comprised and tl of college juniors and seniors as wrong well as facultv and alumni Th<* I members. Wc, in addition to from i other activities, present Awards Consti Day in the spring each year.. the rig Unfortunately, the original is som The Kdilor in Chief >1 I wo letters per month by Roni liea Kaym Managing Kdilor iyht to slop pi lining letters Amy DelPo s to make room for new c!,p'\ Stephen Guilfo) ... _. 4?.\islani C op> icwpoint I ditor, 7he l)esk Chief i A, Russell House, USC, Monu Pehquin J20K. News Kdilor Paula Wethingt in # #% Iquo rnn i;*.. y IU iQbc icamy r- p??????????? w editorial ,e By Amv Brown ^ ijgj d 3t ir that leaves the residents of Forsyth standing it agape on the side of the road, e. Confusion was the predominant expression in I saw on the faces of the people protesting our o presence. It took many forms: false bravado, te anger, blank dismay. At the place where our id buses unloaded, a young man leaned against a y, pick-up truck with a hamburger in one hand >n and a Confederate flag in the other, his stance e editor was stolen several years proud of because it tc i a new one will be install- to remove themselv art of the renovation. country they loved s< Rodney Brown was ?n'y because t nt, Omlcron Delia Kappa merchant found that I Biology, senior l,v? "lthoul and his system of sla< provoked the firinj ithpptl Vffcliolc Sumter to start th IUIGIII ICUCId Southern independer aLhJamaJI Confederate soldi re Slandered patriarch who del home, his state, and , editor wlul uuin aRU nonor. esponse to the editorial of rac'st Klan mem 9 entitled "Sad State," I trayed in such travest like to make the following and South and the ent: there is no reason that ^reY- The Confede mfederate soldier and the was embodiment of honor should be we ca'j great in ered because South "American.' Ther ina does not totally Confederate soldier, iize Dr. Martin Luther be 8reat Robert E 5 birthday. The Con- youngest private in te soldier and men such as federate Army, : al Robert E. Lee and Con- honored with as mi ite President Jefferson and reverence as any have the same right, if not Ma to be honored. 15 link the wrong must be 1 up. The Confederate Rffellf*|l IMQI was an average, middle- E&tSilUIB wVOI ind non-slaveholding man. - fl jutherner strongly felt that ||t?l oCSllolCl ational government had led on the very political To the editor: he held most dear, and pro- I would like to resp no one in 1860 embodied Barber's editorial he ideals and political prin- playing time (or la of the Founding Fathers of several of USC's Republic than the players. First, no or ;rners. So, the Confederate the players she spoke did not fight for slavery, tice and sit on the r individual rights, honor parently, it has not le principles of right and her that being part ol contributing in wh Southern people seceded possible is importai the Union in a legal and people. Having par tutional manner. They had many team sports, 1 ht to act as they did, and it you can take great sa ething that one should be seeing a team effort Gamecock __ Assistant News Kdltors Sports Kdllor ? Sherri Berry Jeff Shrewsbury Brenda Myth Assistant Sports Kditor Viewpoint hdiior Wayne Washington Hal Millard Photograph) Kditor >le Money Editor Jennifer Steib Candy Burr Assistant Photograph) Kd Features Kdllor Thomas Humphrey Tamuru Willis Assistant Features Kditor on Patrick Jean |yMMU|j||| yjBMMBW^MBHWMUMamaS/ V39M/u HKnKIHH^^HB MBaIWJD UHfl - HMnfi' 1 JfWSl 1 of integration a little too cocky to be really brave. An angry group stood on an embankment yelling discordant obscenities as we marched past. Their noise pulsed uneven, like static against a background of shuffling feet. I could not hear every word, but I thought I heard suspicion and doubt mixed with fear and anger in their voices ? not just suspicion of us and our motives, but doubt of themselves and their way of life. That Saturday, segregationists were shown ^ that they are now the minority. The Klan and more silent racists have become a disenfranchised group, and terrorism is their desperate weapon. This is not to say that they are impotent or inconsequential. They will continue to fight in the night under white robes. Whenever several of their number can surround an isolated black, violence will happen, but theirs is not the will of the majority. They have no power to determine how people will i: a i f -A uvc luuay or 111 me iuiure. ^ >ok courage victory, no matter what form es from a your contribution takes. I am cer0 dearly. It tain that Coach Felton and the he Yankee other players appreciate the efle could not fort and dedication that these thern taxes players bring to the team. The very that he teamcertainlybenefits from these A 1 on Fort players' presence and the players e war for benefit from the experience ice. So the whether they get playing time or er was a not. fended his I am sure that the players not hie ^Aiintrn eppino aftinn lunnlH Iauo nlo? UIJ VUUIil I J "VV...JJ kviiwii "UUIU IUW IU He was not more. But, 1 am also certain that ber as por- none of them would trade any of ies as North the Gamecocks' hard fought vic; Blue and tories for a few minutes of playrate soldier ing time. of all that I feel that Coach Felton has the word done a fantastic job with a team efore, the that very few people felt was whether he capable of winning more than a AU i. Lee or the handful of games, much less beat the Con- numerous quality opponents and should be have a chance at the Metro Conunh fanfare ference Championship. Coach other. Felton was brought here to win rk I Walts ballgames and run a quality pro>85 graduate 8ram- winning games means only playing six or seven players, then that is what is necessary. 1 mers dare say that the Gamecock . alumni and supporters would not iction relish the idea of watching a victory slip away simply to give a player time on the court. ^ >ond to Beth basketball program is ob- * rnnrpmino viously in very capable hands. If ick of) for you have not seen l^e , {"InmprnrW nl?u thic coocnn uusKcinau *""-7 ""J ie is forcing arc missing a real treat. This team of to prac- ^as 8enerated more excitement in bench. Ap- tlle c?l?seum than any team in occurred to quite a few >'ears- Hopefully, the f a team and relationship between USC and atever way Coach Felton will last many it to many years. ticipated in Thomas Cogging [ know that Office of Sponsored itisfaction in Programs and Research pay off in 1975 graduate t0 Datehook hxlilor Director of Student Media Kalherine Gilbert Bill Clements Graphics Kdltor Production Robb Lane C. L. Norris Comic* hditor S. Ha Tracy Mixson Advertising Manager litor Advl**r Margaret Michels Bill Rubers Awlsiant Advertising Manager Jan Hodges 1 *