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Viewpoint Monday. April 27, 1987 7 Scandal New allegations against Bakkei _/*. i 1 r~ir-r-w r , juriner expose i v ministries Prostitutes, homosexuality ? these are some of the nev twists to the PTL sex scandal. It was only a matter of tim< before such sordid twists came about, because the PTl scandal is the most ridiculous event to occur in some time What started out as an amusing scandal has ultimatel; turned grown men into liars and hacks, making them lool as silly as the religious hypocrites they play on television ' 1 ' V* n rtn />. f rtl* A ? -?* _ 1- 1 1 - - tut tasi Ul tllitl t?v;ici 5 CUllllllUCS lO giuw UHCIieCKeU II this comedy of epic proportions. A new character was add ed to the list Saturday just when it seemed the scandal wa about to abate. ^ The Rev. John Ankerberg, the newest player, claime< * Saturday he had evidence of even more widespreat debauchery in the Bakker empire. Ankerburg says he ha evidence of homosexual encounters involving Bakkei "wife-swapping" by PTL employees, misappropriation o funds and visits by Bakker to houses of ill repute. This is another gross example of a person capitalizing o someone's misfortune. Ankerburg, who is friendly wit Jimmy Swaggart, another Bakker opponent, has launche Uio ^1: ? : f ? _ C 1- - - t:? r?_1-1 ' ma iiituirt siucai Lcuii(nii^n iui leai mai Jim oaKKer, vvii had to leave the PTL Club when the sex scandal broke, i preparing a comeback. The evangelical circus is now back in full swing, an Bakker once again has had to defend himself against crip pling allegations. Can these people seriously say they ai men of God? They are finally revealing the charactei many people thought lurked underneath their pulpit pei sona ? supreme self-righteousness and hypocrisy. An indictment of that kind against Bakker is an indie ment of all television evangelists and their minions. Th same evangelists who take pleasure in pounding on Bakk< are no better themselves and, perhaps, are even worsi T"1!, * l. ? 1 u . _ L.i.'-r 1 i- -A 1 - i ncii Mgimi a pusn iu sway ucnei anu 10 sirengine their ministry at the expense of another. Ankerberg, Swaggart, Bakker, Falwell and the rest ( % the evangelists who have thrown themselves into the frs are one example of humankind at its lowest and most vil Their push for upward mobility and stuffed collectic plates unmasks the truth about the whole affair, which hi nothing to do with God. Righteousness has been overtake by sex and money and has needlessly hurt the people wh believed in them. Religion on television is a problematical entity in whit there is a lot of room to go out of bounds. Bakke AnVprhpro anH thp Atliprc havo nr*f nnl*; nnno Ant , A AIASW1 CV* ^ M11V* V1IV Vtuv V o AIM TV/ IIV/L V/ ill J 0V/UV V7UI \ ^ bounds, they have gone over the edge. Time-will heal tl w personal wounds of the PTL scandal, but the wounds i flicted on television ministries go deeper, which is anoth reason the television industry should get rid of them. " 7^===^^ g i f I HAVE SINNED! I HAVE | K5\ ^etrayep YOUR Trust! Jjjj- CP <?\ FORGIVE ME,LORD. SENP S<: IV me a Sign! senp me a 5^ ' \ W /^o M^KlCV ocpocc? brsJ li.rrBI H " *tfk>se m reeei^ are. hitttng beipw tre vea~.'" i ?? Write us a letter Tell us what's on your mind. Letters must There is a limi be typed, double-spaced and no more than the same writer. 250 words. Include name, address and We reserve the telephone number for verification. Names on outdated top will not be withheld. Guest editorials are topics. limited to 5CG words. Indicate whether you Write to: are a student, USC staff member, or com- Gamecock, I)ra> ^ munity member in letters and editorials. Columbia, S.C. i PHiLOSoPi r FROM. THE what cai ' tfe chicks a 1 i h ? ' There is no si d The federal government's passage of the )- Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited q discrimination on the basis of race, sex and nationality. Nevertheless, 23 years later in America, r" "land of equal opportunity," we are very far from political, economic or social equality, t- At the lower end of the totem pole are a ie substantial number of blacks, women and *r other minorities struggling for a piece of the "American Pie" and the opportunity for advancempnt in Amprira'c whifp !n society. Many minorities occupy inferior societal )f positions because they are the victims of racism and sexism, among other forces that e have strived for generations to keep minorities down. )n Although the discrimination of today is as often subtle and inconspicuous, it is not to be in taken lightly. It is still a very debilitating force, depriving many minorities of their constitutional right to equal opportunity. . Fortunately, there are strong affirmative action programs, as evidenced in the recent r? U.S. Supreme Court decision involving a road pf dispatcher, Diane Joyce. he In a 6-3 ruling, the court held that n_ employees can voluntarily enact hiring and er promotional goals to benefit minorities (who are under-represented) even at the expense of better-qualified white men. Even with the high court's recent decision, many defend the current state of race rela^ tions, denying that discrimination is a major * Political pent aomerning s happening in America/Lan you feel it, can you feel it coming?" KBC Band, "America" As I watched the "Mobilization for Justice and Peace in Central America and Southern Africa" march in Washington, D.C., Saturday, it became obvious that a political mood swing is beginning in the United States. After six years, the Reagan nightmare appears to be I over, and a new age of political concern and A activism is on the horizon. ^ Political experts, including some USC professors, often talk about an ideological pendulum in American politics. Where the pendulum stands represents the majority of b American society and its government. It sw ings to one extreme side, either the left or the right, then reaches a peak and begins a slow 5^ swing back to the other side, sort of like the ^ swinging second hand on a cuckoo clock. This process normally takes 15 to 20 years. ?I In the mid-1970s, however, the pendulum came to a dead halt. The 1960s' "counter culture" had ended, leaving uncertain aftereffects. Nixon had resigned over the Watergate crisis. Americans had begun to move away from extreme liberalism, but they didn't trust the big, bad government. In the midst of their I Letters to th< Don't mourn prevcnte* anger at suicide alone ?a"', about it To the editor: unsuppo Mourning the suicide of so- No om meone close to us is excruciating- in the b ly painful. The reasons are both natural inner and outer. Within, we feel long life guilty at our failure to have sympathi I The t of two letters per month by VRoniBel Kayne Managing Kdllor ; right to stop printing letters A,,'y lies 10 make room for new s%]??V,,<lfoyle \ Assistant C'op> Viewpoint Editor, The i>*sk chief ,ver A, Russell House, USC, Andy Bechtel ooonfi NfWS M,lor zvzuo. Paula Wethington A ^question ^AlDDLk EKST s, nelast, 9" Ajya zrv op tVi? f*JPSS - . ?* * II . . W oC.1 c Iiarne in affiri factor in institutional disparities and disregarding conclusive evidence indicating current discriminatory practices in American institutions. Subsequently, affirmative action programs are ridiculed and undeservingly stigmatized. Granted, affirmative action generally involves small - scale discrimination against white males. However, this is necessary, unavoidable and insignificant if one is familair with the intent and goals of affirmative action. One of the most widely-attacked justifications of affirmative action is that of compensatory justice, which today begets a populai rebuttal from white males who firmly assert that they cannot be held responsible for such wrongs as slavery and black civil rights, although the ramifications of such acts greatly benefit them. American society is not only responsible for those black Americans who iulum swingin confusion, they elected Jimmy Carter. Carter, despite his good intentions, was ? presidential failure. American society reactec strongly, going conservative and electing Ronald Reagan in 1980. New conservatisn and new federalism became the rule Humanitarian issues weren't kosher anj more; big spending and militarism were. A: the pendulum swung to the right, American: clung closely to Reagan and everything h< did, blindly supporting him. Now,it's 1987. The pendulum has been sw inging to the right since 1970, and it appear: to have reached its peak. Between the televi sion evangelists' "holy war" and the Iran Contra scandal, it's just not cool to be so con i the suicide and for our the loss of tl the deceased's horren- relationship. . Without, friends and Those left behint :ypically avoid talking who refuse to talk , leaving the mourner subtly, but effectivel rted. ed from doing so ? e can mourn alone. Even with their thoug est of circumstances, a thoughts often lean and easy death after a ting suicide. While t , the survivor needs a suicidal thoughts i ?tir fn orlpup chnrt r\f o/->#i/-?n (ho Gamecock Assistant News Kditor* Sports Kditor Todd I fine* JefJ Shrewsbury lirenda Myth Assistant Sports Kditor Viewpoint Kditor Wayne Washington Hat Millard Photograph) Kditor Money Kditor Thomas Humphrey Candy Barr Assistant Photography Kdlloi features Kditor \'ick l.eoncavallo Tamara Willis (Graphics Kditor Assistant features Kditor Robb Lane Patrick Jean * '' V V ~ \ V * .P ? V C , " '+. > 1 ? ' ; . _ iti??Tr"~*? jw ? ?s a> native action have been directly affected by discrimination, but also their heirs, who have, and are still, paying a tremendous price for the unfair and cruel treatment their fathers and forefathers were subjected to. Although white males probably realize that affirmntivr artion nnccc nn orpat harm tr? their status, some will always attack its principles whenever they can. Having existed for more 'han a decade, affirmative action programs arc largely accepted by American institutions. Furthermore, statistical studies reveal that affirmative action programs have reduced discrimination without causing any damage to the effectiveness and/or quality of American institutions. Affirmative action is America's only hope for minimizing inequalities in business, employment practices and education, all very important aspects that affect the overall strength, efficiency and well - being of American society. Even with the aforementioned evidence, we are still faced with an administration that largely wants to do away with affirmative action programs. Whatever happens, minorities must not become discouraged; we must maintain a fight for equal opportunity and fair treatment. If its form is affirmative action, so be it. Minorities should not feel inadequate or ashamed of affirmative action; there is no justification for such feelings. ig left again servative anymore. However, Reagan's opponents were never well-organized or wellsupported ? until Saturday. In cold, wet weather, 150,000 Americans turned out to call attention to their displeasure with their government's stand on Central America and South Africa. Organizers estimated 200,000 would show up ? in good weather. Their march stretched for miles through the nation's capital. They were organized, effective, and had supporters. Young people and old people ended years of apathy and voiced their opinions as one i mighty, undivided political force. 1 After six years, America is waking up and 5 smelling the stench. Its citizens are starting to i realize exactly what the president is ? a bad guy. Reagan's opponents, lone divided and / alone, are beginning to unite and find sup5 porters. Two historical events typify this s organizing perfectly: the march on Forsyth ? County, Ga., in January, and Saturday's march and rally in Washington, D.C. Before the 1988 presidential election, the s pendulum will be slowly, but surely, swinging back to the left. Sorry, Ronnie. Sorry, Students for America. The truth hurts, doesn't it? l e loving permanent if not talked through. Survivors should seek help proJ by suicide mptly. If you know a survivor, - or who are help by bringing this information y, discourag- to his/her attention. are left alone hts. Those Eugene H. Kaplan, M.D. to commit- Professor, he survivor's Department of usually stop Neuropsychiatry and pain remains behavorial science 1 Datebook Kdllor Director of Student Media Katherine Gilbert BUI Clements Comics Kdllor Production Tracy Mixson Chuck Norris Wire Kdllor Son Ha uiwan xmiin Advertising Manager r Adviser Margaret Michels \ Bill Rogers Assistant Advertising Graduate Assistant Manager i Mary Anne Banich Jon Hodges K