The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 27, 1987, Page 7, Image 7
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
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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
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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
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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
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^ 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 ??
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i
PHiLOSoPi
r FROM. THE
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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
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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
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* ''
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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
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K