The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, October 14, 1988, Page 3, Image 3
Debate
Americans must make choice
for a president despite jokes
The second presidential debate was held last night giving those
who missed the carefully prepared one-liners and backstabbing
jokes the first time another chance to decide which comedian to
cast their vote for.
Exceot the problem with a debate is the neonle who normally
watch them have usually made up their minds already, and
neither of the candidates in this election are forceful enough or a
natural enough speaker to sway even the least committed voter.
Both campaigns should be ashamed of themselves. They have
allowed the American people only two chances to see both candidates
together. So, if there are voters who can't make up their
minds they have only two chances to evaluate and make a decision
on what course this country should take in the next four
years.
The American people only have four hours to decide what will
happen in the next 34,944 hours of the 41st President's term of
office.
Going in to Thursday night's debate, many news "experts"
said Mass. Gov. Michael Dukakis would have to score a
knockout "punch" to win the debate and to change the momentum
of the debate. They also said Vice President George Bush
didn't have to win, just hold his own, and he would continue
with the momentum gained since the Republican National Convention
in August.
It shouldn't be a case of momentum. It shouldn't be a case of
1. 1 . I 1 -.1 . ~ - -- T. 1 111 .
one limn Having iu oeai me ouici 10 win. n snouia oe a presentation
of issues without distortions, without one-liners.
Both candidates are equally skilled at using the one-liners and
4'non-answers" their campaign staffers provide for them. But
neither of them have any natural flair for comedy, so one might
wonder why both candidates are making such a point of it.
And it's all because of the Great Comedian, the Gipper
himself. Ronald Reagan is perceived to have won his first election
as president when he uttered that remarkable one-liner to
former President Jimmy Carter. "There you go again."
A memorable line that has survived eight years.
But the stigma it placed on American politics, where the better
comedian is guaranteed the presidency shows how far both parties
have come from the ideals of each parties' "idols."
America needs a leader, not a comedian. The only thing that
can be said about this election year is that it means the Reagan
years are finally coming to a close, and we can finally recover
from the Reagan joke, which was played on us, the American
people.
And it wasn't funny the first time.
"I PUNNO -1KINPA LIKE WHAT BUSH SAIP
ABOUT A 7A0USANP PINTS OF LITE"
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The Gamecock I
L_ : :r' " ' I i
Best Non-daily Collegiate Newspaper, Southeastern Region 1
Society of Professional Journalists, 1987 88
Editor in Chief Datebook Editor
STEPHEN GUILFOYLE JENNY SHARPE (
Managing Editor Graphics Editor i
SON HA MICHAEL SHARP }
Copy Desk Chief Comics Editor
WAYNE YANG TRACY MIXSON (
Assistant Copy Desk Chief Adviser >
KATHY BLACKWELL pat MCNEELY ^
News Editor Graduate Assistant \
HAL MIT T ARD Dmrrmw^r^
# ivi\_IS.n-INZ.lt.
Assistant News Editors Director of Student Media
STEVE PRADARELLI ED BONZA
MARY PEARSON Advertising Manager
Features Editor MARGARET MICHELS
SUSAN NESBITT Production Manager
Assistant Features Editor LAURA DAY
TOJO Assistant Production Manager
Sports Editor RAY BURGOS
KEVIN ADAMS . . . . .. .. . w
Assistant Sports Editor 1
CHRIS SILVESTRI BARBARA BROWN J
Photography Editors
BRIAN SAULS
TEDDY LEPP
Letters Policy: The Gamecock will try lo print letters received, l etters should be. at a maximum. 250 to 300 '
words long. Guest editorials should not exceed 500 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for style or possible C
libel. The Gamecock will not withhold names under any circumstance.
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Miss Homecc
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It certainly is a nasty word, isn't it? It's a word
that has been hurled at The Gamecock and its
editor, Stephen Guilfoyle, in the past week or so.
The foundation of the charge stems from The
Gamecock's refusal to place a picture of USC's
homecoming queen on page one. According to
some, this was an editorial decision based on the
skin color of the winner. Nanette Graham, the
homecoming queen, is black.
In defense of its editorial position, The
Gamecock correctly pointed out that a story on the
crowning of the homecoming queen would amount
to a "fluff piece."
I'll go one step further. The whole idea of a
"homecoming queen" is sexist.
The idea that a woman should be judged on her
appearance is one that should be excised from our
society. There are some who call the crowning of
the queen a tradition. Fine. Until 1920 it was a
"tradition" not to allow women to vote. Women
protested and won that right.
By this point in our civilization, men and women
should be angered by the thought of a sexually exclusive
event that perpetuates an outdated ideal of
what elements are essential in a person. I find it
Letters to the
They should
, , . , ter, which c
stay in closet ,
** real signifn
wouia iiKe i
To the editor: extreme imj
After reading the guest editorial, I at this un
felt I had to write. First of all, I don't group of 14
know where all this publicity for members a
gayness came from, but I myself was been workii
offended after reading the personal to provide I
ads Monday, as were a number of my traditional
friends. These gay people came off ferent con
sounding like they were planning to come togeth
take over the world, saying things This is no sr
like they "weren't going to stay in the taken ligh
closet anymore," and they were "go- students pul
ing to be proud." Why tell everyone? planning an
We don't care. Secondly, I found too Homecomir
many mistakes in this writer's which is e>
editorial. She says that being gay is amount of h
"just another special, personal part visers, sti
of someone's life." That has got to members,
be the understatement of the century. I'm not g
I still cannot grasp the reason why Gamecock i
these gay people must persist in tell- just like to
ing us about themselves. They must hard work
know it's wrong, so they admit it so queens com
much that they really begin to believe to see any p
they are normal. What is the point of ed by racisn
saying that the country is geared to I also fee
heterosexuality? Sorry, but most that are a p
guys love women, couldn't stop, and all newswori
most girls I know love guys. Where as such. The
Jo you think we would be if the first releases fror
:ouple of cavemen decided to be gay? so they hav
Concerning gay rights, well, I mation to t
Jon't understand this part either. would like I
What can a normal r?prsr?n rln that a fnr tho
?ay one can't? Absolutely nothing. year. We o
ifou can parade and protest and be Stephen G
outspoken about "gay rights" till because we 1
^ou drop, and even then everyone his annual
vouldn't be proud of you. How can Homecomin
rou even assume that people could be Finally, <
?roud of you? It's beyond me. Wear- Homecomin
ng the label "queer" is totally like to thank
evolting, too. to make thi:
Homecomin
Paul Pethel had!
undeclared freshman
Homecoming 1988 Mm
important Hoir
To the editor: OlTOU
As the 1988 Homecoming Comnissioner,
I feel I should comment
>n the recent letters and editorial To the edito
:oncerning Carolina Homecoming Surely Mi
J
i
If *
\ THOUSAND POINTS OF LIGI
>ming queen a i
tr;
m
thi
painfully ironic to see a letter from a woman who's tic
probably fighting for her right to succeed in the ho
world, all the while angered that The Gamecock we
didn't consider a sexist event like the crowning of fir
the queen front-page news. tiv
But perhaps I am missing some key element of mi
the crowning of the queen. When Miss Graham
graduates from college, what precedence will her
queenship take on her resume? Will her term as to
homecoming queen lead to a more satisfying rej
career? What company is it that hires queens to en- se;
editor
The Gamecock. about the gay pride ads in t
tse to Terri Chaput's let- sonals on Monday Oct. 10,
lescribed Homecoming as believe that he could get
: 'fluffy' affair with little without a response to his lit
:ance or importance." I trum. Here's a message for hi
to inform her that it is of one of the proud ad displayer
jortance to a lot of people preciate the fact that you ha
iversity, especially to a grudge" against homos*
students and several staff Although your letter is drippi
nd advisers, who have homophobia, I will sleep
lg hard since last January tonight knowing that you h
this campus with the one grudge against me. It is a shai
event when all the dif- your irrational fear forcec
stituencies of Carolina "very considerate, very intel
ler to celebrate The USC! roommate to move out at the
nail job and not one to be the semester; apparently the ti
tly. Combined, those lived with this person was so p
t in at least 1,200 hours of that one more semester of pie
d organizing for the 1988 would simply prove too much
lg. "Go for the Garnet," enlightened heterosexual to hi
ccluding the tremendous To answer your $64 q
lard work done by the ad- "Why can't the rest of the 'Co
aff and commission of the Closet Club'gain my res
the same way?" (being for
oing to say whether The move out through bigotry a
is racist or not. I would pression, that is), I can put i
say that a great deal of simply. We are not trying t
goes into making the your respect, we are fighting I
petition fair, and I hate lives. Our right to choose wh
art of Homecoming ting- love, our right to health ca
a. compassion, our right to
;1 that the many events recognition of our partnership
>art of Homecoming are right not to live in fear of
thy and should be treated beaten to death in front c
Gamecock receives press homes. The list goes on. Sonv
n us regarding each event refuse to play your little ga
e lots of valuable infor- "Keep it to yourselves" any
>ase a good story on. I because our lives are at stake.
:o thank The Gamecock So don't take our actions :
:rage we did receive this sonally, Eric. We are not
bviously must have met anything to intentionally offei
uilfovle's satisfaction nersonallv Whilp wp arp fioht
lave yet to receive any of our lives, your feelings are nc
critism of Carolina's on the agenda. Perhaps you
g! try to get used to we "distas
>n behalf of the 1988 people, because we are not
g Commission, I would away. We are everywhere, anc
; everyone that helped us day more of us decide to sta
s "Go For the Garnet" and join the war for ourselvi
g the best we've ever our lives. Finally, your charm:
tie bit of poetry about vor
around campus deserves an ">
Pat Pittman creativity. You must have thoi
necoming Commissioner up on Monday night, while yo
marketing junior ed and turned, sleeplessly ima
w! at we might do next to offen
I Q IC Don't worry, Eric, we'll thi
^" something. Pleasant dreams.
d of ads
Patrick i
r: health promotion and edu
. Beckner, who whined graduate s
5K
i4
-it;... "
sexist idea
/ level executive positions? Yes, perhaps I am
issing the point.
One thing I do want to make clear. I have no
mbts reeardine Miss Graham's school snirit
ithin the confines of the homecoming queen
lection process, she certainly was qualified. My
?int is that the whole intent behind the selection
a queen to represent the school is sexist. This apies
not only to Homecoming, but from the Miss
5C contest all the way up to Miss Universe. Do
: really need to attach siich stigmatized labels to
yone? I think not.
Would our little world be drastically altered with
2 removal of the homecoming queen competi?n?
Would people refuse to go to that other
mecoming event ? the football game ? if there
:re no halftime coronation? It is tim^ to take that
St'timid step ahead. It is time to leavfe our collece
puberty behind and enter into1 an age of
ituration.
Imagine a world where our children would have
refer to a dictionary to find the meanings to such
Dugnant words as racism, homophobia and
(ism.
dV ; Greeks help
away , .
van men belong
m from
s: I ap- To the editor:
VP "no In J* wnrlH whprp mpn wmr orroinct
;xuals. fellow men, where the races are
ng with separated often by hate, where peobetter
pie distrust their chosen leaders and
ave no where fear and confusion paralyze
me that everyone, a young man or lady enter1
your ing the institution of college today is
ligent" looking for relief from these
end of pressures and fears. He or she looks
me you for relief in people; in a mate, in a
leasant superior, in a friend, but often finds
asantry pain and disappointments instead,
for one He or she looks for relief in educatndle.
tion and is disappointed in their occauestion
sional shortcomings or failures,
me out Through all of it, they proceed to
spect in search for that relief . . . their
ced to refuge. If they are like myself, they
nd op- will find their refuge in the American
t quite college fraternity or sorority,
o gain I am someone who, like many,
* i ii 1 - i ?
iui uui ciucicu cunege compieieiy aione.
om we Standing alone in a university so
re and complex and confusing, I found fears
legal and confusion I'd never experienced
>s. Our before. I looked for relief or refuge. I
being trusted people . . . and was disap)f
our pointed. I searched for education,
s of us and found my shortcomings and
.me of failures. I looked for refuge and I
longer found Kappa Sigma, my fraternity.
A fraternity is not just a house to
>0 per- live in as some may think. It's more
doing than a dorm where people reside. A
id you fraternity is a group of young men
ing for united in common beliefs, who seek
)t high relief from the pressures of college
should through brotherhood. And a frateriteful"
nity is men trusting, caring and workgoing
ing for each other and the house. In
I every the world of today, where
nd up brotherhood is just a word, the
ts and fraternity makes it a reality,
ing lit- I am proud to be a Kappa Sigma
nitting and a member of USC's greek
V" for system. We are often looked down
Light it on by lawmakers, administrators and
u toss- people who choose not to belong, but
gining in the long-run greek membership is
d you. an enhancer towards the enrichment
nk of of the collegiate experience and one's
overall self-confidence. Don't be
afraid to get involved!
Jarresi Andy Williams
cation Studet Body Vice President
tudent USC greek