The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 17, 1990, Page 3, Image 3
Vote
American people voluntarily
give up their right to choose
We live in the land of the free. We have an inalienable right t
make choices for ourselves, "for the people, by the people." ]
someone turned around and told any of us that we could nc
choose what we want to eat for dinner, what movie we want t
see, or who we want to associate with, they could expect incredi
ble resistance. Americans won't pass up their right to choose fc
anytning, right? well tnen maybe someone should try and explai
why 49.65 percent of eligible residents in the state of South Cai
olina pass up their right to vote every time an election roll
around.
We complain about corrupt politicians, huge deficits and cen
sorship all the time. These are things we have a right to be con
cerned about. They are issues that affect our lives everyday, 10
percent of our lives, not just the 50.35 percent of people who hav
registered to vote. Somehow, however, it seems remarkable tha
for all the outrage over bad policy we hear, only half of the votini
population is upset.
Everyone who is 18 or older in this country has a responsibility
Our government is designed so that every member of this countr
guards and protects it through the power of free election just a
closely as the soldiers who have fought to preserve those sam
elections.
If we are concerned, responsible citizens, we should make sur
"we the people" are shaping the future of our country. American
are given every opportunity to become involved. Candidiates fo
elections take stands on the issues facing us. We can leam jus
about everything about them and their policies before we step int<
a voting booth. These are the people who are shaping the worl<
we live in, from local Columbia elections to the Oval Office. W<
orp Q uniniia Ortiltltn; tVia a
Uiv u uin^uv wuiiujr VYiiLlt U1& liavt L11C 1^1^115 ill LilCl
hands all the way up the totem pole to choose who will represen
their best interests.
People fear that corrupt politicians or communism will be th<
downfall of America. Indirectly maybe, but the real cause will b<
apathy. The only way forces like those could crush a country ai
strong as this one is because Americans are voluntarily giving uj
their right to choose. At least a new authoritarian governmen
wouldn't hear any complaining from 50 percent of the populatior
because it never meant much to them anyway.
*1 DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT
YOUR WESTERN CUSTOMS, GEORGE,
BUT 'MERRY CHRISTMAS' TO YOU, TOO"
*
&nlOor. Loots p*fT'V<Sr*TCHThe
Gamecock
?
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Jeff Wilson Sharon Willamson
Editor in Chief Managing Editor/Copy Desk Chiej
J
Lynn Gibson Elizabeth Lynch
News Editor Carolina Life Editor
dougaube renee meyer
Sports Editor Photography Editor
vn t v c* tuaiva a o
IVJC/LiJUl V. 1 ilUlHAiS
Viewpoints Editor
Elizabeth Fox Sherri Tillmaf
Assistant News Editor Assistant News Edito
david bowden kathy hebergei
Assistant Carolina Life Editor AssLtani Carolina Life Edito
Brant Long Julie bouchillo?
Assistant Sports Editor Assistant Photography Edito
octavia wright
Assistant to the Editors
Kristin Francis Erik Collin*
Graduate Assistant Faculty Advise
Ed Bonza Laura S. Da^
Director of Student Media Production Manage
Ray Burgos renee Gibso?
Assistant Production Manager Advertising Manage
Kyle berry Carolyn Grifff
Assistant Advertising Manager Business Manage
Letters Policy: The Gamecock will try to print all letters received. Letters shoul<
be, at maximum, 250 to 300 words long. The writer must include full name, pre
fessional title if a USC employee or South Carolina resident, or year and major
a student. An address and phone nypber are required with all letters sent. Th(
Gamecock reserves the right to editletters for style, possible libel or in case c
space limitations. The newspaper will not withhold names under an;
circumstance.
*
????
I
l
T echnology him
The other night, I was walking with two of *
my friends, talking about average, everyday
topics, when suddenly one of my friends, Cole, flE
brought up the observation that everybody
should have to walk ? private transportation m
should be outlawed. 1 JP
Now, in the big, real picture, this could never \
(and should never) happen. But, looking at it A
from a different perspective, it would be beneficial
for people to walk more than they do.
First, it would get people some exercise, and abou
some of these fat behinds could be trimmed up Yc
a bit. It would also cut down on the amount of dowi
exhaust released into the atmosphere. Th
Another positive point for walking is the peo- peop
pie aspect of it. Think of the characters in days
Huckleberry Finn, The Wizard of Oz, Oliver crinru
Twist and a score of other traveling stories that help
took place long before cars were a common "adv
thing. These characters met people ? interest- from
ing people with diverse backgrounds and diffe- Yc
rent lives. They had different perspectives and react
outlooks and visions. I'm convinced good ol' mact
i Huck learned more in his travels than any have
schoolbook or newspaper could have taught him or ai
? -
Lot switch is J?,i ^ ?
f i 11 living in Capstor
- problem Hall supposed to
is too expensive ]
To the editor: dent's budget? V
Parking is a worn out issue. our cars *n a SP
Everyone on this campus realizes time, so meters ai
that. I am not writing to simply temative. The "d<
complain about "no parking this area are full r
~ spaces;" my concerns are deeper. time. So, that leav
r As a junior, I have had a few I respect the rij
t J U1 u..-. students, but as a
panting pruDieins, uui never any ,
severe ones. It has always been a ^ent' 1
^ matter of riding until someone dnvinS mY car h?
r leaves. Now, I realize I am in for
some real difficulties. The only public
parking lot I EVER find a space in
has now been made a commuter
lot. (It's the lot between Henderson
and Pickens streets). Pol lfipc
I found this out when, after a r V/IIllvij
week, I returned to my car to find 1 1
a bright, yellow envelope under SOI0 (till
my windshield wiper. I tried to
find another place to park on the To the editor:
same side of campus but to no This letter is ii
avail. It was after dark, and I re- should I say ins]
j fused to park my car at the coli- slaw Szczech's) a
i- seum or Bates when this supposed ber 7 th. In that i
if "commuter lot" was practically about the shock
9 barren. My roommate was with ^/hen he arrived
me, but crime has gotten so bad i alized how difl
lately that safety isn't even found a. compared to E
J impairs anymore. When we think
'
ders personal i
than
KELLY C. THOMAS cw?
1 Besi
dio i
ther(
a:
t real life. . ma^
)u just can't meet people like that driving keep
1 the interstate in a Mercedes. othei
lere are drawbacks, however. For instance, In
le are a lot less friendly to strangers nowa- only
. This is partly from necessity because cianj
3 ana violence are so rampant. But I can't get 1
but wonder if many of our technological pie c
ances" aren't slowly dragging us apart is sii
other people. what
>u no longer have to travel to a place to missi
t a client ? just use your telephone, fax Te
line or special computer modem. If you do it do
to travel, there's no walking or stagecoach and
ly form of transportation that takes more perse
ry dilemma ? and Europeans, we usually :
>rld are students of what we consider signil
le and Columbia differences and political mc
park when $120 But culturally speaking, the
for a college stu- dency is to put American
Ve usually leave European in the same bag,
ot for days at a they were one and the same
e a ridiculous al- cept in English departments
^signated" lots in other social sciences departi
learly ALL of the where the difference bet1
es us nowhere. American and British or Eurc
, art and literature is often mad
*hts of commuter average educated citizen wil
n on-campus stu- yQU Americans and Europear
ve the option of ^ same and 5^^ essentia
me at night. ^ tjie same wa fQr ajj one can g
Cassy Norris ordinary life
: relations junior
advertising/ Being a literature student, I
noticed the great and essentia
ferences between American
A Pnmrwan litAratnr#* Onina ha
j-rfUAvj>/vuti nvviULUIV. VV?
1 Ilvll Ordinary life,' let us take a ti
r? the nearby video store. When
rerence to rent a movie with my fri
all of them American, I en
alone in the 4drama' or 'con
i response to, or sections. They call me acros
}ired by, (Rado- store from the 'action' or 'a<
rticle on Septem- ture' sections: "Why do you
article, he talked to get one of those depressing
he experienced vies? Why do you want to \
in America and those movies where nothing <
Ferent Americans ing happens, movies that ai
Europeans. slow and boring?"
about Americans Having lived in the states
\
relationships
a couple of days. When you stop to rest for
night, there's no hotel tavern or gathering
e for guests to meet and discuss the latest
_ ? IT* - - -
jenings ? ana i aouot anyone would any.
They're too into their television shows,
puter games and telephone conversations,
des, you can get news on the television, raor
newspaper any time ? if nothing else,
>'s always Newsweek.
11 of these things that are supposed to be
ing our lives easier and better seem to be
>ing us from communicating with each
r.
business, we no longer talk xo people ?
to machines, computers, analysts, techni}
and advisers. We don't share news; we
t, swallow it and regurgitate it Some peolon't
even think about it, and a news story
nply that ? a story. The reality of much of
: goes on in the world today is totally
ed by a lot of people.
?hnology gives us easier, longer lives, but
es not make us happier or more prosperous,
it certainly doesn't allow for improving
>n-to-person relations.
speak few years I have come to the reali'icant
zation that American taste (in liter)dels.
ature, cinema, etc.) is essentially
; ten- distinctive. Americans want to see
and movies that will cheer them up,
as if movies that realistically or not
. Ex- show the world the way they
i and would like it to be. We Europeans
nents go to the movies to see something
ween as realistic as possible, something
^pean we can identify with, and somee,
the times reality is rather gloomy.
1 tell Szczech said in his column that
ts are Americans are by and large very
lly in happy and affable people. I must
;ee in agree, and since art (in any form)
is in my opinion nothing but a reflection
of society, I must conclude
have that American art is more light1
dif- hearted because they have perhaps
and more reasons to be merry ? more
ck 10 reasons man us Europeans, poorer
rip to and socio-political-tension
I go stricken.
ends, American movies and literature
d up make Europe look dull and boring
nedy' in comparison. American art relies
s the on strong emotions and dynamism;
iven- a consequence of a way of life
want which to us Europeans in America
; mo- seems to be too pessimistic in all
vatch aspects: too fast, too sensational,
jxcit- too active ....
re so Manuel Lirola (from Spain)
for a English graduate student