Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Change Soviet developments demonstrate history's chaotic twists Francis Fukiyama, an ex-State Department official wrote a fame article in 1989 on the "end" of history. It was his belief that w the decline and fall of communism everywhere that history itsi had no meaning anymore. All future events, in other words, wot be predictable as part of the world's move to democracy. The events in Moscow show history is never predictable. T\ weeks ago, would any sane person predict that the Commun Party of the Soviet Union would be outlawed so soon? The fail coup d'etat and subsequent reforms are amazing in their swiftne: The world can truly be changed in the blink of an eye, for beti (in this case) or worse. Some could argue that in the grand scheme of things Fuki arna's assertion is correct: democracy is inevitable all over t world. However, a more cynical lesson can be drawn from t past week. History is a chaotic combination of sometimes randc forces. That democracy prevailed can be attributed to luck ai timing as much as to the will of the people. If a democracy can created with such speed, it can also be crushed just as fast. W ness Tiananmen Square. A vast percentage of the world still lives in squalor and diet torship. Now that most of the northern hemisphere is on the roi to a market economy, Africa, Asia and South America could u some help. And within the Western World, there is always tl threat of regressive legislation that attempts to curtail the freedo of the individual. The success of world democracy should not make people over confident. There is nothing inevitable about freedom. It is a pi vilege that must be constantly fought for. While it is so recent successful in the USSR, it is always at risk everywhere, includir the United States. Rejoice at this triumph for freedom, but we st: have a long way to go. Bush President handled Soviet coup in best manner possible President Bush certainly knows what not to do with foreign p< icy. Instead of aggravating the situation in the USSR, he adoptee wait-and-see attitude. Other presidents might have threatened be cotts or other dramatic moves that would have acerbated the da ger to the world. By supporting democratic forces and simp waiting, President Bush allowed the crisis to play itself out. Except for China, Bush has always had a better grasp of forei policy. He is just about the best president since (gasp) Nixon the field of international relations. Like Nixon, however, Bush h no agenda, no plan and no clue about domestic policy. At lei Bush hasn't hired any Cuban burglars . . . yet. With race riots in Brooklyn, abortion riots in Wichita, persists unemployment and a stagnant economy, this nation needs lead< ship. International relations are critically important, but who cai if the world is so nice if America is too poor to enjoy it? Time magazine hit the mark when it declared Bush was t "Men" of the Year. His competence abroad and fumblings home almost seem like the work of two separate people. Kudos his action (or lack thereol) concerning Moscow, but Mr. Preside please get back from Kennebunkport and help our own country. IGAMECOt KJ News: 777-7726 Advertising: 777-4249 Chris Silvestri Editor in Chief Dave Bowden Brant Long Managing Editor/Viewpoint Editor Copy Desk Chief Tige Watts Octavia Wright News Editor Carolina Life Editor Aaron Sheinin Teddy Lepp Sports Editor Photography Editor Patrick Villegas Gordon Mantler Asst. News Editor Asst. News Editor Trace y Davis t aylor Asst. Carolina Life Editor Asst. Sports Editor Virginia Marshall Greg Rickabaugh Asst. Copy Desk Chief AssL Photography Editor Wayne Williams Comics Editor Laura S. Day Ray Burgos Production Manager Asst. Production Manager Renee a. Gibson Stacie Lewis Advertising Manager Asst. Advertising Managei Erik Collins Carolyn Griffin Faculty Adviser Business Manager Letters Policy: The Gamecock will try to print all letters received. Letters should be, a1 maximum, 250 to 300 words long. The writer must include full name, professional title 11 a USC employee or South Carolina resident, or year and major if a student. An add res: and phone number are required with all letters sent. The Gamecock reserves the righl to edit letters for style, possible libel or in case of space limitations. The newspaper wil not withhold names under any circumstance. ?y i g Banning p It's nice to see a major superpowei the Communist Party, but it sure isi thing to do. Last week, Boris Yeltsin shut dowi munist Party and claimed new reforr the way. He's even teasing us Red, Blue blooded Americans by saying more democratic. Isn't that kind of contradictory? and his shadow, Mikhail Gorbachev, I a be more democratic, wouldn't the) iy- Communist Party to stay in the USSF in- My policy is that you need someth ,]y ound to know when something's go case, they're getting rid of the bad ; process, inadvertently limiting politic; . Not all of the Reds over there hat( in munist Party and those people need a ias support their views. The party may as* but it should still be there. Yeltsin scares me. He's too pov 'nt and domineering. He's a political g jr- the showing during the coup put the es the sundae. *Editor trie nt, When Dave asked me to write an i umn for this, the first issue of the ; cepted willingly. BUT I have had little success in f beat material. So Dave, bear with me. There are some worthy upbeat su deserve to be mentioned. What is ha] the Soviet Union does. The pages Clancy novel have become reality world watches, mouths-agape. Closer to home, few things can be i encouraging. The crowd at the Vici was outstanding and was a plus for tl of having football in the Carolinas. 1 beat, right? The Jets upset the Redski are upbeat, right? It was probably upb Jets anyway, since they probably arei playing in front of 69,000 people. Classes start today, which to me is ter being trapped here all summer lool same 10 faces. Having an extra 20,0 "flimnnrl nlwavs hflns Thf. nnivprcitv improving, with a long way to go. Th racy at the university is incredible, a; any large university. USC is, howev Prez too nice to Commies To the editor: It is hard to say, despite multiple warnings from European leaders and conservatives in Congress, that President Bush can be blamed for ! the forced retirement of his dear friend Gorbachev. Yet, he must be blamed for his narrow-mindedness ' and ignorance. He was the one that invented those meaningful words "New World Order," which proved them\ selves in the American screw-up f over the Kurds. This "Order" was based on the promise of reform in I the USSR and on supposed good relations between the two superpowers. ? It provoked such very "smart" no 11/ 'ear-1 ac" fm J AA a <^?IE inding up bjects that ppening in * of a Tom and the the events of the past fully moving ahead. V considered hear, and USC is lean tory Bowl leads to prosperity. ie chances Around our little cor rhis is up- are going not so well, ns. Upsets tor Dick Harpootlian h eat for the dums against alcohol ii l't used to has been a constant nil be again. More on this upbeat af- The state of South ting at the ward in some instanc< 00 people Supposedly the state i is slowly mental priorities, but s ie bureauc- citizens. That new dun 5 it is with than the new school I er, putting House. LETTERS TC moves as the INF Treaty, which eliminated new American tanks for old Soviet ones, the reunification of Germany while Soviets still occupied half of it, the billions of dollars, francs and marks that were given to the Soviet Union as "aid" and the cutting of the U.S. defense budget while the USSR did not reduce its military spending at all. It seems the only real moves in the direction of establishing that "Order" were undertaken on the part of the West, in exchange for Soviet promises. What came out of those promises? Exactly what was predicted ? the removal of America's favorite Soviet leader, Uncle Gorby. I will not miss him very much, because he was extremely clever, thus making him more dangerous than an open diehard communist so honest about wanting to kill you. 8 ay to run d ~ still have a c . - r 1If After Yel IGE WATTS Soviet Unio They still ha 'Wi i/j jtjLvr T? < r turn away t't the best n the Com- m ns were on ^ ' White, and it's to be If Yeltsin wanted to j want the Gorbachev, howeve ?? a pussycat. He let hi ing bad ar- and now he's walking od. In this First, he comes bac and, in the ordea1' then he aPP?: al thought binet Positions. After i the Com- comPany, he appoir i vehicle to politicians. - be weak, Now? when Yelts Party out of Russia, fcr hungry party head and sugges ;enius, and If he really wanted cherry on should have resigned stay together. This wa s to think ipbeat col- { I jflflNHfc' Grcnnady Yanayev, ihc new Soviet leader, will do about many issues, such as Eastern Europe, reforms or the Soviet economy. It is even more interesting to see what President Bush will do in response. Bartholomeu Brodowski Political science freshman Library gets some changes To the editor: Onward and upward, universities change. The Thomas Cooper Library is striving to grow and expand its abilities to serve the USC population. One of the changes taking place this fall is the discontinuing of a KCED i p)S| emocracy hoice of politics. itsin and Gorbachev's moves, the n really doesn't have any choices, ve one "party" and a raving maniac quin at the head of it. Republican Party as much as the Party, but the Republicans are low fault in politics and to be the my bad jokes. We need the Reputo preserve political freedom of munist Party is also needed in the eserve political freedom of choice, the party to have a choice, s out the Soviet people want the in power, wouldn't it actually be e them what they want than to play >mand they not have it? 3s to step in say. "Hev vou wild ns, keep the Communist Party to itical choice." le chance of that happening is the I beating Clemson in football. gs to say ry as a whole is still relishing the but the economy is still reeling, ce, the real estate market is just as country is heading in the direction eaving its confused people behind, ew World Order has risen above 5 in the Soviet Union and demoten a solid foothold. The economy before I graduate I hope. The real will find its way back up, with a g, and the country will keep chugrrying its excess baggage. >lina has to change to survive, and hise will be a plus, bringing more Dpefully some of that money will into the classroom, and the state iad. re started, and a new semester ben. Is that upbeat? I guess it all deyou talk to. here is not that much upbeat going re got to start somewhere. But hey, arts in two weeks. Now that is staffed Education Library. Patrons will now have to take their questions to the reference librarians on the main floor. At this time, I would publicly like to thank Carolvn Tvler for teaching me how to serve in the Education Library. While working with Tyler and Edith Holmes (who retired the last of June), I came to he conclusion that if a question -ould be answered, those two librarians would find the answer. Tyler led by example. She demonstrated perseverance, hard work and close attention to details. It's been a pleasure and a privilege to have had her as my department head. Good luck, Mrs. Tyler, in your move upward to the reference department. Valerie Stokes Business library and a manne I hate the Communist needed to si brunt of all . , , , blican Party :r, is about as powerful as chojce s opponents capture him, The Comi in the shadows. USSR to ;k and tells of his terrible Soviets need ints moderates to top ca- it turn, pressure from Yeltsin and Communists Its more reform-minded (() gjy| Stalin and d( in kicks the Communist Gorbachev resigns as the Bush nee< ts it should disband. eyed Russia to speak for reforms, he preserve poli but suggested the party I guess tfi y, the Soviet Union could same as USC of nice thin; * The count RON SHEININ I Jobs bad, and the ; of the right, 1 But the N _ the challenge cracy has got year behind, and grate- will recover, Ve all have our cross to estate market [ling to manage. Support little proddinj ging along ca nmunity, however, things Richland County Solici- South Care as instituted new referen- 311 franc i public places, and ABC 0"ey in' H< usance and probably will in? lts ,vay in coming issues. will move ahe Carolina is moving for- . scs js and behind in others. ?ins wilh lher s improving its environ- Pends on who till refuses to educate its 1 ip site is more important on, but you'v to the boys in the State tailgating st; upbeat. ? THE EDITOfT It is interesting to see what