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Sexism Clarence Thomas might just be pioneer in case of women's rights The Viewpoint section has been dominated by the issue of rac ism these past few weeks, but all sides have neglected to mentioi another form of insidious prejudice. Since the sexual harassmen allegations against Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, sex ? i ~ r: * r ? _ t . t ism aiiu uic ngm ior women s ngnis nave received new attention. Whether or nor Thomas is guilty is not the issue. What is s< interesting is that the all-male Senate Judicial Committee origi nally dismissed the allegations as being irrelevant to Thomas nomination. The senators now deny this, but the perception is un mistakable that they just didn't think of sexual harassment as ; serious crime. Physically and emotionally abusing someone be cause of their gender should always be a crime; unfortunately, th< male-dominated U.S. government is just starting to realize that. Proportionately, it can be argued that women are the mos oppressed group of all. Although 50 percent (or more) of tht country is female, there are only a handful of female senators anc representatives in the U.S. Congress. There are few female gover nors and there has never been a female secretary of state or de fense, leave alone a female president of the U.S. Women are also vastly underrepresented in the nation's corporations and press. Many women executives talk about the sexisi barrier that keeps them from rising to the top of their professions To be sure, prejudice against all groups is intolerable, but wo men's rights seem to have been curiously ignored in the past decade. Hopefully, the Thomas controversy will end this neglect. / a 3r~rs A \ \ / IT'S A r j ll black!) wh|te js thing jt t ;b.?t I YOU W0ULDN1 ( w \ R.E.HE.N D 1 I W~7 rrn &'ni %p?a? % i gamecock" News: 777-7726 Advertising: 777-4249 Chris Silvestri Editor in Chief David 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 m antler i ...... rj:<? ' ? -- nssi.News liuiior News Tracey Davis Rich Taylor Asst. Carolina Life Editor Asst. Sports Editor Virginia Marshall Greg Rickabaugh Asst. Copy Desk Chief Asst. Photography Editor Wayne Williams Eric Glenn Comics Editor Darkroom Technician Reneea.Gibson Laura S.Day Asst. Media Director I Advertising Manager Production Manager Stacie Lewis Ray Burgos 4 - * * A ? n j . . _ 1 / asst. Advertising Manager /\ssi. rroaucuon Manager Erik Collins Carolyn Griffin Faculty Adviser _ _ Business Manager Lara Chapman Asst. Classified Manager Letters Policy: The Gamecock will try to print all letters received. Letters should be, at maximum, 250 to 300 words long. The writer must include full name, professional title if a USC employee or South Carolina resident, or year and major if a student. An address and phone number are required with all letters sent. The Gamecock reserves the right to edit letters for style, possible libel or in case of space limitations. The newspaper will not withhold names under any circumstance. Citadel's frej Is The Citadel becoming soft? Are recent allegations causing administration to crack dowr too much on what many outsiders are calling hazing and ill-treatment? It seems like recent allegations are made b> n the misinformed public who try and pass judglt ment on a military school that was once unique from others around it. The Citadel gives a particular group of people the challenge and discipline they need and want. The four athletes who quit and complained ~ about treatment cannot say they hadn't had some type of expectations when they first weni in. They could not have blindly entered the a school as a knob (freshman) expecting to be given easy treatment. l A junior student at The Citadel talked to me recently about the system at the military t college. The student sergeant said the main feeling on campus is that the allegations are obvious exaggerations from students who quit and were looking for an excuse. They simply could not handle the system. But according to the junior, the system has drastically changed from his days as a knob. Coming Out ] Today is National Comine Out Dav On this day gays, lesbians and bisexuals are asked to take their next step and come out of their closets to someone new: a parent, friend or roommate. On this day those of us who will no longer hide also offend a lot of bigots. There will be backlash. Letters will be written that will say our lifestyle is a sin (a point I will not argue, as I do not know the mind of God). There will be homophobic jokes, and although some of us will come out with pride, others will hide in fear. That fear which controls so many, homophobia, is bigotry. That is something which no one \ says very loudly, in fear of offending someone. But, let's be honest. Bigotry is one of the most hateful, damaging feelings a person can have. And racism, sexism and homophobia are bigotry. Gays and lesbians can be fired frgm, their jobs solely because of whom they love, and it is legal. In many states, we pannot adopt-children, I LET I.. - , |, 111 n': - j r ------ : : - -1 -: -'i: a i A m j way to ma Abortion isn't McCart 1C thai tha ^ w UIUI U1V merely logical a fetus the To the editor: being? It amuses me that Brian McCar- Since th ter thinks he can logically con- iefs defin elude an answer to a question of man is to 1 morality. Logic has very little to tributes. / do with the realities and emotions human usu of everyday life. conception In any case, he has given us an developing ' intellectualized version of the anti- to 8 weeks abortion/pro-life side of abortion, The key and as such can be useful. I have and this i always been of the opinion that complicate you can't be for or against a belief have to si or movement if you don't know aside), what the issues are. A huma As someone who does not want organism i to see abortion banned, I would month. B; like to explore his arguments and alive with come up with my own logical ment 0f 0, conclusions. capable of First, I want to say that this is 0ld fetus not an attack on Brian McCarter. outside of He is probably the most thought- chanical ir provoking person I have ever met, does happe and I respect his opinion. We just Only .01 don't always agree with each choirp. other. most of the So, I'll start with McCarter's as- problems o sertion that women who get pre- The pregnant chose to do so by not abs- to protect taining from sex or not using birth strictcd ab control. Having sex without any and early kind of safeguards, may be stupid, trimester (< but it is not an automatic choice to tions occur become pregnant. Our species, un- The questi like most, don't have sex to just the 14th A procreate. fetus until Of course, women and men are human bein both responsible for providing ef- The 14tl fective birth control in their sexual tees that li; relationships. But I also realize taken awa> that in reality, birth control is not a unviable fel 100 percent guarantee against pre- ca]^ isn't it' gnancy. And let's face it, there is Logically inadequate sex education that deals Amendmen with birth control in this country unviable fel whether it be in the schools, chur- i , ches or health care facilities and 0wn life fur especially in the home. In or(jer McCarter's second contention is pietely in t that abortion is an act of violence constitution against a child by its mother. vcry j When a woman chooses to have an ft? Sorry, t abortion, it is usually after a diffi- about, cult period of deliberation that may include the father or her family. rca^ly Logically is it reasonable to as- an(* ^ sume this same woman actually w *>ocs hates the embryo or fetus inside of woman fa< her? Is she trying to figure out a pregnancy ihmen system ; GREG RlCKABAUGI The hazing was not done in a spiteful sort way, the junior said. It made knobs work I , much harder to succeed and become better. a~ i CA 1 naving wuu uu pusnups iwu years ago i a common occurrence in the early morn hours for the knob. In fact, he would constar arrive at class dripping with sweat. But not now. The knob system rules now state that a kr can only be made to do pushups in the afl noon ? and only a maximum of 15 an hour. Boy, sounds exhausting to me! I thinl would be dead by the time that 16th one ca around. And why such a big change? This junior s* it is parents who call in and complain that Ih 1 children are too tired when they come to cl because of the pushups. Wahhhhh! Day educates Kyira Brooke Guest Editorial just because of sexual orientation, not beca of unfitness to parent We can be together 20 years and never be allowed to marry, j still be kept from seeing our spouse if hospi ized because we are not legally "family." are killed for who we are; made into pul spectacles and moral threats. All because of who we love. Does anyone find it ridiculous that a per: hate someone else for what they do in b What happened to privacy, or support or dh sity? Our country was supposed to guaran the right to pursue happiness, not just heterosexuals. Even if sexual orientation is partially choi why is it wrong? What religion we are is a it TERS TO THE ED Ice it suffer? aware of the potenti er's strongest argument her. In fact, the maj fetus should be thought who want the abi an and entitled to protec- (even though they r the 14th Amendment. Is to choose) realize l : same thing as a human ity involved. -Still, whether a i lis is an emotional issue, to end a pregnancy, e our terms. To be hu- up for adoption, or lave human form and at- herself, it will be i i fetus is a developing reflects her own u ally from 3 months after stances and personal to birth (an embryo is a Even then, some ; human from conception she was right; som ). think she was wrong word nere is developing Pai s where the issue gets Art history gra >d (and the courts will ^ , et personal philosophy ISCIlSltlV] ii fetus is not a viable qIIaWC 111 until around the eighth 111 i viable, I mean born such form and develop- To the editor: gans as to be normally My letter is writ) living. A seven-month the letter written in usually cannot survive paper, "Whites don the womb without me- As a white male, I itervention (although it truly do not unders n). the reason being th; percent of abortions by don't give white pe in the last trimester and to. >se are because of health Saying "It's a Bla f the fetus. wouldn't understand choice movement wants solve the country's p the legality of unre- ism and prejudice, ortions during the first them worse. The part of the second whites are out to g )l percent of all abor- make them suffer a in the first trimester), all. Progress is be on now becomes does America. In 1950 Lmendment protect the whites had their ow it can become a viable tains, schools and g? Since then, the doc i Amendment guaran- opened for any m fe or liberty cannot be white, to be anythinj ' from a person. Is an be. tus a person yet? Tough It's not a "Black ? thing, it is an Amerk ', and as far as the 14th until you realize tl t is concerned, no. An never get ahead. Doi ;us is not a legal person past, look to the ft e it cannot sustain its then we can be one p ictions. Benjam to ban abortions com- Music educatio he U.S., it will take a All al amendment. Sounds /\1I I dCC* ind calculated, doesn't # hat's what logic is all be preju , arguments on viability Jo the editor: th Amendment is not "It's a white worl through the mind of a have to!" ;ed with an unwanted For those of yo !. She is very much what this means, pi i not that bad Parents need to tell their kids to suck it up, , because they chose to go there. Then, and only then, can they get on with making the military ? college a unique experience for those who want it. But no, they must bombard the administra tion with calls of hazing (and even racism). The fourth-class system becomes easier and easier with each new year. And each year the fresh^al men complain more and more, according to the junior. vas Of course there are going to be freshmen in2 who cannot handle the system. But The Citadel >tly is not for everybody, just like a large college like USC or Clemson may not be for everyone. And yes, the system may not be perfect. But iob let the students and administration realize the er- mistakes and make the proper corrections. But among all the complaints comes one c 1 good point. It is the administration of the school me who will form an investigative committee to examine treatment at the college. Because,- as ayS soon as you let an outsider come in with no ,eir knowledge of what The Citadel is trying to do, ass yuu ^au uci nc win oe me urst to scream and point fingers. USC students ter of personal choice, yet it is staunchly defended by our government Why is one choice worse than another? Perhaps some people are ? so insecure that everyone has got to be exactly like them, and if we aren't, they feel justified in I hating us. Instead of discriminating against gays, lesuse bians and bisexuals, we should be happy that others are finding love together. To do anything else would be unjustifiably narrow-minded. talWe All of you know someone who is gay, aljjjc though you may not be aware of it. Does it really matter, in the long run, who they love? Don't be so fond of hating that you won't stop son doinS ? ed? I'm a lesbian. I refuse to live in fear. I am ,er_ not ashamed to love. No one should be congee trolled by bigotry. for The Gay and Lesbian Student Association can be reached through P.O. Box 80098. jce Kyira Brooke is the president of the Gay and lat- Lesbian Student Association. ITOR al life inside of "understand" at the end of that ority of women phrase. I'm sure many black peolity to choose pie would consider that phrase to nay never have be both racist and offensive. I he responsibil- would have to agree with them. Unfortunately, I would also have voman decides to consider the phrase that Taifa S. give the child Graves ended her letter (published keep the child on Wednesday, Oct. 9) with to be i decision that equally offensive and racist: "It's a nique circum- black thing and you could never philosophy. understand." one will think _ eone else will ? U 1S Cresting to note that Graves' letter was written in remme L. Eades sP?nse 10 an article she considered iduate student racisL letter is written in response to a letter I consider hypojfwr critical. It would seem that Graves ' has no objections to racism, except x when practiced against blacks. Racism is defined by The New Webster's Dictionary as "the assumption that one race is biologiten concerning callv sunerior to another " It i Wednesday's not say, "The assumption th?t the 't understand." white race is biologically superior can say that I to the black race." This would lead tand. A lot of me to believe it is equally possible it most blacks for both races to practice their own ople a chance particular brand of evil. Graves is a marvelous example ck Thang, you qf ^ belief. jjow can she> jn docsn t help gQ(Xj conscjOUSt criticize anyone roblem of rac- for racjst writings, when her letter it only makes -s equaiiy offensive to whites? feelings that Qoes racjsm become right when ct blacks and ^ tums ^ ^bles on the white re not true at people by attacking them? ung made in , blacks and Graves clearly gets her point n water foun- , , ? . across, she believes racism against restaurants. ., . . . , . i -.u blacks is bad. I can also agree with irs have been . ... T,. ... . 6. , _ m this nnint Hut I n ltb-o ?/ ? Kr/vi<ior. an, oiacK or T~~ r u lw z he wants to comment to ? racism is bad ? whether practiced against " or "While" blacks, hispanics, Asians or even :an thing, and whites. fiat you will Graves suggests that "the next 1 t live in the time you (I assume she refers to lture. Maybe white here) want to write about us rople. (black people), I suggest you in A. Merritt (whites again?) get some help from n sophomore a knowledgeable brother or sister!" s can Well, I suggest that the next time ? you, or anyone, want to write Q1C0Q against racism, you get some help from a person who isn't racist. Hypocrisy has been called the Vas, eline of social intercourse, but let's an don t j^p intercourse private. u wondering J.A. Osborne ace the word International studies freshman