The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 10, 1993, Page 3, Image 3
"?aflttock
Serving USC Since 1908
J.T. Wagenheim, Editor in Chief Shayla Stutts, Viewpoints Editor
i EDITORIAL BOARD
Jay King, Gordon Mantler, Rob Rodusky,
Lee Clontz, Carson Henderson
!
Columbia
Progress reliant on positive attitudes
toward growth, change, prosperity
Columbia's edge-of-the-cliff mood is hard to miss. Along wit
the searing heat of summer, tolerance of the relentless apathy of tt
'90s reached its boiling point. Seven years shy of the year 200
time is running out. The city is frenzied with innovation by those i
(government and business who tire of needless stagnation and wai
to move on.
Future college graduates, listen up. People making the changt
in our community to improve the economy are the ones who do tt
hiring. According to The State, the highest growth jobs i
Columbia will be skilled jobs in the service sector. Physical ar
occupational therapists, computer engineers and programmers, ar
legal and medical secretaries will be in high demand.
Why would a USC graduate want to live and work in Columbit
In the past tew years, complaints abound or uoiumoia being
nothing-to-do city, either in entertainment or careers. The first ste
in growth is to redefine our attitude about Columbia instead <
fretting over heat and boredom. If you see that there is little to d<
Qhe call is yours. Be brave, hit the streets and do it yourself.
Marie-Louise Ramsdale, former USC student government pres
dent and inventor of CityYear, is a fine example to follow.
Columbia is stuck in an adolescent, sleepy stage that requin
work and commitment. Fast-growing companies have filled tl
metro Columbia area, meeting needs and using the resources <
workers fired from bigger companies during downsizing, accordir
to The State. This is the result of vision, which is healthier f<
Columbia than pounding down the town's self-esteem.
Remain in Columbia to seek a job or internship. Discover wh
the city offers before flocking to Atlanta or Charlotte. A bett
future is being developed by hardworking community leaders as v
speak. Aren't you tired of the bleak outlook on our future, tl
absence of the American Dream?
If so, take the opportunity to create a dream of your own in
city that needs risk takers, innovators and entrepreneurs. Columb
is full of diversified, educated people, a source to tap and maintai
Even if you leave one day, Columbia, as a relatively small city, is
+/\ am/4 1/\Arn I/\K olrSllo nnnlir in aro
gicai yiaw lU gC/i ouuiui aiiu l^aiu juu oiviiio tSJ ayyiy in wuiu cuu
of life. A progressive spirit, Columbia's greatest need, is achievt
through unity.
* Media portrays Catholicism
with misunderstanding
With the visit of Pope John I 1
Paul II to Denver for World pi Bpi
Youth Day, members of our I I apljHpH I
beloved American media such hi W T II
a as CNN and Newsweek have l|| \ . *
once again proven their ability III %cr"*
to vastly oversimplify events 111 l|fagj|f ,^l|f|
and to take them out of context. Ill _^)l
The pontiffs visit immediate- lillHBH
ly sparked debates about how I1
the Vatican should change its
view on this issue or stay the 1
same on that issue. The media
?u: a :~*~a ? trine and theoloev on these
uimtu uu uii uiis aiiu ptuiiitu a ; ~ " OJ ,
picture of a Roman Catholic lssues W1N, sachy? never change.
Church in crisis, a church that is Changes that will occur, howevat
any moment going to cram- er? W1^ 000111 slowly.
ble The church is not just a
This portrait of imminent bunch of upstart American lib^
destruction is false and is a typi- era*s- 1S a wo e church
cal picture that groups such as containing some groups more
the media and other Christian traditional than others, even in
denominations paint because of United States. The pope,
their lack of understanding of cardinals and bishops have to
the oldest Christian denomina- bite these groups into considertion.
ation when making changes.
Many American Catholics Without a conservative changdisagree
with certain aspects of ing process, there would be only
Catholic doctrine, but any intel- chaos, and then the church
Hgent human who uses the brain would be in trouble,
that God gave him should real- Do not expect the church to
ize Catholics are not going to change its opinion on abortion
always agree. That's the way it or euthanasia. The theology
always has been, and that's the with these issues is so strong
way it always will be as long as and clear that I doubt the
the church is a human institu- Vatican would yield,
tion. What the church will do,
As usual, the church is grow- however, is what it has done for
, , i . . . . . nparlv tu/r\ millaMr.: ?u:.L
ing anu cnanging in lis oocinnes i,wt-v """v-miiuius, wmui
while still maintaining its faith is spread the teachings of Jesus
and focus on Jesus Christ and Christ, fight for social justice
his teachings. This is a changing and needy people and continue
time for the church, but it will to build a healthy, loving and
survive just as it has for almost closely-knit community of those
2,000 years. who believe in Christ while still
But the pope, cardinals and welcoming those who don't,
bishops must closely examine The church will not convert
certain subjects while keeping people with Bible thumping or
' their interpretation of sacred hellfire and damnation techscripture
in mind. These sub- niques. Conversion will come
jects include abortion, homosex- by the example of Christ's love
uality, sexuality in general, birth and hope,
control, celibacy and the possible
ordination of women. Jay Tilley is a columnist
Some parts of Catholic doc- for The Gamecock.
The Gamecock welcomes letters to the editor and will do its best to publish
each one submitted. Letters must include phone number and address and
must be submitted in person by the author to the Russell House room 321.
The Gamecock reserves the right to edit all letters for style and possible
libel. Letters should be no more than 250 words.
VlEWPOfr
Do you prefer 1
"Elsewhere. I don't "El
know too much about ing
Columbia, but if you thii
really want to make the
money, go to Atlanta, to t
h Charlotte or Raleigh."
2 Terrance Gerald
^ Biology senior
it
;s
le ^HHPm
I Does ban on play
a
^ UttSJ ?y Patrick Sharbaugh
0, It's not about Lee Atwater is it? The controversy,
I mean. It's actually about art and its role
j_ in our society. Atwater is merely the hapless
nimp unnn u/hrtcp inr"f*rnnrf?nl shrmldpm fhp.
iS issue of the nature of art has most recently set;e
' <led, vulture-like.
f USC officials rejected Robert Myers' play
for production because they deemed it a savage
^ representation of Atwater's life and out of sup3r
posed concern for the family of the man.
It is inexcusable for a group ostensibly dediat
cated to the ideal of a liberal education to preer
sume to deny us, on the basis of assumed dra/e
matic intent alone, the opportunity to judge the
ie play for ourselves.
Were they afraid we weren't equal to the
a intellectual challenge of determining the relaia
five worth of the play? One way or another,
n. they made the decision for us. The people of
a the ex-Soviet Union were recipients of that kind
as of favor for nearly a century,
id Of course, Longstreet Theatre can't possibly
present every play that makes a bid for production,
but how many dramatic presentations
H come through that can claim as their central
focus a Columbia native who achieved a political
notoriety of international proportions? The
production has already garnered accolades
across the country. What more incentive does
USC need?
Cartoon not historically
To the editor: Either thi
I found Paul Jon's cartoon on Jon thinks I
the Aug. 30 editorial page both not belong
bizarre and absurd. dismaying t
T . . r . ful distorfio
In picturing four cross-eyed fa. for,
hillbillies - one of the characters statement ^
had a jug labeled "moonshine" - portrayal a
hoisting a Confederate flag, Jon can help us
apparently caricatures flag sup- War and its
porters by associating them with There art
stereotypes of mountaineers. on Civil \
Anyone who has read a book on ^ver rea(i
the Civil War knows that the e nee(*
. , . r L stereotypes
overwhelming majority of hill tation 0J.hi,
folks in Tennessee and North Sincerel)
Carolina fought for the Union,
not for the Confederacy.
r y
VosT/// i
JT5
to find a job in Columbia
"1^"
sewhere. I'm major- "I want to go to
in nursing and major city like AtlantJ
iking about joining I like Columbia, but it'
Peace Corps. I like just not Atlanta."
rave1, Pamela Bigge
Kindel Tiirner Journalism freshma
Nursing freshman
draw curtain on ai
That Atwater's family might have become
upset hardly justifies denying the city's remain- :
ing population the chance to judge its value
themselves.
What about the free exchange of ideas? What
about dedication to the ideal of art, not as (
something that must have a practical use such
as furthering the party line, but as something
whose value lies in its very existence? The
truth or falsehood of art has nothing at all to do
with its inherent value.
What difference does it.make whether Henry
V truly hung his best friend as a matter of principle
or whether Willie Loman was a real person?
None. All that matters is that we have
"Henry V" and "Death of a Salesman."
For USC officials to have rejected Robert
Myers' play on the basis that it might not have .
presented us with their collective subjective
idea of what Lee Atwater was like is presumptuous
beyond expression. We have art, as
Friederich Neitzsche wrote, "in order not to die
of the truth." I'd rather fee allowed to .determine. v .
my truth for myself, thank you very much.
Patrick Sharbaugh is a regular
contributor to Crossfire.
accurate | Arrest shows
ey were smarter than To the editor:
they were, or they do I am outraged over th<
in the cartoon. It is and unethical behavior of
0 see yet another will- police department and th
n of that period in our ings with Steve Taneyhii
1 modern-day political have I seen such an out]
/hen only an accurate blatant misuse of power ;
nd recollection of it authority figure.
i understand the Civil There were between 50
legacy. people partying at the see
i far too many experts incident. At least one thi
Var times who have more, of the people thi
a book on the period. probably drinking undera
less perpetuation of only arrest one?
and less misrepresen- First of all, Taneyhill i
story. profile figure. What cop \
' yours, fuel their own ego by
Michael Montgomery someone famous? This n
Professor police department look int
and powerful.
^|KW Qm m,
9 f Sons///
__
or elsewhere?
KkI
a "I prefer to stay in
i. Columbia because I can
s do a lot with my major
here."
r Stuart Bedenbaugh j
in Accounting sophomore
rtistic freedom?
2221 By Ryan Atkinson
* \,j
Opponents liken the decision not to produce
a play about Lee Atwater's life to censorship.
Artistic types are quick to cry foul at the
slightest impediment to their artistic freedom.
Yet, let one of them find something offensive,
and your First Amendment rights quickly
erode. However, this is not a matter that can
be easily covered by the First Amendment.
The decision was made based on respect for
the late Lee Atwater and compassion for those
who survive him. The dean of the USC arts
school felt the play was intended to denigrate
Lee Atwater. This may or may not be true.
However, the play does include many unsubstantiated
claims of wrongdoing that did or did
not occur in Atwater's life. To dramatize these
as facts is almost as bad as proclaiming them
to be. v
I understand the purpose of art is to make
people think, and in most cases, I would
uphold this right. However, for the university
to sanction a malicious, intended or not, attack
on an individual is not warranted in this case.
The play can be seen in other places.
Therefore, this is not a serious attack on anyone's
artistic freedom. It is merely a person in
authority exercising a code of decency and
compassion.
Ryan Atkinson is a regular
contributor to Crossfire.
unfair police behavior
Can you imagine the chatter at
5 corrupt the police station?
the local "I'm the cop who brought the
ieir deal- star quarterback of the Gamecocks
11. Never down!" They probably give promoright
and tjons for diat.
from any j not brieve the police made
an example of Taneyhill to discour311
age underage drinking. Our best
rcL if not interests 316 not at the heart of the
ere were P?hce department. Taneyhill was
t?e Whv set UP t0 further the illusion of
? ' power or the extent of intimidation
s a high- *hat they have over this communivould
not ty. 1 hope this incident blows up in
targeting the face of the Columbia Police
lakes the Department,
imidating Chris Duncan
Freshman
/ - i^yi