The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, February 01, 1995, Page 3, Image 3
"IBaffe
Serving USC Sine
Lee Clontz, Editor in Chief Chris ]
Editorial B.
Erin Galloway, Wendy Hudson, Susai
Jimmy DeButts, Ryan Wilson, Carson
Black Histoi
' time for refl
Students should recogi
The documentation of history in tY
curate or fair, especially to members ol
are often misrepresented, underrepresi
accounts of history.
Celebrations of a minority group's Y
on the group's impact on events of the
Month, and USC will sponsor many e>
tions of African-Americans to the Unit
USC has one of the largest percen
dents of any public university in the c
excellent opportunities for interactioi
races.
This month shouldn't be seen as a
get special attention, though.
It should, instead, be a time for peo
1 how their lives have been affected by thi
icans and how all people can work toge
our children.
Republican (
mi'rthf honofi
UVJULVU
In politics, the passage of time
changes all things. Indeed, it is a
curious reality that core convictions
of political parties often undergo
gradual 180-degree turnarounds.
Historical examples of this are numerous.
In the 18th century, for
example, British Tories favored in- of
tervention in continental disputes tr
while the Whigs wanted to remain si
aloof from European conflicts. By "k
k the 19th century, their roles had a
reversed. One such long-term trans- a
formation and the events it has pro- ic
duced might be pivotal in current ai
American politics ? particularly ic
for President Bill Clinton. n
During the formative years of di
the American republic, the Democratic-Republican
party, the fore- pi
runner of today's Democratic par- w
ty, was led by Thomas Jefferson, a lo
defender of the common man who si
believed in the predominance of ti
the states over the national gov- n:
ernment. Though Jefferson had cc
penned the Declaration of Inde- C
pendence in 1776, his signature is tl
noticeably absent from the U.S. ^
Constitution, which established the a
national government just over a
decade later. tl
At the same time, Hamilton and C
Washington led what eventually P
became the Republican party. Call- P
ing themselves the Federalists, they 81
held Burkean notions of govern- P
ment, fearing populism and the ^
supposedly irrational whims of the u
populace that would hold sway un- C
der true democracy. Naturally, they ^
favored the preeminence of the na- a
tional government and believed J*
that good politicians acted in the ^
long-term interests of the country "
and avoided succumbing to all popular
movements.
Around the turn of the 20th cen- ?
tury, the line between these op- ?
posing parties became fuzzy. Democratdc
populists such as William
Jennings Bryan faded into history
as Woodrow Wilson gave the par- v
ty a more paternalistic and inter- ^
national focus. On the Republican 51
side, Teddy Roosevelt, though pro- ^
moting a tough, expansionist for- 0
eign policy, also did decidedly unRepublican
things such as trust- j*
busting and promoting .
pn virnnmpntflli sm
By mid-century, Democrats had P
become the party of the national a
government, riding on the New n
Deal legacy and establishing a ^
Washington-down civil rights and ^
social safety net movement. Re- ^
publicans, by contrast, had become ^
champions of state and local au- ^
tonomy and had taken up the man- ttie
of populism. ]
Since 1968, this transformation
has resulted in a trend of Republi- a
can presidents and Democratic Con- cj
gresses. Democrats, with decades
""?afUcotk
Student Media Russell House-USC* Colu
Lee Clontz Susan Goodwin
Editor in Chief Allison Williams St
Chris Muldrow Features Editors
Viewpoints Editor Jimmy DeButts
Carson Henderson ^'f?n
? ?,, _ , . Sports Editors
> ??dh,rk" ^a"' James Ponce
' Copy Desk Chiefs Asst. Photo 1
Erin Galloway Jason Jefftrs
Wendy Hudson Cartoonist
News Editors TiefTa Harper
Kim Truett Tina Morgan
Photo Editor Asst. News
The Gamecock is the student newspaper of the University of
South Carolina and is published Monday, Wednesday and
Friday during the fall and spring semesters, with the exception
of university holidays and exam periods. Opinions
expressed in The Gamecock are those of the editors or
author and not those of the University of South Carolina,
i The Board of Student Publications and Communications is
the publisher of The Gamecock. The Department of Student
Media is its parent organization.
Th? Qam
nek
:e J 908
Muldrow, Viewpoints Editor
oard
n Goodwin, Allison Williams,
i Henderson, Radhika Talwani
ry Month
apfSnn
VVUUll
lize diversity
le past has not always been acf
minority groups. These groups
ented or completely absent from
listory serve to refocus attention
past. February is Black History .
.rents highlighting the contribute!
States.
tages of African-American stuountry;
that diversity presents
n and communication between
chance for one group at USC to
pie all over the university to see
n /?Vii /->f A A?i nnA ivi
c cuaiicveiiieiitd ui nil lixui-niiici ther
to make a better history for
Congress
t Clinton
fPHIL WARF
Columnist
experience in governance, conolled
Congress because they were
tillful at working the system to
>ring home the bacon." Republims
like Ronald Reagan acted as
counterweight to the Democrat- I
: establishment on Capitol Hill
id appealed to traditional Ameran
notions of individuality, tough- ?
ess, smaller government and a
estiny of greatness.
But this divided government
roduced deadlock, a reality with
rhich the American people have a
ve-hate relationship. In 1992, this
tuation was redressed by the elecon
of a seemingly populist Delocrat
named Bill Clinton to ac>mpany
the Democratic-controlled
ongress. However, while people
lought they were going to get a
Slow Dpmnrrnt " fhpv nrt.nnllv crnt
New Deal Democrat.
The economist makes the case
lat Clinton was hijacked by the
iongressional leadership. They
romised to pass his agenda if he
ledged not to seek the Congresional
reforms on which he camaigned.
By and large, this was a
isaster for the president. He gave
p popular campaign planks, but
longress did not deliver its part of
le bargain, failing on campaign
nd lobby reform, health care, welire
reform and other initiatives.
>f course, there were other factors,
amely Republican filibusters, poor
iTiite House strategy and Hillary
!linton's dead-on-arrival healthare
plan. But, by courting the Old
temocrats on Capitol Hill, Clinton
imself became an Old Democrat.
Last November liberated him
om those shackles. If he can work
rith the Republicans to continue
d cut the deficit and reduce the
ize of government, lead his party
> the centrist policies on which he
ampaigned and stand his ground
gainst misguided Republican ideas
ke scuttling the assault weapons
an, Clinton can remake his pres- '
1 anr*xt Pnfirr fV?A A/?votir\
. xvcwui liiiig wit x/tiiivA/i awt
arty to its more recent past is preisely
what Clinton and New Delocrats
are all about.
If Clinton avoids major debates
and returns to the centrist agena
that got him elected, his battle
ill be uphill but not entirely fule.
America's unconscious desire
>r divided government and its raonal
embrace of moderate polies
(something Newt and his cadres
re not known for) might make an
mancipated Bill Clinton a sound
tioice in 1996.
, Chris Carroll
111-1 / 26 Director of Student Media
sing: 777-4249 Laura Day
77-6482 Creative Director
Jim Green
mbia, SC 29208 Art Director
Gregory Perez
Ben Pillow Production Asst.
ephanie Sonnenfeld Elizabeth Thomas
Asst. Features Adv. Graduate Asst.
Larry Williams Renee Gibson ><
Asst. Sports Marketing Director i
Ethan Myerson Christopher Wood ;
Ryan Sims Asst. Advertising
Graphics Editor Manager .
Keith Boudreaux cErl.^ C.ol.llns 1
Circulation Editor Faculty Adv,sor
Letters Policy i
The Gamecock will try to print all letters received.
Letters should be 200-250 words and must include full
name, professional title or year and major if a student.
Letters must be personally delivered by the author to
The Gamecock newsroom in Russell House room 333.
The Gamecock reserves the right to edit all letters for
style, possible libel or space limitations. Names will not
be withheld under any circumstances.
--'VIE Will
III J " ? j
M
MIRROR. (
OUQTi UWOUOTI
"If the kkls who aren't as j
Single vvomai
As the song goes, I'm back in the saddle
md let me tell you, I think I may have foigott
.0 ride. I recently ended an eight-year relat
vith someone I began dating when I was i
nan in high school. We've gone through higl
iroms, college applications and many en<
)hone bills together over the past eight years
ir thought anything could be more difficult t'
lay I left for USC and he left for Clemson.
bought that nothing could be more difficu
lying to end the relationship peacefully. N
' am trying to date again, I realize that thi
"ar, is the most difficult thing yet.
My first attempt on the dating scene wa
eacquainted with the guys that I have hac
;s on. I'm single, so now is my chance, I thoi
inally got up my nerve and called. We tall
lirted, and I even went out to dinner wit!
;hem. But after this attempt, I was remini
;rucial lesson in trying to go back to those44
crests." There was a definite reason why tl
crests had passed.
fiOOl
uivvu uvvj
It seems that Americans are only interf
Deing happy and that happiness has been e
with MONEY. Try reading through an entir
Daper, on any given day, without spotting i
;le that deals with money in the form of con
stealing or murder. We dream of winning
?ry or winning the grand prize presented 1
ishers Clearinghouse. We sue at the drop i
or over spilled coffee) and relish the fact thi
ay has now come into our possession witho
ng to do anything. Welcome to my foray i
-eal-world commentary. Today's topic begs tl
ion "Why can't Americans do things for thei
anymore?" If you have no idea as to what I a
ng about, you are probably one of the ma
leed to read, digest, read again and then fra
article. So, you ask dispassionately, what 1
s this guy talking about... well, here goes r
Faces In The News
JEH. hORm CAWXJM^-t1^
BNTS Wednesday, February 1,1994
)N IlL,t PONT GET THIS IMAGE CRtt
good at you see you slack off, then they think it's atari
Jay Telford,
USC swimming team, Ail-American
a restarts the elusi
tonship * CASSIE STURKIE
i fresh- Liv'llJ Columnist
. Inev- Take two. My next approach was to let the guys
han the COmetome. Why should I have to pursue the guy?
1 1 This approach, however, was short-lived. BasicalTt
* sat *n my 1X1011:1 an(l nothing happened. I don't
ow tnai j ii i
. . u recommend this approach,
is is bv
' Take three. I gave in. I went to Five Points as
s t a single woman. I had really been trying to avoid
1 crush- doing this. Somehow, I just have a problem with
j meeting guys over shots of Goldschlager. After all,
ked we ^ should be a clear indication that something is
l one of wrong when you enjoy the shot more than you ended
of a joy your company.
past in- Nevertheless, I made the effort. I met some
lose in- really cute guys. But it didn't take me long to real
lze mat, n, is unpossiDie to get. to Know anyone in r lve
ms to rule toda
isted in I
e news- SCOn KAPLAN
an arti- "#? Columnist
S2S -Ai
ay Pub- I seem to remember a time when people used to
of a hat read directions, tinker with ideas, enjoy and take
at mon- pride jn figuring out problems. For instance, I reut
hav- member as a child my father posing riddles for my
nto the brother and myself to figure out. No matter how
le ques- difficult the riddle was, my brother and I would nevnselves
er ^ for the solution (although I will admit, prior
m ^ reaching my teens, having asked for some
ny that hints...however, I do not remember my dad giving
v/n ^ t00^ P^de asking pertinent questions
.he hell ^d finding the answer to the riddle(s) without havlothing.
jng others do the work for us - even if it took hours
?for us to reach a conclusion.
Today, people resign themselves to not knowing
the answeribefore they even know the question.
I find this to be sad and quite annoying.
The United States has been labeled a "Service
Nation," which means that we cater to people's
needs, wait on people hand and foot and no longer
take pride in how we originally became a leader nation
- hard work, industry within our own borders,
loyalty, morality, family values and the belief that
the Ten Commandments, no matter what religious
faith one followed, was the correct way to live one's
life. Alas, the land of opportunity has now become
a nation of malcontents. How can we possibly flourish
as a nation when most of the people hate what
they do routinely?
I have come up with a list of questions that I do
not expect to actually get an answer to, but perhaps
they will make you think about what is going on in
our society today.
These questions are in no particular order What
happened to individuals taking responsibility for
their own actions? Why do people ask for help before
reading directions? How do people get away
with suing over spilled coffee (and winning for God's
sake)? What happened to relying on our own industry?
Why do we allow American companies to
set up factories in nations other than our own? How
do we allow import cars to be sold in the United
States (without taxing the *&*%$# out of the products),
and yet merchandise exported is taxed so
heavily it is not worth sending overseas? Why is
there so much hate between people of different
faiths? Why are Americans fooled into buying mer#
*
3
MING AT AIL'/'
ght, and the whole team gets in a rat"
ve dating game
Points. Just as you put the drink down and actually
begin talking, your group of friends is dragging
you to another bar. Damn that open-container law.
This past weekend I tried my newest approach.
One of my friends, Carrie, set me up with her
boyfriend's roommate. Of course, the irony is that
he goes to Clemson, too. We hung out all weekend
together, and right after I decided that I liked him,
he said that he wanted to see me again. Next weekend.
And the weekend after. Whoa, I thought, I
am not ready for road trips to Clemson and those
huge phone bills all over again.
Now what do I do? I've been to both extremes:
the eight-year "let's-get-married-soon" relationship
and the ten-minute "what's your sign?" encounter.
At age 21, I'm not happy with either. I really like
this new guy from Clemson, but I am not ready for
any kind of commitment. Not quite so soon, anywav.
Nowadavs. thev sav it's cool to be boyfriend
less on Valentine's Day. I guess I'll have to wait and
see.
Cassie Sturkie is a senior in the. Honors College.
y*s America
] Today, people resign themselves to
not knowing the answer before they
even know the question.
chandise labeled "Made in the USA" when it is truly
not? How did we become such pansies? Whiners?
Suckers?
I hate that I have become so cynical and that I
must have my guard up against the perils plaguing
our society. I was lucky enough to be born and
raised in the greatest nation in the world. A place
where we are supposedly all considered equal, free
and have the right to pursue happiness. However,
something seems to have drastically changed. People
do not appreciate all of the good aspects of their
lives anymore. We are too consumed with making
money and making ourselves happy. What happened
to looking out for our friends, family and co
workers? Maybe we have been on auto-pilot for too
long.
Additionally, I am tired of hearing the problems
of our nation being blamed upon the abundant number
of lawyers supposedly preying on the unethical,
wide-eyed, money hungry, supposedly taken
advantage of, average American. Even US News &
World Report has attacked the decay of our society
and blamed attorneys. Has anyone ever considered
that lawyers would not be able to take advantage
of the system if it were not for the lack of respect
people have for one another these days!?
Finally, I believe that people must have an inherent
lack of self-esteem for it seems that everyone
wants to have their hand held. Are people that
afraid of making mistakes? Personally, I learn more
from my mistakes than getting something right.
This is not to say that I enjoy doing something improperly
but once I do, I know that I will never do
the same thing wrong again.
Perhaps everyone in our nation needs to step
back, take a look at what is going on around them,
take a look at themselves and then sign up for an
ethics class (PHIL 311 is actually a rather interesting
class, and it is offered right here at USC)
The answers to my aforementioned questions may
not be found in an ethics class but at least it may
be a starting point. I truly look forward to the daj
that people stop blaming others for all of their problems,
take responsibility for their actions and enjoy
the good things in their life.