Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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_2 Society: learn to turn the other cheek It has happened to us CARSON .11 ST. BUSH . an. uvery one of us has gone HBSSSlfiifiMl through the pain of having a friend turn against us. It hurts like hell, especially when you trusted them and thought you were close. Then, all of a sudden, they do something to hurt you, something you were not expecting. Instead of the warmth of a friendship, all that remains is the shock of a betrayal. Yes, I am going through this right now. A friend of mine trusted me enough to come talk and ask advice. I listened and went along with what was asked of me. I tried to be someone he could talk to. I apparently failed. A week and a half later, I found out he had spread a vicious rumor about me among our friends, leaving me practically excommunicated from their ranks. My emotions were eveiywhere. One part of me was so angry and hurt. I wanted to lash out and expose to everyone the whole truth behind the situation. Basically, I wanted to hurt him as much as he was hurting me. But I knew this was wrong. Something inside of me told me to back away and regroup and then proceed once I had thought the whole matter through. The next morning, I woke up and knew what I should do, even though it ~ was the exact opposite of what I wanted to do. I had to continue to love. I have said several times the cross each of us is called to cany is not light. That is easy to say when talking about helping others or being active in the church. But this is personal, and it can be the true testing ground of how far we are willing to go with God. We are called to love each other. Paul says that the commandment to love is a summation of the Law of Moses, and I agree. What this commandment entails is a lot more than may appear. It means we must love others even wheal we don't want to. It means we must forgive before we are asked to. It means we must try to heal even when we hurt. In the middle of all that has happened to me, I remembered a story my best friend once told in a sermon. She told about a friend of hers that - taught third grade. This teacher had a - boy in her class who was a trouble maker, and hardly a day went by when she did not have to call him down. She knew problems at home were causing most of what the boy was doing, but she did not know how to help him. One day, after trying several methods to calm him, she took him out in the hall to talk with him. In the hall, he hit her, but she did not stop him. Nor did she call for help. . She took the blow. He hit her again, and she wrapped her arms around him and felt the pain of blow after blow. Then he stopped, wrapped his arms around her, and started crying. He finally opened up to her, but she had to take the pain he inflicted before he could. We must remember people don't always hurt us just for the joy of seeing us in pain. It is just easier sometimes to strike out at a friend than to open up to him or her and expose the pain we have inside. If we are to truly be friends to people, we must hold on to our love and take the pain that the blows may cause. Eventually, they will stop, and you can then help the person face what is inside them instead of ignoring it and trying i/U mane ik gu away. When someone strikes, take it When they hurt you, forgive them. In the end, though ygu may be bruised, you will be able to offer an ear that can listen, a shoulder they can cry on and a heart that can love them. It's what Christ did for us, and it is what we must do for each other. I know it's hard, and I have to remind myself of how I should act all the time, and especially right now. But I know it is right. Paul writes to the Corinthians that "love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends... And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love." m 1 M "S SM 1 * ^P QUOTE. UNQUOTE "I know what I'm talkln ^ David 1 American mc America seems to be waking up to a major problem in our society. Apparently, we are now beginning 10 realize our language Has gone to the gutter. The use of obscene and rude language has been on the rise in recent years, and the problem is only getting worse. ABC News' "Prime Time" recently aired a segment on this language problem. They showed high school students who used the "fword" in every sentence. They also showed a 4-yearold who used God's name in vain repeatedly. Two separate incidents occurred last month involving NFL players. In each case, a player spouted an obscenity during a live interview on television. I am sure you remember Madonna's episode on David Letterman's show and Slash's (of Guns N Roses) use of the "f word" during a live broadcast of the American Music Awards. I must admit living in South Carolina shelters me from much of this problem. I haven't run into many Southerners who freely spout obscenities in nnhlir Fortunately, there is an unwritten rule in the South that makes using the Lord's name in vain socially unacceptable. However, southerners are not exempt from all language problems. My experience has been many down here have a problem with the "S word." Using disrespectful language involves more than just four letter words and swearing. It also involves Parking shou] Finding a parking space is easy. Park right at the steps of your building; there's plenty of room. Oh, but finding a legal parking space is very difficult. Even more challenging is getting a spot where the meter hasn't expired. This is often necessary due to Columbia's decision this past August to accept only Susan B. Anthony dollars in its pretty blue, red and lime green parking meters at USC. Unless you're a collector of that coin or are lucky enough to pull into a spot with time remaining, getting a free spot will reauire much effort. Fortunately, it doesn't have to be your effort. Look around for a space with two hours left (three if you're meeting the gang at the GMP) and then ask four burly construction workers to remove the car occupying the space, just like in the Mentos commercial. The move to stricter meter feeding requirements was made to raise money through increased tickets. Our city fathers may be authoritarian, but they are not stupid. They know the average* college student has a better chance finding a non-childproof lighter than a silver dollar. Our parking tickets provide muchneeded revenue to pay for muchneeded police. There are only 15,000 cops in this crime-ridden city, and some of them are still driving the old Caprice Classic. Our city fathers are actually trying to be polite by letting us foot the bill for Columbia's continuous improvement. Since we are merely visitors to this progressive city, we VJEWl rk:7; g about. I've spent a year i toller, chairman of Student Government WUSC fell with Jk X WXX f XVJLX being rude (eg. TOMMY t&ling someone TOUCHBERRY to "shut up") or prrn^nn^Bi calling someone a rude name such as "bitch" or "nigger." Other uncivil language may involve disgusting sexual innuendo, and descriptions of "rape-like" sexual activity. Now, I am not raising this argument from a holier-than-thou perspective. Although, I have never used the more offensive words; I don't have a totally clean past either. The truth is, it wasn't until my freshman year here at USC I totally cleaned up my language for good. You might be asking "Why is our culture's language gotten so much worse recently?" The answer is complicated, but I believe there are obvious reasons. First, we have had a cultural decline in the nast. three decades. Our children have lost respect for authority and our population is no longer shocked by irresponsible behavior. Secondly, the entertainment industry has greatly affected our language. Our television programs, movies, music, and books are filled with obscenities and disrespectful attitudes. Thirdly, the lack of character education and teachers with integrity in our nation's public schools are a serious cause. Many teachers turn the other way when students use filthy language. Finally, lack of parental responsibility is the single biggest cause Id be required have no say in I MATT I community HANLEY goings-on KjTjnjTJTHM (student body presidential candidates can tell lies too). By letting us chip in, the city helps us feel included in some way. If you really want to get involved, park in a spot requiring a city permit. You can pretend you're a city resident, and your $20 fine goes towards buying a new Crown Victoria for Earl (much more tnan a crummy $5 ticket). There may be a better way to raise money for this beautiful city. A 6cent sales tax would raise a heckuva lot of money, while curbing the growth of the penny population from our dressers (a Snapple would cost $1.05 instead of $1.04). Besides, all the cool states are doing it. But we could never dismantle the city's parking department. The metermaid PAC donated $2 million (in change) in local and state campaigns in 1994, second only to Frank's Hot Dogs. They are here to stay. So I interviewed one of these gainfully employed civil servants. Pam, a middle-aged women with the build of a cafeteria line worker, lent me a few minutes of her time. She answered questions from her metermobile, a golf cart-sized vehicle shaped like the front end of a bus. She was polishing her electronic ticket writing gizmo. MH: You take good care of that, huh, ma'am? PAM: Oh, this? This is my main man. This is Charles (rubbing it with a towel). Charles takes care of me, so XHNTS if i Mr 41 ^lai ml\ and a half in law school." task force use profanity of our language decay. If a child hears obscenities at home, then that child will grow up believing it is okay to talk that way. We need to clean up our language. Individuals must realize how the language they use affects others. We also need to realize using offensive language only makes for a more uncomfortable environment. It is certainly not an attractive quality or a positive virtue. Also, we need to be aware of the meanings of the words we use. When you take God's name in vain, you are condemning Uod. Do you really want to condemn the almighty? Also, the phrase "damn you" means you are condemning someone. When you condemn God or someone else aren't you being rather judgmental? Furthermore, from a Christian perspective, there is much biblical teaching on the subject of language. It is clear the use of obscenities and rude language is considered a sin by God. For instance, Colossians 3:8-10 says "you must put away all of those things: anger, grudges, feelings of hate, cursing, and dirty words .... learn to be like the image of the Creator." Finally, I think it is quite strange r how some in our society want to impose political correctness for certain words, while ignoring the problem of uncivil language. Most PC words are ridiculous! They usually replace tame, inoffensive words. We need to put the trash can rather than clean an empty trash can! . class at USC I look out for him. MH: It makes your job a lot easier, huh? PAM: Easier? Easier, yes, depending now you see it, boy. My old job was a parking attendant at Blossom Garage. I never had to get up. Then that mean man Newt Limbaugh cut my job from the budget. So I suppose this job could be easier. I still get to walk to the front of the car and put the ticket under the window wiper. Who's that little white rich dude with the Windows? MH: You mean Bill Gates? PAM: Yeah. They oughta get him to make me some contraption that prints the ticket out right on the hood. _ Nothing against you, Charles, (to her gizmo) but I really like to sit. MH: Do you realize people resent you for giving them tickets? PAM: Yeah, but it doesn't bother me. MH: Why not? 5 PAM: I don't like people. MH: What message would you like to get across to our audience? PAM: Well, Fd like to clear up some misconceptions. We aren't meanspirited like the Republicans; we just doing our job. And secondly, we can be bribed. Give me a Snickers bar, and me and Charles will forget about your ticket. MH: Any regrets about your job? T PAM: Well, I really wish I was back ^ at the garage. It worries me those ,h kids and their fancy cars are ec unsupervised. Pam's here to protect ^ you! s. r ? 1 5> Serving USC Wendy Hudson, Editor in Chief < Tina Morgan, Brent Seel EdKoria Chris Dixon, Martha Hotop, Karen Layne, ] Ryan Sims, Stephanie Sonnenfeld, Cece voi ILUIfc WUSC task fo haim own legi Didn't someone once say when society loses interest in a constant yyy< news story it usually " fades away? Well, those involved in the WUSC-FM 90.5 scandal probably wish SG W\ the public would have task ft lost interest in the story misinter\ sometime last week. But executive like a nagging winter cold, it just won't go away. All 1- 1 ! ni i . nn wees, long, a special student Government task force has been < interviewing those involved in the 1 recent restructuring of the station, i The task force decided to go into 1 executive session at the 1 commencement of the interviews, \ citing that some of the discussion would concern matters of possible 1 disciplinary violations that needed ] to be private. 1 The first day of interviews focused on the actions of the former 1 executive staff members and the i possible violation of their rights by < the administration. 1 Former station manager Trey 1 Lofton was interviewed Monday, 1 but what was said during that i interview will not be known because it was in executive session. t Members of Student Life and s Student Media went before the task t force Tuesday to explain their side of t,hp st.nrv hut. linlilro nrevinna r xl^ifftcock Itudent Media Russell House-USC* Colur Wendy Hudson Robbie Meek T Editor in Chief Matt Prultt I Ryan Wilson Sports Editors Managing Editor Allison Tina Morgan Williams Jt Brent Seeliger Special Projects Viewpoints Editors Ethan Myerson Martha Hotop Graphics Editor jyj, Cece von Kolnitz Karen Layne News Editors Deanna Chris Dixon McLendon Stephanie Copy Desk Ki Sonnenfeld Ryan Sims Features Editor Online Editor he Gamecock is the student newspaper of the niversity of South Carolina and is published Tuesday rough Friday during the fall and spring semesters, with e exception of university holidays and exam periods. Lei pinions expressed in The Gamecock are those of the nai litors or author and not those of the University of Lei >uth Carolina. ie Board of Student Publications and Communications the publisher of The Gamecock. The Department of udent Media is its parent organization. sty be Friday, February 2,1996 task ? Since 1908 < Ryan Wilson, Managing Editor, iger, Viewpoints Editors il Board Robbie Meek, Tyson Pettigrew, Matt Pmii 11 Kolnitz, Robert Walton, Allison Williams rf roe's actions itimacy hh side, out of official public hSH record. Some former WUSC staff members Icrvj ill i who had not been ( fflTFTflB interviewed realized this and allowed their rJSC interviews to be open nee Wednesday and oreted managed to support session their case. What should really be questioned in this case is the handling of the interviews by the Student Government task force. Since it can be argued that all involved in this scandal have gone about making things right the wrong way, the task force is just another link in the chain. The task force was hit hard Wednesday, when Chris Carroll protested the presence of John Martin on the task force. 1 CI ft ?M A i A ? ^ w w * V interviews, these were open to the 1 public. c Chris Carroll and Jerry Brewer 1 requested their interviews be public f record, which could have been done c by any of the people interviewed. The beginning of the interviews t is probably one of the most v significant turns of events in the t WUSC scandal. By putting the interviews on public record, the b administration crnt a rtianra to crof t ~ ^ its side publicized, while some of i: the former WUSC executive staff h kept Monday's interviews, and their 333 in the Russell House. 77-7726 ing: 777-4249 7 6482 Chris Carroll nbia, SC 29208 Director of Student Media Laura Day yson Pettigrew Creative Director lobert Walton Jeff A. Breaux Photo Editors Art Director 4dam Snyder Sue McDonald mnifer Stanley JimSpeelmon Asst. News Graduate Assistant Lucy Arnold Marilyn Edwards pka Bhambhani Taylor Asst. Features Marketing Director Achim Hunt Erik Collins Asst. Sports Faculty Advisor eith Boudreaux Jason JefTera Circulat.cn Editor Cartoonist Letters Policy e Gamecock will try to print all letters received, iters should be 200-250 words and mast include full nc. professional title or year and major if a student, iters must be personally delivered by the author to t Gamecock newsroom in Russell House room 321. e Gamecock reserves the right to edit all letters for le. possible libel or space limitations. Names will not withheld under any circumstances. xuai biu 10 wuc iuuiiimatc ui 'ormer WUSC executive board iiember Kerry Mitchell. Legislative ithics dictate that Martin should lave removed himself from the )eginning, but now any decision eveled by the task force is somewhat legitimate. The task force's insistence that hese interviews be in executive lession also adds to the problems heir decision will generate. It seems keeping the proceedings >ut of public record hurts the egitimacy of the task force. In a ase like this, each side needs to be leard in a public forum so all the acts can be weighed and a decision an be made. The task force said they are hinking in the best interest of those irho have allegedly committed Jniversity violations. If the former WUSC executive oard has nothing to hide, then hey all could have put their nterviews on public record and iave nothing to worry about. Got a problem? Want to voice your opinion about an issue? Write the Gamecock. Letters to the Editor should between 250350 words and personally delivered to rm.