The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, January 22, 1997, Page 4, Image 4

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?(? Serving V Sometimes adhering to one's politics can be taken one step too far, into the realm of ridiculousness. Charlie Condon has decided to charge homicide against any doctor who performs a partial-birth abortion. If convicted, a doctor could face up to life imprisonment. The homicide charge is based on the fad that fetuses aborted in the third-trimester would otherwise be able to survive if properly delivered. Many may applaud Condon's decision as an actior that shows how much he supports family values. Rarely do politidans show so mucl dedication to their values However, Condon jusi undermined his own validity The partial-birth abortion as distasteful as it may be is still a completely lega procedure, often used wher a mother's life is in danger It may prove hard to chargi homicide against someom who uses methods within tfo law. Condon's decision is no logical. It lacks reason am H ASIA Stsdrat Media * Rwaell Chris Dixoa ^ew Editor in Chief Advert! Slephnk FA> SouesfeU Viewpoint, Editor Achhu HmI Kim Layae Bryaa Jeuifrr Stamlcy Johwtoi News Editors 5port? Editors ? IMU.lt! Tkntn jonm LTon * r Kflly Photo Editor McPherwi Bern Muldro' Features Editors Graphics Editor Nfltki La RoefK Asst. Viewpoints * The Gamecock is the student newspaper of the Unisi and Friday during the FaM and Spring semesters, wit * Opinions expressed in The Gamecock are those of tl Carolina. * The Board of Student Publications and Communicati Media is its parent organization. IBtlSllE The Gamecock will try to print all letters recei full name, professional hue or year and majc the author to The Gamecock newsroom in Ru to edit all letter for style, possible libel or spi cu instance. Chris Dixon. Stephanie Sonnen Editor Achim Hunt, Bryan Johnston, Karen Laync Jennifer Stan] Dickey's wi remember 7 am of shadow and of sun of the sun Returning always, And I laugh, silently." -James Dickey, from Small Song Sadlv. this Dast Sundav. USC lost one it's most prized faculty members: Mr. James Dickey. Dickey was USC's poet in residence and the first Carolina Professor, a prestigious honor offered to only a select few at USC. His poetry was published in The Sewanee Review, The Atlantic Monthly and Harper's magazines. In 1965, he won the Melville Cane Award for his poem, "Buckdancer's Choice." He was the author of the widely famous novel, "Deliverance," which was made into an academy award winning film. In an interview aired on South Carolina Public Radio, Dickey spoke about his writing talents. He said his Condon si recent abc 5amecock SC Since 1906 , Editor in Chief feld, Viewpoints Editor ial Board John Lyons, Kelly McPherson, Ben Muldrow, ey, Nikki Thorpe. iting, life ed at USC job was to simply put words next to each other. Nothing more, nothing less. Somehow the words he placed so strategically next to each other became feelings, emotions and visions that went far beyond being just "words." They became catalysts which inspired new angles which to view the world, the south and one man, Dickey himself. T~Vi/" Vcnr'a rloatVi ic an wont which will long effect USC. No longer will he be here to teach his popular poetry class and no longer can you catch a glimpse of him walking to his office in the humanities building. However, he left a bit of himself at USC. He left us his aura. He left us his history. He left us his inspiration. And, he left us his words, his phrases and his sentences. Dickey gave us stories and sagas to remember him by and for that we are indebted to him forever. lould avoid trtion issue is based on opinion. The issue of abortion raises not only various beliefs, but also voices. It is rare to hear i people calmly discussing this i emotionally-charged issue, i Religion and feminism often i play a role in shaping people's beliefs. However, no matter i where one's opinion lies, either ! pro-child or pro-life, the ; faultiness of Condon's plan i is evident. Present laws will [ prevent the prosecution from i occurring. Condon has a fine I dedication to family values. l However, he needs to find an ; alternate route that won't r lead him to a huge brick wall 1 There has to be a more effective way to support family t values than threaten to r. charge against a legal , procedure, and waste tax, payers' money in the process 1 with futile court battles. 1 Condon would be better \ off trying to defy Governor 3 Beasely and get DHEC to e keep on distributing free s condoms. Then, maybe the t problem of abortion will be 1 solved before it's necessary. Hone USC Columbia, SC s: 777-7726 Daniel Brow* sing; 7774249 Jmaom Jeflers i: 777-6482 Cenoom* Melissa Sellers I Reginna Creea Onlme Editor A**. New, Laura Day Jessica Nash Cre?dve Director Asst.Feeture, Marilyn ? Jeff Nicholson Edwards Taylor Au?. Photo kd. Advertising M?n?ger w Mark Hopkins Erik Collins Copy Desk Chief Fnculty Adviwr Adam Synder Office Manager treaty uf South Carolina and is published on Monday. Wednesday. h (he exception ol university holidays and exam periods le editor) or the author and not those of the University of South m> l] the Publisher of The Gamecock. The Department of Student ved. Letters should be 200-250 words and must include ir if a student. Letters must be personally delivered by ssell House room 333. The Gamecock reserves the right ice limitations. Names will not be withheld for any cir VIEWF r7T|3| In general Kathleen Poole, advisor to tors wh Panthers I attended the Panther's playoff game two weeks ago against the Cowboys. What Jerry Richardson, Bill Polian, and Dom Capers have established in the Carolinas in just two years is incredible. The Panthers came within one game of the Superbowl, a truly incredible feat for a second year expansion team. What is even more extraordinary is that their sister franchise, the Jacksonville Jaguars, also came within one game of going to the big dance. The fact that these two teams lost their conference championships should not take away from their accomplishments. I think that the main thing that got the Panthers so far was desire; from the management, to the players, and to the fans. In watching NFL games this year, I have noticed a pattern of lazy playing. I first noticed this in Tampa last fall break, where I went to watch my Vikings play the Buccaneers. Dr. King's Bll mrmAn/^ PVi onrllor UCXJ 111UHU V11UI1U1V1 vavv wrote "Down these mean streets walks a man who is not himself mean. He is a man of honor. Without knowing it, without showing it, and certainly, without saying it." The life of such a man was celebrated on Monday with a holiday in his honor. The contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. have been well-stated. He was a man who stood for equality among all the races; a man who believed that people should be judged "not by the color of their skin, out by the content of their character." This man truly had a dream. However, has the dream really been realized? Have things really changed for the better, especially here in South Carolina? There were mountains of civil rights legislation passed in the lt^Cs and 70's. However, this came to an J jOINTS .tit. J but l was even more upsei Dy their play. I don't know what the problem was that day, but I could tell as early as in their pre-game warm-ups that they were not ready to play. Warren Moon, the 40 year old quarterback, was not throwing good passes, and hardly anyone was catching passes thrown to them The Buccaneers played harder, and won their first game of the year. > dream st almost screeching halt with twelve ???ro nf RonnKlir'an lpaHprshiD in the 80's and the early part of this decade. It is very interesting to wonder that if Dr. King were still alive, what would he do about some of the problems facing Africa-Americans today. There is an obvious void in African-American leadership in the 1990's and with the rise in gang violence, crime and drug abuse in our communitv and an uncaring conservative Congress that is trying to reverse all the civil rights advances outlined in Kennedy's New Frontiei and Johnson's Great society, we car only imagine how he should havt reacted. America is being "southemized..1 t _ w I 'wa gM ! - (a I, the punishment USC Students for Life, commen o perfrom third term abortions, % V prove tal My father is from Minnesota, so I have been a loyal fan of Minnesota teams all my life. Now the Vikings are a team that is loaded with talent, most notably Cris Carter, who is one of the best receivers in the league. The Vikes lost this game and I was quite upset because I had driven nine hours just to watch them loose what should have been an easy game, not to take anything away from the Bucs. ?- * A 1 i > r w g \ I >( would have to fit tl ting on Attorney General Charlie ( a procedure which is not illegal ii )V lent, wort] The reason I mentioned the Vikings is that I think this lackluster approach to the game is somewhat common. Many players lose the competitive spirit when they get to the pros. It isn't a game anymore like it was in college, it is just a job to some. You're going to get paid and that is really the only thing that matters. Not all teams approach the games this way, and come January, you can tell which teams have the players who really want to win. This is the case with the Panthers. They have not got the most talented team, but they went farther than teams with more talent because of desire and hard work. That is what makes them great. It doesn't really matter how many games a team wins, but if they go out there and give 100 percent each week, then they are champions, no matter what the standings at the end of the season show. The Panthers gave it their all, and that is why they got as far as they did. The same is true of ill has to b The (JO^-era ideals created by Richard Nixon and Barry Goldwater are being realized in the form of Congressman Dick Armey (R-Texas) and House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Georgia). Using tactics such as a racial polarization, they try to scare poorer white voters into voting for them with threats that they will lose their jobs to minorities - the "angry white male" theory. Yet these men are considered role models who are poster boys for everything good and Christian in this country. Like the bumper-sticker reads, "Hatred is not a family value." 1 However, tne most tragic - consequence of the last twenty-eight ' years since Dr. King's assassination 1 has been the lack of a successor to him. 1 The men who have followed have 5 not been able to supply the same leadership. Jesse Jackson has gone from King disciple to civil rights ? nam r be crime. London's proposal to jail docn S.C. h to fans Jacksonville, New England and Green Bay. As a mere sidenote, I would like to.say how refreshing it is for there to finally be a Superbowl that does not feature either the Cowboys, the 49ers, or the Bills. I hope the Packers win because they seem to have a class organization as well as a legion of devoted fans. Anyone who sits through a three hour football game in weather that cold deserves to see their team win it every now and then. I hope Jerry Jones (the arrogant, pompous owner of the Cowboys) enjoys watching the game from his luxurious Texas abode. I am a Vikings fan at heart, but ? 3 1 ? T> a i _ /* A i am proua De a rantners ian too. The Carolinas have something very special now. It is so cool to hear John Madden or Terry Bradshaw mention our team on television. The Panthers may not be going to New Orleans, but the team and all the fans are champions. e realized leader-for-hire, charging as much as $250,000 for speaking engagements. Minister Louis Farrakhan is fighting hatred by preaching his own brand of it, with his anti-Semitic comments. Legendary political leaders like Adam Clayton Powell, Shirely Chisholm and Andrew Young have been replaced by do-nothings like J.C. Watts (R-Oklahoma). A civil inrrKfa riinrmar in ThlirOTYlH MaPqKjiII II^IIUO piVUVV/I 111 was shamefully replaced by a civil rights black-eye in that sell-out Clarence Thomas. The Supreme Court h as truly become "Uncle Thomas' Cabin." As Gil Scott-Heron puts it, "Lord knows it's winter in America." A great deal has changed, however, there is still room for more change. We cannot allow this state or this nation to digress, instead of progress. Dr. King saw the "mountaintop" and one day, we will , see it as well.