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Mormon column unworthy topic To the editor: In a time when U.S. embassies are being attacked by world terrorists, natural disasters are plaguing us left and right, and there are wars in Africa and Europe; some of us are still strug gling to find something to report on. Mr. Johnson's column a few days ago has introduced us to the erroneous and peijudiciary style of literature we find in the daily tabloids. Do we as an highly intelligent and educated student body want to be subjected to this form of journalism? I think not. Mr. Johnson wrote to us about the issue of polygamy, which he says is a major problem throughout the United States, but the only state where it really is a problem is Utah. I believe you see how confusing he writes already. He explains that polygamy in Utah was revived when the Utah Jazz made it to the NBA Finals this year. Wait! He gets better. He says that Joseph Smith founded a religion involving chickens, and ear wax, traveled west to found Utah, and organized the Mormons there. He then states that Joseph Smith concocted polygamy due to the absence of chickens and ear wax. Mr. Johnson then I 1 }:M' 111 iimm mmm Sfarfwe J Gamecd I ! I j I l|J . Gamecock ncwsrxx cumstance. shares with us his sexual fantasies of polygamy and his selfishness as a lonely bachelor in the depths of despair because he cannot attract women. As an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormons), I'm still trying to make the connection between Mormons, chickens, earwax, and Joseph Smith. Joseph bmitn was the lirst prophet ot The Church of Jesus Christ in these latterdays. Because of persecution of their religion and the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith in Illinois, the saints fled west in search of a new home led by Brigham Young who was the successing prophet. There in Utah, polygamy was practiced as a commandment from God, until 1890 when Wilford Woodruff announced that plural marriages were no longer permitted, for it was forbidden by the law of the land. Mormons subject themselves to the laws of the world's governments. If Mr. Johnson would have taken the time last year to read intelligible articles and view the several television documentaries of the sesquicentennial anniversary of the arrival of the Mormon pioneers into Salt Lake Valley, we never would have had to be-subjected to such vulgar and unworthy editorial rnqn ) d: rWu -for wou r\i J J (hwtjlhl excluding title, tax and license fee. '99 Mi :k will try to print all letters received. Letters should be 250-300 words an m in Russell House room 333 E-mail letters must include the author s tele garbage. I guess you can do that when you're the Viewpoints Editor. Rhett Keller International Studies Junior Column disregards journalistic ethics To the editor, In regard to Kurt Johnson's article on media's responsibilities, or lack thereof, I have to ask if Johnson understands the idea of ethics, decency and slandering in the media. Not only does he excuse the continual wrongdo ings of the media by saying that everyone should forgive and forget (Hey, didn't Clinton say that?), but he compares journalists to gods, some elite club that is untouchable. Wake up people. Journalism does not save lives or teach people how to learn or walk. Nowadays the media is exploiting people's lives, and we should just excuse that because people make mistakes? We should just let our rulers run amuck, break the law and then let them be (Oh, they already do). I am shocked that he describes the job, which is an enormous responsibility, as a frivolous, obsequious po jin Bflk V ?g?? Wl m b" UWlcij dw at youf (oca( f ,r .A* yowwt Uv & l^erwry \ ? 1999cougar.com / ercury Cougar V-6 with V-6 Sport Group IV id must include full name, professional title or year and major if a .student. Hand phone number The Gamecock reserves the right to edit all letter for style, po&sibl sition that over-exploits because of the S public. o It is the responsibility (a ghastly il mature idea) of the journalist to know e .their limitations and respect the pri- " vacy of others when getting the scoop, o I suggest that Johnson talk to the dean of the College of Journalism and t Mass Communications about the "mis- ft construement of media". In the mean- n time please let other respectable jour- c nalists be. ti b Margeurite Higgins o Journalism Freshman Media column lacks ?, satirical meaning I c Tn tVio oHitnr* c Jk W VUV VVUVV1 u Upon reading the August 31 issue b of the Gamecock, I couldn't help but no- j( tice Mr. Johnson's article, which stuck out like a festering sore. I At first I thought Mr Johnson's sub- s mission to the Gamecock was intend- (; ed to be satirical. If it was, I suggest h that Mr. Johnson be forced to read De- n foe's " The Shortest Way With Dis- v senters" and Swift's "A Modest Pro- b posal." He is then to write an essay which compares the two essays, and show why \yv \AUJ(A\ jifjped. at *17 \\e((Mj Aealef. ?1 1SRP $17,870 excluding title, tax and license I written letters must be personally delivered by the author to The e libel or space limitations Names will not be withheld for any cirIwift's work was a more successful use f satire, as well as put his picture on t. This should be the essay to end all ssays, since Mr. Johnson just happens ...to write or look better than the rest f you..." (The "you" translates into "us"). Then I thought, "What if he isn't tying to be satirical?" If that is the case, Ir Johnson is just plain wrong. Jourtalists should be little automatons that ollect information and then distribute be facts they have managed to acquire o the public, who will come to their wn conclusion on the matter. Today however, journalists seem bsessed with including their own opin)ns where they aren't wanted and fousing on stories which have little imact on our personal lives, such as where wiii;? ?a c;? Mfez **' ^ v ; .v A i a lilllUll pUU5 111& VV LLLicUll cUlvl U1C Oillipon trial. What we have today seems to e a wave of some new kind of yellow )urnalism. As far as journalists deriding what think, John Milton, Jack Kerouac, the urgeon general and Pee-Wee Herman fes, the convicted masturbator) each ave affected my thought processes lore than all the journalists whose fork I've ever read or listened to comined. Michael DiPresso English % SfJrfl H"i " (D8&WW& "*f*"'" -*- "*~ ,#70 , f Fee. See dealer for their price. Scandal plagues like gossip RYAN VESCHIO guest columnist Lunchroom gossip has culminated in a nasty food fight. For the past seven months, the nation has been fixed to the Independent Council Investigation of an alleged presidential affair. The president's life has been open to public judgement. "Even presidents have private lives," Clinton said during his address to the nation from the White House Map Room, where he had testified earlier to the grand jury. Remember back to the days in the school cafeteria when lunchtime talk consisted of who was with whom, or who got in a fight earlier that day? No one liked to be talked about. It was fun to join in until you were the joke. In the end, it led to a big fight, a trip to the principal and an hour in detention. All you learned in the end was that the principal was a jerk and the other kid always got off easy. The entire investigation into this affair belongs in an elementary school cafeteria. President Clinton and Kenneth Starr sit at opposite tables, flinging "mystery meat" at each other. Surrounding them are the American people, sitting around and watching without doing anything about it. On top of everyone else, the Media serves as the trouble-making kid in every class. Certain media outlets dedicate hour shows everyday and sections in newspapers to the investigation. The only thing they have done is fueled the fire. Another thing the media has done is made Monica Lewinsky into the most desirable woman in the White House. I don't blame the president for keeping his mouth shut about having an "inproper relationship" with the hideous monster that is Lewinsky. Say for instance Clinton was "inproper" with Cindy Crawford. Would he have kept a tight mouth or broadcasted it to the world? The question America needs to ask is who will play the role of the big, fat woman with a hairy boil who administered justice in the lunchroom everyday. Maybe Hillary Clinton, maybe Janet Reno, maybe even Roseanne. When the food started flying, she started whipping. I remember one time back in grade school flinging some vanilla pudding at some guy who said I kissed this one really ugly girl. Well, all the pudding Starr has shot only grayed the president's hair. Attempt to trade places with the president. Try to sit at the table while everyone casts judgement upon your every action. On top of the responsibility of running the nation, he has been forced to deal with the investigation in the public spotlight. People in power realize they are on pedestals for the world to view. However, they do not give up the right to a private life. The president summed it up best by saying" This matter is between me, the two people I love most - my wife and our daughter - and our God." The president finally came out and admitted the wrongdoing which people have suspected for a while. He should have been more forthcoming in his admittance to wrongdoing than he was. I agree with his desire for this to remain a private matter, but all adults have to be fiilly accountable for what they did or failed to do. At no time, though, did his refusal to volunteer information ever compromise the integrity of the presidency or the United States government. Senators and special investigators flying around on their broomsticks tried to take this matter further than it needed to go. Someone please write me if they can find a correlation between investigations of allegedly illegal land dealings and an affair. The American nuhlie needs fr> crn on with their lives and allow people personally involved in this ordeal to vork things out. Just eat your Slop>y Joe and try not to make a mess. Do you like to draw? Then we need yew. Bring us an editorial cartoon or call 777 7726. Put your talent to good use. The Gamecock. Take our word