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MORE OF YOUR OPINIONS Green using paper as outlet for anger It is one thing to criticize someone and their views, but it’s another to ridicule one’s religion and their sexuality. As I read Mr. Green’s article from Sept, 23 about Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, I tried to have a sympathetic heart. I understood that the extremely insensitive and ludicrous things that Mr. Robertson and Mr. Falwell said in response to the World Trade Center bombings ticked him off; however, as I read further, I was appalled by his mockery of a prayer. I’m sorry that Mr. Green was apparently disturbed by the viewpoints held by Falwell and Robertson, but he needs to understand that they are not speaking for Christians as a whole. Even so, there was no need to CHILDISHLY mock something as holy and sacred as one’s communication with their God; however, I decided that maybe the poor guy needed to vent. But his next article in the Monday, Oct. 1, paper (“Sexual equality for men!”) just proved to me that the guy is just using this paper as an nutlet for his anger. I have friends that DO make the first move, DO pay for dates and so forth. I am one of those girls, and my five-year relationship with my boyfriend is a testimony to that. I introduced myself to him. From the beginning of our relationship, we’ve balanced the costs. I have apologized in our relationship after an argument if it is clear that it is my fault. I admit girls like this might be few, but it’s a trend that is growing. Self-indulgent guys like Mr. Green are the reason why this hasn’t caught on; girls get afraid we’ll get taken advantage of. Mr. Green, take a stand and start asking your female companions if they don’t mind doing some of the things you mentioned; if you don’t want to do that, then stop complaining. I consider Mr. Green as insensitive as the people he is angry about. I understand that everyone is entitled to his or her free speech; however, some journalists, or people who think they’re journalists, are just cruel individuals that have no regard for the feelings and beliefs of the readers who keep their paper going. There’s a way to criticize without censuring themselves, but apparently there are some that don’t have any concept of the word. ADRIANNE NEWBER SECOND-YEAR STUDENT. COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS America more than its military ability If you ever noticed, there is always a moment right after you read a Gamecock Viewpoints article in which you just want to ask the writer how they became so ignorant. Monday’s column, “If it’s war, why aren’t we fighting?” caused me to experience one of these moments. First of all, Mr. Prashaw, I think it’s a shame that you don’t think more highly of your own country. There is much more to America than our ability to bomb other countries. Yes, the U.S. has great military capabilities. What is even better is that we have intelligent leaders who know how and when to use these weapons. There could be special forces fighting right now, and we would never know it This is not going to be like any war we have ever fought before. There are no guidelines to follow. Second of all, we weren’t attacked by Afghanistan. We were attacked by a powerful and wealthy terrorist organization whose members span the globe and even reside in our own country. So as you can see, bombing innocent citizens, many of whom don’t even support the Taliban, would be a devastating and worthless effort, even if you do think the country is a little “shithole.” Third, I just wondered if you ever gave any thought to the consequences of killing Osama bin Laden. If the U.S. kills him, he becomes a martyr, which is exactly what he wants. All of his followers would have someone to fight for and a reason to hate the U.S. even more. Just one more thing: you seem eager to start World War III with the Middle East, but are you ready to have your draft number called, Mr. Prashaw? TANYA BORIS FIFTH-YEAR STUDENT, COLLEGE OF MATH AND.SCIENCE Arrogance only applies to Williams I am a 2000 graduate of the Media Arts department at USC and happened to find a few copies of the Sept. 28 edition of The Gamecock. I then stumbled across the article written by Edrin Williams. Needless to say, I was highly disappointed by Edrin’s thoughtless and overall pointless article. Edrin, I believe the term “arrogance,” which you use as a broad brush to generalize this country, applies much more appropriately to yourself. You have taken this tragedy and used it as a way to make yourself a victim once again, as I am sure you have in the past and will continue to do the rest of your life. Your arrogance is not appreciated nor is it appropriate, but that is your inalienable right, Edrin. Thank God you live in a country that will not take you out into the street and stone you for expressing a thought or idea. Think about that. Ask the women of Afghanistan if they would like similar rights. Oh, that’s right, they are not allowed to get an education, work (except in an all-female hospital) or leave the confines of their homes. The arrogance you speak of applies only to you, Edrin. BEN LANNIGAN CLASS OF 2000 Reader sees merit in Gamecock content I am writing in response to the submission placed Sept. 26 about “Paper’s content misses the mark.” First of all, I would like to say that I can see Ms. Lalonde’s point of view about The Gamecock. As college students, we should be interested in the bigger picture of our lives, i.e., the world. Especially with the events of the past weeks, namely the Sept. 11 attacks. The present is a very important time for us all and we are all living history. But there is another point of view Ms. Lalonde didn’t realize. I enjoy reading The Gamecock because it gives me a glimpse into the USC-Columbia culture; it gives me a picture of the campus. I get a “feel” for the campus every time I read the paper. I drive up to the campus every week to immerse myself in campus life as much as I can. For the smaller regional campuses, campus life isn’t as active and robust as it is in Columbia. I’m not sure if all of the regional campuses have newspapers or not. For the ones who don’t, reading The Gamecock is the only window into USC life in general and Columbia campus life specifically. I’m not saying that The Gamecock shouldn’t focus greater attention on national and/or international news, but for students like me, I enjoy reading about Columbia campus life. I put just as much importance on a national news story as a front-page story about the sleeping guards situation, for example. For me, since I will be transferring to the Columbia campus in a little more than a year, I like knowing about Where I’m going and the campus life and The Gamecock provides that for me. RAY JEFFERSON JR. SECOND-YEAR STUDENT, COLLEGE OK ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. USC SUMTER Students should protest parking Hear, hear. Mr. Green has proverbially hit the nail on the head in his column in The Gamecock on Monday, Sept. 10 (“The jackass in USC parking”). I applaud his brash instigation. I hope that it might prod our ever-so intelligent leaders to actually do something about the parking PROBLEM at USC. If you speak to alumni, they will all tell you that the parking PROBLEM isn’t simply a year 2001 PROBLEM, this PROBLEM has existed for years. But even the alumni are amazed at how the PROBLEM has ballooned into the mess it now is. I hope that Mr. Green also realizes the “jackasses” he refers to are not only jackasses — and many more words I won’t endeavor to write because they wouldn’t get published anyway—for the lack of ability to solve the parking PROBLEM. These people are jackasses because when you call their offices, they don’t even have the ■ courtesy to return your calls. They are jackasses because they don’t get the big picture, that more and more students attending higher learning facilities are older students who don’t live on campus and have to drive to school. I say to protest, we should ALL walk on the pretty new grass every chance we get; that’s what it’s there for, right, our enjoyment? We should take up the banner, young, old, student, non-student, whoever, meet and then march to the jackasses’ offices and yell, scream and really let them know how very ignorant they are. We told the General Assembly what we thought of their budget cuts and, for better or worse, made a difference. We can also make a difference here. I call on the student body and the president of the student body to move to lead and rally USC to make or these so-needed changes. We should also shame the city of Columbia for insisting on placing meters everywhere its greedy, grubbing paws can extract a dollar from a student and call on them to help alleviate this parking PROBLEM by (temporarily) bagging all meters around the school to automobiles with a USC parking emblem. JAMES W. EDWARDS JR. FOURTH-YEAR STUDENT, MOORE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Creed A couple of ideas for guest speakers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 but it also saves me a dollar at Smoothie King. This way I can donate the dollars I save to one of my favorite organizations, like Greenpeace or the AGLU. In fact, my spirits have been so moved by Carolinian Creed Week that I’ve decided to be a member of the board that organizes it next year. I’m already thinking of guest speakers we could bring to campus. Maybe we could get that girl that lives in a redwood tree to come speak to us. Ted Nugent would probably be a good guest speaker, too. VIEWPOINTS. LET EVERYONE KNOW THE SCORE. The UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA Bicentennial 4 Homecoming celebrates with Hootie and the Blowfhh f ■“I FOOTBALL, FUN, & FAVORITE SONS H RAMTJON 'sntinues... Advanced Tickets only available for USC Students, Faculty & Staff {with vaHd use I D ) $7 Available September 24th Russell House University Union Information Desk General Public $10 Available October 1st Russell House University Union Information Desk and online at etix.com (add a $2.00 surcharge) Saturday, October 20,2001 ^ State Fairgrounds Columbia, SC Gates open at 2:00 PM After October 12th, All Tickets for USC I.D. and General Public *10 A limited mender of tickets are avaiadfe; «o donl get left out of the fun and excitement as USC welcomes As favorite sons home. Festival Seating only Cor additional information, please cal foe Russel House Information Canter at 8n.777.ft16, the Ollce ol Student and Parent Programs at 003.777.7130 .or contact SoaanGraUam at Fiahco Management al 803.254.8977. The South Carolina Semester Program offers USC students the chance to gain i valuable work experience as a paid intern • with South Carolina State Government and earn six hours credit for GINT 379 and a $2,000 stipend. Parlia'pating students work as staff with the General Assembly... the Governor's office... policy-making committees... ^ ■ and key state agencies. Students also | ! attend one doss a week for lectures and discussions with top state government ® 1 officials. And students in the program earn $2,000 for the semester! > i To ineligible,students must have | Online for submitting |>iir complete application is 3 p.m. on ffday, j . October 26,2001. 1 J The South Carolina Semester Prlgram. Earning credit. Waking money. Helping set public pfclicy. § * '., v i fcc<ti I Jo apply, submit an application, current transcript, three letters of recommendation and a typed statement telling how the program fits into I your academic and career goals. Applications ore available on (be Institute for Public Service and Policy Research (Rm. 1106, Carolina Plaza), | the South Carolina Honors College office (Rm. 201, Harper College), and the Deportment of Government and International Studies office (Rm. | 349, Gambrell Holl), or by-contacting Everose Alexander at 803-777-1473 or olexairdenSiopa.sc.edu.