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_ VIEWPOINTS . TH AMECOCK V EDITORIAL BOARD VX_ Editor Sports Editor MICHAEL LaFORGIA JONATHAN HILLYARD News Editor Viewpoints Editor STEPHEN FASTENAU BRINOY McNAIR Asst. News Editor Copy Desk Chief JUSTIN CHAPURA STEVEN VAN HAREN The Mix Editor Design Director ALEXIS ARNONE CHAS MCCARTHY IN OUR OPINION FDA’s political move hurts women’s rights We’re upset that the Food and Drug Administration reportedly went to such extraordinary lengths to keep the morning after pill off the shelves. If approved, Plan B, the pill women can take after sex to avoid unwanted pregnancy, would have been available over the counter, like Tylenol or Advil. But the agency has postponed approval indef initely. Conservatives say Plan B might lead young people to behave more promiscuously because they know they’ll have a failsafe plan. High-ranking Democrats are calling the FDA’s decision not to approve the morning after pill a political move that affects women’s health, and the evidence suggests that it was. FDA heads played a larger role than usual in the decision not to approve the pill, the Government Accountability Office found. Also, The New York Times reported on Tuesday, the FDA decided to ignore its scientific review staff’s recommendation, and that of an independent com mittee — a move it’s never made before. While agency officials are denying many of the government investigators’ findings, a cloud of suspicion hangs over the decision now. Even though people can still get the pill on a prescription basis, it should be more readily available. Here’s a scenario for conservative opponents: your sister (or daughter or girlfriend) gets raped at a party. She’s too ashamed to tell you, or any of her friends, for that matter, because she knows where you stand on these things. She doesn’t know where to turn, so she lets it go and gets pregnant. Even if you find out a few days later, it’s too late. Your only option is an abortion. These things happen everyday. Will most of the people who use the morning after pill do so for this situation? No. But to deny those women who earnestly need the pill but are too poor — or uneducated, or embarrassed, or whatever — is to abolish free speech to stop Internet pornography. Even though people can get the pill on a prescription basis, it should be more readily available. IT’S VOUR RIGHT Exercise your right to voice your opinion. Create message boards at urunv. dailygamecock. com or send letters to the editor to gamecockopinions@gwm.sc. edu ■■wmmm m CORRECTIONS If you see an error in todays paper, we want to know. E-mail us at gamecockopinions@gwm.sc.edu. ABOUT THE GAMECOCK Editor MICHAEL LaFORGIA Design Director chas McCarthy Copy Desk Chief STEVEN VAN HAREN News Editor STEPHEN FASTENAU Asst. News Editor JUSTIN CHAPURA Viewpoints Editor BRINDY McNAIR The Mix Editor ALEXIS ARNONE Sports Editor JONATHAN HILLYARD Asst. Sports Editor ALEX RILEY Photo Editor NICK ESARES Sports Photo Editor KATIE KIRKLAND Pare Designers MIKE CONWAY, JESSICA ANN NIELSEN, MEGAN SINCLAIR Graphic Designer LAURA-JOYCE GOUGH Copy Editors CHELSEA HADAWAY, KRISTY LAU8E, KATIE THOMPSON, JAMISON TINSLEY LIZ WHITE Online Editor RYAN SIMMONS Creative Services JOSEPH DANNELLY, LAURA-JOYCE GOUGH, MARGARET LAW, MEGHAN WHITMAN STUDENT MEDIA Director SCOTT LINDENBERG Faculty Adviser ERIK COLLINS Creative Director SUSAN KING Business Manager CAROLYN GRIFFIN Advertising Manager SARAH SCARBOROUGH Classified Manager SHERRY F. HOLMES Production Manager C, NEIL SCOTT Advertising Staff BREANNA EVANS, RYAN GORMAN, KATIE CUPPIA, APRYL ALEXANDER, MARY RACHEL FREEMAN, MCKENZIE WELSH, DEIDRE MERRICK THE GAMECOCK is the editorially independent student newspaper of the University of South Carolina. It is published Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the fall and spring semesters and nine times during the summer, 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. The Board of Student Publications and Communications is the publisher o/THE GAMECOCK. The Department of Student Media is the newspaper's parent organization. THE GAMECOCK is supported in part by student-activity fees. One free copy per reader. Additional copies may be purchased for Si each from the Department of Student Media. TO PLACE AN AD The Gamecock 1400 Greene St. Columbia. S.C. 29208 Advertising: 777-3888 Classified: 777-1184 Fax: 777-6482 ♦ t CONTACT INFORMATION Offices on third floor of the Russell House. The Editor’s office hours are Monday and Wednesday from 1-3 p.m. Editor: gamecockeditorQgwm.se. edu News: gamecocknewsQgwm.sc.edu Viewpoints: gamecockopinionsQgwm.sc.edu The Mix: gamecockfeaturesQgwm.sc.edu Sports: gamecocksportsQgwm. sc. edu Public Affairs: gamecockPRQyahoo.com Online: www.dailygamecock.com Newsroom: 777-7726; Sports: 777-7182 Editor’s Office: 777-3914 Bush’s lies led to bloodshed in Middle East ' With more than 2,000 U.S. servicemen killed, it’s time to rethink war As I write this viewpoint, I am saddened by the fact that more than 2,000 U.S. soldiers have lost their lives to the war in Iraq. What is worse is that while more are destined to either die or become injured, our president has been plagued with scandal after scandal and no one seems to be asking any questions. Furthermore, as his approval ratings decline, he seems to find it perfectly acceptable to take vacation after vacation. Having known so many people to serve in the war, I am struggling with our reason to be there. I do not believe all soldiers serving in Iraq are willing to die for this war. Some want their college loans paid off. Others join because of the benefits. Some might have joined because of a lack of anything better to do as a result of this terrible economy. Whatever the reason, I wonder how many of the thousand plus young men and women who have died in this war joined with the intent to lay their lives down for this so called war against terror. When are we going to stop using the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks as a justification for the invasion of Iraq? In their findings, the 9/11 Commission has stated, “We now know that these attacks were carried out • by various groups of Fourth-year Islamist interdisciplinary . „ studies student extremists. Simply stated, our president lied. He actually is no different than President Clinton (unless you consider the fact that President Bush’s lies have so far cost this country the lives of more than a thousand soldiers.) There were no weapons of mass destruction. If in fact, we did find that there was a, presumed threat from Iraq, then why couldn’t our president just say that? Why did he have to exploit the grief, sympathy and patriotism of the American people to declare war on Iraq? Finally, since when has this country been so hell-bent on fighting terrorism? I love this country, but we can’t be blind to the fact that the cornerstone of this country hinges on acts of terrorism. How else can we describe the treatment of Native Americans by colonists and early government? Can we justify the repeated incarceration arid mistrust of Japanese Americans during World War II? What about the treatment of African Americans throughout the history of this country? What about the police brutality cases that don’t seem to go away? When did the United States ever wage war on any of these perpetrators? In many cases, the government has been the perpetrator. In most other cases, the government supported, looked away or just plain failed to punish and prevent these forms of terrorism. Why should we support relief efforts for cities that we bombed in the name of progress? Why should we build cities in other countries when our own cities are slowly dying? Why should we spend millions of dollars to feed people in another country when millions of our own children go to bed hungry and homeless every evening? I know that at this point in time, there is no logical or humane way that America can back out of this war we have started in Iraq. I believe that as a nation, it is past time for us to wake up. and take care of ourselves. There are so many injustices in our own country that need to be handled. No one else is going to take care of us like we take care of everyone else. When will we learn? I just love spiffin' on the crock ofthe bay I’m watchin’ good sense roll away as San Fran bans sale of firearms In case you missed it, San Francisco has gone the way of the wuss. Voters one week ago approved a ballot measure banning the manufacture and sale of firearms in the city. The measure' also bans residents from keeping handguns in their homes. Frisco, with this move, has confirmed its own stereotype: hippie heaven, where love, incense and psychedelic butterflies are expected to stop a late-night intruder from killing your family. The measure is called Proposition H. Thank God. My hemorrhoids are a-flamin. Forget that this measure flies in the face of the Second Amendment. Forget that this measure flies in the free of California state law. Forget that this measure will do nothing to curb the city’s murder rate, which is the reason people got riled up in the first place. This is about manhood and common sense. How can these people, especially men, look at themselves in the mirror? They’ve legislatively castrated themselves. I only understand the fra that a crowded bay city has almost no places to shoot www.dailyga □ skeet, so men haven’t had the chance to feel the coolly deadly power of a shotgun STEUEn nestled in their unnHARcn arms. Oh baby. Fourth-year The National mechanical Rifle Association engineering is suing. Great. student Fine. Whatever. But their fear that this measure could set a precedent for other cities to follow suit is, I think, presumptuous. I have to believe that no other American city could be so radically wimpy. Right? Anyone? While San Francisco is brimming with people who couldn’t muster up the strength to fire a capgun, there has to be some small resistance group preparing a hefty protest. Shop owners will be out of jobs. Law abiding citizens will be forced to turn in their handguns by April. My advice: Let them know you’re opposed to this ridiculous measure, but before April even gets here, I think all this crap will be struck down or rescinded or something. Why? Because it’s an emotional measure. It was decided in emotion, thinking that shutting down Billy’s Gun Depot will help curb gun-related deaths. I’m glad that shutting down gun stores will stop people mecock.com from, I don’t know, bringing guns into the city. I’m glad that when a serial killer sneaks into your dining room, you can spend a few minutes tamping powder into a 5-foot musket rather than dispatching the scum with a quick headshot. “If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some armor in your lair.” Voting for any person or piece of legislation is partially emotional, but this measure wasn’t attacking the root of the problem — it was attacking the easiest symbol of the problem in the easiest way. Too bad “easy” is so unconstitutional that this loony proposal will be shot down like Gandhi at an NRA convention. Almost no one else in this country would’ve taken such a knee-jerk course of action. It was unconstitutional and overblown and will ultimately prove useless. Now, of course, the fine people of San Francisco voted for this measure, so, by law, I and everyone else who struts into town will have to obey it. I respect their choice ... wait, no I don’t. I respect that they made a choice (God bless the all powerful vote). Don’t worry, you gun-toting patriots — this measure is so insane and fruity that it has to be tossed. Until then, lovingly brandish your .44 Magnums at the dinner table. Far out. £ IN YOUR OPINION Red Cross’ language biased toward gays This week sees the annual return of the Carolina/Clemson Blood Drive sponsored by the American Red Cross. For weeks now, student leaders have visited various student organizations and posted flyers detailing the dire need for blood in the state of South Carolina and 'encouraging everyone to donate. And I encourage you all to do so as well. However, first of all, we need to make sure that you’re safe to the rest of us. Do you have HIV? Because if so, you can’t donate, plain and simple. Have you had gonorrhea? Don’t worry about it! Syphilis? No problem! Herpes, chlamydia AND genital warts? Even better! Come on down and donate! Are you man who has had sex with a man since 1977, even once? NO WAY! Get away, you freak of nature! We don’t even care if you’ve never tested positive for a sexually transmitted infection or had a cold in your life — you’re still a weird pervert that has no business trying to save someone’s life. After all, you’re the same as a dependent intravenous drug user and a prostitute. You say you’ve only had sex once with a loving partner and you were mutually monogamous? Whatever! We all know you people love to have orgies of unprotected sex every weeknight — not to mention the fact that it doesn’t matter how you had sex, just the fact that you’re two men gives you AIDS, right? Inis is the stance that the American Red Cross has taken in previous years, and it’s time to stop. If they are honestly worried about the spread of STIs, they don’t need to simply ask if you’re a man who’s had sex with another man, but rather if you’ve had anal sex since 1977. It doesn’t matter who you are — it’s your behaviors that matter. If you’re going to block out a class of people who are “more risky” in terms of having sexually transmitted infections, then why not say that no gay men, no African Americans and no Hispanics can donate? After all, across the board we see a higher prevalence of sexually transmitted infection among minority populations. While we’re at it, why not set a minimum income level to donate? HIV seroprevalence drops dramatically with an increase in income. The reason we don’t? Because we see it as unconscionable to discriminate against someone on the basis of their income or race. Sexual orientation? That’s still fair game as far as the Red Cross is concerned. We need blood in this state and across the country — so stop discriminating based on superficial factors and try to solve the shortage. Please go out and support the blood drive this week. It’s an important cause, and there are many who are unable to support it simply because of who they love. STEVEN BYRD Fourth-year political science and anthropology student Submission Policy Letters to the editor should be less than 300 words and include name, phone number, professional title or year and major, if a student. E-mail letters to gamecocKopimons@gwm.sc.edu. Letters will be edited. Anonymous letters will not be published. Call the newsroom at 777-7726 for more information.