Newspaper Page Text
Page 4
Thr Red and Black
Thursday, January 17. IMS
THE RED AND BLACK
Established 1893 — Incorporated 1980
Harry Montevideo, General Manager
Clarice Makemson, Editor-in-chief
James Kendley, Managing Editor
K\
I I ai •*! CM a
An <ndrprniirnl ituilenI newipoprr n*d affiliated »
Opinion
Covert discrimination still among us
Peace mongers
As the world waits for the announcement of when and where the
Soviet Union and the United States will talk about arms reduction,
Belgium has gained its own small triumph
Belgium, one of several European countries in which President
Reagan wants to deploy cruise missiles, is considering refusing to
accept America’s weapoas Belgian Prime Minister Wilfried
Martens has been told that Belgium must stick to a March
schedule of deployment or he will harm the upcoming arms talks
He would, in effect, crush Soviet incentive to bargain fairly,
President Reagan told him.
Poppycock We support Martens' brave stance against a pushy
American president. In fact, we urge Martens to let the March
deadline pass If he refuses to accept the missiles and if the
Belgian people do not want the missiles, then nothing else can be
done. President Reagan cannot hold Belgium hostage and deploy
the 48 cruise missiles anyway
Fourteen Democratic members of the House seem to agree
They said, “We now ask that you (Martens) seriously consider
formally extending this pause during the course of the (U.S.-
Soviet) negotiations to be undertaken as a result of the Geneva
meetings It is our conviction that all nations have a constructive
role to play in the collective effort to halt the danger and evil of the
arms race, not as passive bystanders or subservient surrogates,
but as active advocates and participants in the process."
Deployment of nuclear weapons is not an American-Soviet
problem It is a worldwide problem If Belgium refuses the
missiles, it is not doing so because it hates America. It instead
would prove to the world that it hates war, fears a nuclear winter
and hopes for peace. Continuous infiltration of nuclear warheads
does not make the world a safer place, it makes it a scarier one
In a predominately white school in Atlanta Tuesday
the idea of segregation became all too real for some
sixth, seventh and eighth graders
At Sandy Springs Middle School about 75 students
volunteered to participate in an experiment on the
birthday of Rev Dr Martin Luther King, Jr In the
experiment they wore white arm bands that marked
them as YOOUPS i YOu are a member of the grOL'P>
— a fictitious race invented by Teacher David
Rector
The YOOUPs were supposed to use only segregated
bathrooms, water fountains and cafeteria tables
They were served last at lunchtime and forced to sit
in the back of the classroom
For students too young to understand or remember
segregation, it was more than an educational ex
perience It was a chance to see first hand how life
was before Dr King It was a chance to feel the fears,
disappointments and sufferings of blacks. Jews and
other persecuted minorities Life for the YOOUPS of
Sandy Springs Middle School was not fun Tuesday
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Mr
Rector said the students “became quieter as if they
wanted to be less noticable
"They were scared,” he said "They began to ask
more questions about the problem of being physically
hurt or verbally abused."
Small wonder The students were experiencing
real-life segregation But at the end of the day they
got to take their white arm bands off and re-enter the
easy, happy world of white childhood They got to
ride the school bus back with their white classmates
and come home to mom in a middle-to upper middle-
class neighborhood near Sandy Springs
Undoubtedly the YOOUPS experiences will be
forgotten The fear of persecution, the humiliation of
being singled-out and the frustration of being looked
dow n on will fade into pleasant childhood memories
But the blacks and Jews of the 19th and 20th cen-
Clarice Makemson
If minorities are to overcome,
they must overcome the subtle
prejudices, subdued dislike and
covert discrimination
tunes are not permitted such luxury Life was and
always shall be hell for them
Sad as this may sound, blacks and whites will never
stand together side by side unless drastic changes are
made Too many blacks hold bitterness and anger in
their hearts, and too many whites are unwilling to try
to love
It's only been 20 years since the Civil Rights Act of
1964 And although the segregated water fountains
are gone and the signs saying "no coloreds" in shop
windows have vanished, a hard, unloving bitterness
still grows iri the hearts of many whites and blacks
Laws can force nondiscrimination, equal treatment
and fairness in all public practices, but laws cannot
crack the wall of injustice that lives inside many men
and women
Until every man and woman, every Jew, every
white and every black person fully has accepted each
other, fully understands the heritage, culture and
ethnic backgrounds of each other, the world's
Vanessa Williams needs to renounce sins to Jesus Christ
TO TIIK EDITOR:
I must confess I have sinned I
looked at the nude photos of Vanessa
When Penthouse published those
pictures from her obscure past.
Vanessa Williams lo6t her Miss
America crown That despicable worm
of a photographer knew exactly what he
was doing In the central fold-oul. he
had her pose bound in handcuffs and
leather straps
The symbolism is clear The
photographer knew that Vanessa was a
person of quality, who would have a
successful life someday He also knew
that by revealing her indiscretion at the
proper time, he could destroy anything
that she might become He was binding
her soul forever
Models used by pornographers are
put through progressive stages of
degradation and bondage Users of
pornography become addicted,
requiring ever more extreme pos€»s to
satisfy their lusts The prices rise ex
ponenttally Vanessa s problems are
only beginning, Satan intends to exploit
her further, and eventually to possess
her completely
Even light users of pornography
become twisted Until our sexual values
an* in order, our lives cannot be set
right Billy Graham says that
Americans will never fall for Com
munism. but pornography may destroy
us
Dr Graham is naive about Com
munism (It is a movement of an in-
\\
Finally, a sensible music seminal 4
minorities never shall overcome
It is a cheated hand that Mother Nature has dealt
minorities Now. with laws to protect them, they
must face the scariest persecution of all: private,
subtle persecution They must stand in line, waiting
for a sales clerk to help them, and then watch as they
are subtely passed over for a fat white man They
must stand the suspicious eyes of a security officer
who believes their race makes them more likely to
commit a crime And they must feel the subtle hatred
of other adults; they must claw harder than most to
make their way to the top
The laws protect their pride, but they do not stop
the bigotry and private injustice committed every
day in every city across America
If minorities are to overcome, they must overcome
the subtle prejudices, subdued dislike and covert
discrimination
Dr King's dream never can become a reality if our
children are raised on the same antiquated practices
of our parents Each one of us must search to un-"
derstand why we discriminate, and then we must put
it behind us
Together, we must teach our children to love every
person based on his or her own merit, not on his or her -
color sex, race or creed
In their hearts, our children must harbor no covert
hatred, no bitterness, no misunderstandings In their
souls, they must truly feel for their fellow man
For our generation il is too late Too much
animosity already exists Too much racial bigotry
floods our minds and hearts But for our unborn
'■hildren, it is not too late Our generation is
responsible for the ideas of many generations to
come If we don’t put our own private prejudices
aside, we never shall overcome
Clarice Makemson is the editor-in-chie/ of The Red
and Black
tellectual minority who rule, not by
persuasion, but by terror I He is right
about pornography, however Lenin
said, "The decadent West will fall into
our hands like an overripe fruit "
Sex is a primordial force that
requires the sanctification of marriage
Then it becomes an expression of love
between husband and wife, leading to a
deep spiritual union symbolic of the
union between Christ and the church If
used in any other context, sex creates
mental confusion and emotional
destruction
Then there are the problems of
pregnancy and venereal disease
Sexual permissiveness not only ruins
lives, it destroys the very fabric of
society
Our teenagers are being tempted
beyond what they can bear Well did the
apostle write, “Flee youthful lusts; but
follow righteousness, faith, love, peace
with them that call on the Lord out of a
pure heart " (11 Tim 2 22i
Jesus Christ can set Vanessa
Williams free, so that no force in
heaven, earth or hell can use her
against her will But she must come to
Jesus, renouncing all sexual sin The
choice is up to her
lluPRKF. MIKIHK
Dublin, (ia.
TOTIIE EDITOR
I noticed today the advertisements
for another seminar on rock n roll
music If this is the same one I saw
recently in Russell Hall <1 think it is) I
would like to see a feature story done on
the seminar's contents
This is the only presentation I have
seen that even came close to making
sense I hope the forthcoming seminar
doesn't spend 45 minutes trying to
prove that through some sinister plot of
the Devil himself, messages are
recorded backwards to lure student*;*
away from studies and plans for thsff
future
Personally, I don't care that much for
rock n’ roll music, but it is around me
everyday. I suggest that everyone see ari
presentation similar to the one I saw R
found it very enlightening Classical
music has appealed to me much more^ 1
after hearing the material exposed in
seminars such as these
BRADY C LARK
Departments
Editorial: $43-1809
Ck»/Capv Frfitu’ Andy Smith
Front Pa«* l apt Editor Todd Holcomb
Copy Editori l^jn Glenn. Tommy Stmt
Nows Editor Jsmnr Kaucher
Editorial Pm*o Editor Rutf) Carl mil!
Sporta Editor (teanlioonry
Entertainment Editor Jim TTomaynr
I'GA Today Coordinator Tracey Brown
Etwtafropnv Editor KimStmon
Amocmi* Newt Editor* J«|m Albert Tommy
Tmnhnaon
A Mutant Sporta Editor Ondy F.ngluh
Aaaiatuni Pfcoto Editor Joe Schwartz
Senior Reporter, Tami Dettnaa Mike Kelley
Chna McCarter Mary Mitchell Beth (Keeton
Beth Pate Stuaimr Wood
Librarian Tracey Brown
Advertising: 543-1791
Adverliainf Director Bill VSuigaat
Advertiam* Sole* Manage* l.iva Earle
Notional Advertiain* Repreaenloli ve Ken Hollia
Advertuina Repreientollv e« Pai Agnus
Michael Hicknell. Paige Dkvtt. Sheila Davu.
Mart Dlugnaima Kimherl) Hagler Start
Hayward. Kathy Itollia Ellen Kerr Steve St
Haymond. Sandy Suminaki Tammy Timm.
Mmd> Waddell
Production Manage* Jeff Janes
Production Stuff Nanci Bateman. Brenda
Cleveland. Johnna Coleman Tenths Dean Ruth
Elrod. Diana Kindlet Martpat Findley Carol
Herring Mary EUen LaRorhelW. Jpsniu,*.*
Marlar Bonnie Worthy
Contributions
IKK KEl* AND BLACK tI'SPS tttl 3M0 i* publtahrd Tweaday thr.*«h Erftay with thr eirefNM*
of holiday > and examination prnoda - by Thr Red and Black Puhtuhing Company Inc a non profit
campy* newspaper not affiliated with The l niventty of Georgia 10 North Jarkvon St Athrrw Georgia
mn Second vlaws poatage paid at A then* Georgia Suharnplion rate is 04 per y«ar POSTMASTER
Sewd abdreaa change* to IB North Jackson Street Athena Georgia MCI
TV Red and Black welcome* tetter* to the editor and pnnU them a* ipace permit* Due to space
hmUatMna and legal conaidrratiana all letter* are subject to standard editing far librlnus material ami
length Shan letter* are preferred To V tOnaidered lor publication, letter* must V typed double
spaced an a tt space line They must inriudr thr name address and telephone number at the writer
Pkaaar me hide student rlaaaaflcalMn and mayor or appropriate identification t prufcaanr Imon officer
Mr » We can omit your name m print for a y abd reason on request
Letter* should natexcead l 1 * double-spaced typewritten pages
TV Red and Black also prints guest rdtirul columns under tV same ronddtone that apply to letter*
to the editor Columns should not exceed four doublewpaced typewritten page*
Cshuns and letter* yhould V addressed TO THE EDITOR. TV Red and Black 10 N Jackson St
Athena GA MWl Letter* can aha V delivered to the sditonal office at tV above address, or deposited
M any of TV Red sad Black s classified ad base* an campus
Opmsona expressed .n TV Red and Black other than unsigned editorials are the opinions of tV
•nter* of signed cohurns or cartoons and are aal nacesaanh thcae of TV Red and Black Phbhshmg
0».tar
TV entire contents of TV Red and Black are ( opyr^ht 1 ttt by TV Red and Black Publishing Os.
tar All rights rcaervwd Reprints by pormusion of the ednor*
Inquiries concerning article* that have appeared « TV Bed and Black should ba made at the edUanal
offices < ttt • &4> Ittt Inquiries about advertising should be made at t V businrsagtfice ttt SO 17*
Vigilantism: as American as liberty
Perhaps il is a little soon to be thinking about 1985’s
"Man of the Year,” but I think the early favorite
could very well be Bernhard Goetz This self-
employed electronics engineer, subway rider and
marksman has generated a great deal of publicity by
bringing to our attention a great problem in this
country - crime in the streets and the safety of the
average citizen Through his act, he has captured the
consciousness and imagination and. to some degree,
the respect of the American people
"Respect!" some people may incredulously cry.
"How can we respect him? He's a vigilante!"
One must remember, in the face of such a
passionate tantrum, a very important point; it is not
bad or w rong or criminal to be a vigilante If the term
“vigilante" has come to carry the connotation of
"criminal," then we have to thank ti.e. blame)
people who speak without knowledge of the words
they use — in short and in general, we can blame the
incompetent, unlearned media and the equally in
competent, unlearned, and also naive American
public, neither of whom seem to understand its own
language
Even New York's Mayor Ed Koch demonstrated
his meompetency and ignorance of the language
i which, of course, is to be expected of a politician) by
declaring. “This city will not tolerate vigilantism."
New York's Governor Mario Cuomo also displayed
his ignorance when he said that the Guardian Angels,
whom he supports, are not vigilantes if these people
knew what the word actually meant, maybe they
wouldn't make such mistakes
The term vigilante is derived from vigilant, which
means "on the alert, watchful." and it implies a
watchfulness that leads to protection Therefore, a
vigilante is one who is watchful and protective He is
not a psychopath, not a terrorist, not a criminal
Even the vigilante committees of the American
frontier were not lawless or criminal Although there
was the danger 'often realized) that the committees
could degenerate into mob rule, they were usually < as
the Encyclopedia Americana reports) "justified by-
circumstances" and “moderate and orderly in their
application of force."
Mayor Koch, in another statement about the Goetz
case, tned to promote the notion that vigilantism was
a product of the Wild West tjul has no place in a
civilized society However, there is a humongous flaw
in his logic: New York City is far from a civilized
society and is in fact much closer to the Old West
Although the city is east of the Mississippi, it has a
major characteristic of the frontier in that there are
not enough law officers to police the territory and to
protect the populace
The vigilante committees of the West were formed,
notes the encyiopedia. when "established authorities
seemed unable to cope with lawlessness and disor
der." and such is the case in New York and probably
all other large cities. The police are not totally
ineffective, but they are outnumbered by the
criminals, so it is only to be expected that they cannot
cope with ail the crime and all the criminals.
It was this situation that gave rise to the Guardian
Angels, who are indeed vigilantes, despite Gov.
Cuomo't contention to the contrary They are, in fact.
the embodiment of what proper vigilantes should be ..
— they do not carry weapons, but they do watch,
protect, make citizen's arrests, and then im
mediately turn the transgressor over to the
authorities for proper detention, sentencing, and
punishment
Such action should be the practice of all Americans
— we should all be on the alert to help others, and in
turn, we will be helped by everyone else Such action
is not just common courtesy but is actually the
responsibility that accompanies freedom.
Many people also misinterpret the phrase "taking
the law into one's own hands" — even the judge who
first presided over Goetz used it incorrectly The
phrase does not mean legislating new laws or
pronouncing and executing sentences, instead, it
merely means enforcing the laws that have already
been enacted by properly elected representatives and
properly appointed judges
Since laws are made by the people and for the
people, taking the law into one's own hands is an
unquestionable right of the people The law is the
property of each individual, and so each has the right
to hold it in his hands Of course, when it's in his
hands, he must watch it and protect it — he must be
vigilant.
Although Bernhard Goetz is guilty of carrying a '
weapon without a permit, no one yet can say whether <
he is innocent or guilty of wrongfully shooting four
teenagers Maybe he did act without reasonable *
provocation, but maybe if he had waited for more
provocation, a sharpened screwdriver jammed under
hu ribs would have prevented him from acting at all '
Nevertheless, no matter how the courts decide his 1
case, there is no guilt for him — or for any other
American — in being a vigilante is
Brian Jarvis is a teaching assistant in the English ]
department