j lEiittnnal
PAGE TWO THE CLARION December 11, 1970
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Today's Version Of Christmas
Is Lacking Something—Meaning
In just two short weeks from today, Christmas
1970 will be hero. As the years go by, it ^ems,
Christmas gradually becomes less a celebration of
Christ’s birth and more a commercialized ritual of
little real meaning.
And indeed, in today’s society, it is easy to see
that many of the world’s inhabitants have little rea
son to celebrate anyway. Of course, this has al
ways been true, while perhaps not so prevalent as in
recent years. However, perhaps if we backtrack
out thinking somewhat, and return to a more real
istic idea of what Christmas is supposed to be, as_ it
"was in earlier years, perhaps we will find we do in
deed have much reason to be happy around this time
of year, as well as the rest of the year.
While many of the traditions that revolve around
Christmas, particularly some of the older ones, do
serve to inhance the Christmas spirit, something is
lacking unless we remember that many years ago, a
child was born; a child who was in his short life to
change sharply the course of human existence.
Will Next Christinas
Find Us Still In Vietnam?
For many American young men and their fam
ilies, this Christmas is not going to be a particularly
happy on©. Our me-n in Vietnam, particularly those
who are prisoners of war, will find that Christmas
in Vietnam leaves much to be desired. It is interes^
ii|g to ask the question, will our men be spending next
Christmas in Vietnam as well? ^
Since the escalation of the war_ began in the mid
1960’s, spending Christmas in Vietnam ihas been
very much a reality for many American young men
and their families. However, with the withdrawl
program now underway, it is quite possible that the
American role in this seemingly useless war will soon
be terminated. Also, however, the way things are
now scheduled, it will be several years, perhaps, un
til all of our men are brought home. So it would ap
pear, unfortunately, that come next Christmas once
again our men in Vietnam will be having their Christ
mas dinner on the other side of the world.
But with the evidence becoming even more clear
that the Communists, as seen in Cambodia recently,
will continue to nullify a great deal of what U.
S. has accomplished, the value of staying on m South
east Asia seems doubtful. It seems doubtful that
getting out of Vietnam earlier than scheduled, per
haps by late 1971, would make the situation any
Uian it is. The ^uth Vietnamese a^y wi l
Drobably be no stronger in a couple of
is right now. Also, it would be a great boost to
AmSan morale should the withdrawal come soon.
And American morale definitely could use some
boo sting. —
ty — Convocation; the student
body attends not because of the
benefits acquired there but be
cause they are made compul
sory.
Convocation basically has an
emphasis on religion and it
incurs that the college stud
ents and the administration
“hear the word” together.
Many students wonder what
is the college’s purpose of hav
ing compulsory Convocations,
when the goal of a college ed
ucation has to do with determ
ining for oneself, what is right
and moral for that individual. I
understand that Brevard is a
Methodist College but that does
not necessairly give the school
the ultimate authority to de
mand everyone’s presence to
a “church service.” Religion is
something that belongs to the
individual and “where one per
son’s religion stops, another’s
begins.”
The monthly “gatherings”
we have had this semester have
not satisfied my anticipated
expectations of what has been
labeled convocation. I leave
these convocations more be
wildered and befuddle4 than
when I entered, wondering ev
en more what was that pertin
ent inspiration I muist have
missed.
Dear Editor, Brevard has definitely meas-
The students at Brevard, ured up to WEBSTER’S DIC-
have a favorite monthly activi- TIONARY definition: “a cere-
Dear Editor:
For many of us, the Christ
mas holiday will not be a vaca
tion. The ecstatic holiday sea
son of 1970 will be even more
intense than what we remember
of last year. 1970 wiU undoubt
edly bring more travel and more
highway deaths, more wine and
merriment and more drunks,
more expensive gifts and more
materialism. Inevitably this
exhausting Christmas vvill
squeeze in all the possibilities
of a “vacation,” leaving stud
ents with only the energy to
stumble back to begin another
semester, not rested, not inspir
ed, and not the least bit eager.
But it doesn’t have to be
this way. Why not rest a min
ute and re-define Christmas.
We all know the commercialism
and the tragedies that can ac
company the eve of 1971. Why
not make this year the start of
something else? What it used
to be? A feeling of love, peace,
content and goodwill - Christ-
mas. A month of rest, thought
and warm exchanges just might
send us all back to a fresh start,
next (spring) semester, with a
holiday season that contributed
just the simple things, and a
greater capacity to give-1971.
Sincerely,
Susan Harrell
or
monial assembly of members of
a college or university”; they
surely have been the ceremon-
ial assembly, but the impor-
tance and the essence of these
have been perfunctory. Because
the real values of convocation
are not properly presented, the
students think they are super
ficial and are disinterested and
apathetic to attend.
I am not saying that I am
against convocations, but if
the quality of convocations
were such that it would at
tract the interest of the stui
ents, the college would not
have to make them compul.
sory. It is the contradicting at
titude of the college which is
the problem. The students
would appreciate, having made
the choice of attending convoca
tion. The students would like
to evaluate for themselves
whether the convocation would
be beneficial to their lives,
rather than be told that their »
graduation would be jeopardiz
ed unless they attend. There
should be a motivating inter
est for attending, not jvtst ful
fillment of a requirement. It
is part of our education to de
termine and judge situatioiw;
likewise the college should not
neglect its responsibility to
determine and judge situation*
similarly.
Sincerely,
Kent Deardorff
Life Holds Many Surprises
For Those Who Don't Expect It
The CLARION
The VOICE of Brevard College
. „ jj Editor-in-Chief
T?- Ad«rti.ing
Eyle Ada™ Ad^rtistog
spon, seporw
S Sports Reporter
N^ws Reporter
Reid Tuiwta Reporter
Milton Reporter
^^rSniel News Reporter
Bobbie McDaniel ---- Advisor
Mrs. Ena Kate Sigmon
Published weekly during the college session, ^th the
exception hoUdavs and examination periods, by stad-
ents of Brevard College. Tne opinions expressed in this
periodical are those of the editorial board and not neces-
Lrily those of the College. Printed by TOe Transylvania
Times, North Broad Street, Brevard, North Carolina.
By Milton Rankin
Sometimes, when least ex
pected, we stumble across some
one that, if for no other rea
son but curiosity, we become
attracted to and we attach our
selves to one another. At first
glance we are never really sure
of what characteristics attract
ed us. Perhaps it could have
been fondness of sports, simi-
liar outlooks on life, interests
in Visiting, or simply a feeling
of insecurity that both may
realize is present. Whatever the
reason may be for such a rela
tionship as this, most always
one of the two parties involv
ed will be left hurt.
Of course most sophomores
at Brevard College should be
able to relate from theu: own
personal involvements to this
problem. For those of you that
cannot, sit quietly and await
your turn with those freshmen
who may encounter this while
at Brevard. Perhaps some might
argue that being hurt is simply
a part of growing up, and learn,
ing from experience what life’s
all about. If this be the case,
many of us may have already
lived “9 lives” and be start
ing a tenth one. This is not
to say at some time or another
who wanted to be close to us.
that we haven’t tert someone
Rather, it is to say that some
times the harder you try not
to hurt someone, the more dis-
pointments or letdowns you
yourself encounter.
In conclusion, as this semes
ter draws to a close, no one
knows who or what may knock
offering him a second cup of
at his door tomorrow. Avoid
tea if he drinks a little differ
ently than you. Leading men
on may prove disastrous for the
both of you.
UTLOOK
& mu ojj
Brevard
Student
(Continued From Page One)
the center in which they wish
to work. Hamp works at the
Whitmire Community Center.
Other community centers are
Ross Road, Glade Creek, Rose-
wald, and Quebec. Hamp states
that the best thing which this
program offers is that “One
begins to see an identity be
tween the worker and the
family. It is such a great thing
when one feels he has reached
one of those children.”
EDITOR
Believe it or not, another semester is coming to
an end. With exams in the forefront of everyone 3 j
mind now, the Christmas vacation is just a matter^
of days away for most of us. Since this is the last |
Clarion of this semester, I would like to take this op- |
portunity to thank the Clarion staff, as well as ev- j
eryone else involved in making this a successful se- j
mester, and of course, our advisor, Mrs. Ena K. ,
Sigmon. ,
Through their help, my job has been
easier, and believe me, this means a lot.^ I feel the
Clarion has been very successful in certain areas tni
semester, and I am hopeful that it will continue to
improve next semester towards stren^hening it®
weak spots. Although the student participation wa ,
almost a complete disappointment, Brevard j
tunate in having a nucleus of interest and
students. Hopefully in the future more of our stu *
ents will become interested in what’s going on arou
this place. , .
For as some may find out when their
grades arrive soon, our time here is all too short,
not wishing to end on a sour note, let me wish
and all a great Christmas season, and of courSn
happy New Year.
i