Letters to the editor
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Opinions of The Daily Tar Heel
unsigned editorials are the opinions
columns represent only the opinions
Saturday, February 13, 1971
Turn Gooding. Editor
Awards of
The "They said it couldn't be
done" award of the week To the
construction crew working on the
additionextension for North
Carolina National Bank for
somehow managing to get a
bulldozer stuck in the mud Friday.
Earthshaking event of the
week The Los Angeles earthquake.
The "Some of our best
friends ..." award of the
week To the Benevolent and
83p 3a (Hariri
78 Years of Editorial Freedom
Tom Gooding, Editor
Rod Waldorf Managing Ed.
Mike Parnell ....... .News Editor
Rick Gray Associate Ed.
Harry Bryan Associate Ed
Chris Cobbs Sports Editor
Frank Parrish ..... Feature Editor
Ken Ripley .... National News Ed.
i John Gellman Photo Editor
Terry Cheek . .. . Night Editor
Robert Wilson Business Mgr.
Janet Bernstein .Adv. Mgr.
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Ken Ripley
However one may judge their guilt or
innocence, the Berrigan brothers have
opened up a new storm of old
controversy. These two Catholic priests
and their much debated intrusions into
radical politics raise once again the
question, how should a Christian be
socially involved? Or should he be at all?
Few questions have divided the
Church as much as the issue of social
involvement. As a result, the one Gospel
of Jesus Christ has been fragmented into
two separate gospels. Conservative
Christians proclaim a "spiritual" message,
concentrating their efforts almost
exclusively to convert mankind by
changing man's inner nature. Liberal
theologians within the Church stress a
"social gospel," viewing Christianity as a
vehicle for social change and betterment.
Both groups agree that the world needs
help.
qouhI.
are fxprevd on its editorial page. AH
of the t-ditor and the stiff. Letters and
of the individual contributors.
the week
Protective Order of Elks which
recently voted overwhelmingly
(1,55022) to continue to exclude
nonwhites from membership.
The Rene Descartes Rational
Thought Award of the week To
Martha Mitchell who, after
becoming upset at Richard Nixon
for appointing John Connally as
secretary of the treasury, stopped
speaking to her husband for two
days. ;
The
falling .
"Raindrops keep
' award of the week To
the delightful month of February
which this week gave us a day or
two of arctic cold, a day of
springtime warmth and more rain
than was at all necessary.
The "Have we ever lied to you"
award of the week To South
Building which, after pledging not
to exercise any control over student
activity fees, has now told the
Graduate Student Coordinating
Committee that they will have their
funds whether Legislature approves
it or not.
. Cheap valentine of the week
award To whoever it was that got
35 cents worth of Hershey's Kisses
from his girl who walked into
Rose's Friday with a quarter, a
dime and nothing to pay for the
sales tax.
Thought of the week award It
is encouraging to note that
sometimes a Sparrow can prevail
over all the Eagles the
administration can find.
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What these two groups can't concede
is that they are both serving the same
Master. The priest and social worker slug
out theological battles, then go their own
ways ignoring each other. One minister
may spend each Sunday exorting his
flock to keep "their eyes to heaven."
Another minister denounces social evils,
demanding a "heaven on earth."
As a result, we get neither. And here
lies the claim that the Church and its
Christianity is irrelevant and unnecessary.
As long as Christians remain split in
changing man or society, emphasizing
heaven or earth, neither man nor society
will be changed. A Gospel broken up is a
broken Gospel, without the power and
ability to affect men and their lives.
Biblical Christianity offers not several
Gospels but one. The Gospel message of
the early -apostles was not just aimed at
the spiritual side of man. It hit the
MA ft
To The Editor:
Your article, "Organizations benefit
equally" in the Feb. 6th Tar Heel has
been my only opportunity to observe the
paper's ability to give its readers the
"feel" for a story if not its every detail. If
the reader got any feeling from this
particular article it was only one of
amazement. What would you conclude
from a report that all student
"organizations benefit equally" from
student fees (a nebulous generalization
neither explained nor supported by the
article); that the figures are not
statistically significant but they "find" no
group receiving a disproportionate return;
and that the same report "demonstrated"
that freshman received a noticeable
disproportionate return?
Suffice it to say that the article in
stated fact and sum total conveyed
neither the study's actual purpose and
conclusions nor its implications. Because
of my apparent inability to communicate
this information to your reporter in a
manner transferable to newsprint I shall
attempt to do so in my own words.
Undergraduates pay $20 per student
per year in the hope that they will receive
some sort of services in return. The
purpose of the study was to determine if
certain types of students (frat men, SL
members, upperclassmen, etc.) tended to
receiver more services from SL funded
organizationsthan the average student.
The results of the study indicated that
there was no such bias.
Only 10 per cent of the budget is
spent on identifiable individuals (anyone,
can go to the free flick, but there are4
twelve particular students who use the
debate team's appropriation).
Of the eight organirations that use'
their funds for specific individuals, two
spend only for high school minority
students, four select their members on
the basis of ability (debate team, glee
club, shoir, and foreign student
scholarships), and one (Toronto
Excahnge) runs a random drawing of the
interested people.
The remaining organization, the
Rugby Club, takes virtually all interested
people, and its expenditures average only
sixty cents per member. Thus only in one
insignificant case could membership be
biased (due to the fact that it is not
restricted only to people with talent). .
While the conclusion is supported by the
design of the organizations, it has not
been empirically proven.
Another finding of the report was that
several types of students have been
singled out for appropriations, but not
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individual in all ways, spiritually,
mentally and socially. '
"I'm not a soul," a black evangelist
recently told a Christian audience. "I'm a
man. And the Gospel needs to hit me as a
man."
The power of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ is that it makes possible for
Christians to have complete lives. The ;
two underlying laws Jesus
emphasized love God first, then
men encompass not only man's spiritual
relationship with God, but also his social
relationships with others. And, the Bible
emphasizes, one relationship cannot exist
without the other. ;
The same God who demands "a new
heart and a new spirit" of men also said,
"Let not the wise man glory in his
wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in
his might, let not the rich man glory in
his riches; but let him who glories glory in
necessarily disproportionate amounts.
Dorm students receive the services of
WCAR (S3, 000) and the Residence
Colleges (S6100). Freshemn, who are
required to be dorm residents, benefit
also from the Orientation Commission
(S240O, budgeted) and the Handbook
(S3 100). Other such groups are
on-campus married students (S2500
through Odum Victory Village Board),
women students (S2000 through AWS),
and graduate students (S8600 from
GSA). Appropriations to these groups
took another 10 per cent of SL funds.
- The remainder of the budget went for
administration (10 per cent) and services
available to all students (70 per cent).
Three organizations received a lion's share
of SL funds; the Union (33 per cent), the
Yack (20 per cent), and the Tar Heel (13
per cent). However, readers of the latter
two received more than the amount
appropriated by SL due to sales of
advertising. Student funds paid for 65 per
cent of the Yack and 33 per cent of the
Tar Heel budgets.
The study uncovered several other
interesting facts. WUNC was funded for
$325 but has not broadcast all year. The
debate team receives $333 per person
traveling expenses; the glee club, $25;
Roronto Exchange, $17; and the choir
(rated the best in the southeast), $5.50.
Dorms are allocated $2 per person for
activities from housing fees in addition to
' the funds allocated by SL to WCAR and
Residence Colleges. Finally, SL fund's
eight scholarships (six foriegn students,
SG treasurer, and the president of student
government) totaling $14200.
While the study made no attempt to
f justify or refute these budgetary
practices, their existence and rational is
something I felt should be brought to
light. Your article did not . accomplish
that end however, and I hope this
explanation has.
Richard Hibbits
409 Mangum
Reader defends
NASA spending
To The Editor:
Your "Bore of the Week Award" is a
typical example of the public indifference
that has caused the decline of our space
program. Using this indifference President
Nixon has been able to cut NASA's
budget while he basked in the glory of
each successful Apollo mission. This
month many ' NASA workers - will lose
their jobs due to the cut-backs. Yet it will
be remembered that in the past decade
the space program has been the only arm
of the military-industrial complex that
has stimulated the economy without the
avowed prupose of taking human life.
And while NASA has not been totally
apolitical, its representatives have
remained far to the left of Billy Graham
and Bob Hope.
The Defense Department's budget will
be larger this year, but NASA's will not.
For successfully aiding Nixon in his
policy of indifference to the space
program, we suggest that the Daily Tar
Heel should be given the "Dupe of the
Week Award."
Al Dawson
Carol Dawson
Refrigerator thief
loose in Morrison
To The Editor:
I have just returned from the
refrigerator here on the 4th floor of
Morrison and have discovered the
repetition of an increasingly common
act-some (obscenity)'s been stealing my
food again.
I wouldn't mind so much if whoever
the "borrower" is would either ask first
or at least have the decency to leave a
note of apology and maybe some small
monetary recompensation. So far, I've
lost a pound of margarine, a pint of milk,
and who knows how many pot pies.
Almost everyone else I meet in the
"kitchen" who has ever left anything in
the refrigerator has lost something to this
"free enterprise system."
this, that he knows me, that I am the
Lord who practice steadfast love, justice,
and righteousness in the earth; for in
these things I delight, says the Lord."
"Cease to do evil," Isaiah prophesied,
"Learn to do good; seek justice, correct
oppression; defend the fatherless, plead
for the widow."
Martin Luther King best explains the
problem. "Any religion that is completely
earthbound sells its birthright for a mess
of naturalistic pottage," he says, "But a
religion true to its nature must also be
concerned about man's social conditions.
"This means, at the bottom, that the
Christian gospel is a two-way road. On
the one hand it seeks to charge the souls
of men and thereby unite them with God;
on the other hand it seeks to change the "
environmental conditions of men so that
the soul will have a chance after it is
changed.
Apparently we were all under the
mistaken idea that the Honor Code also
extended to food left in the floor
refrigerator.
I could take this opportunity to ask
the University for more lenient private
refrigerator regulations, but I know that
Fred Culbreth and his department are
working on exactly that. So I address this
final statement to the Mysterious
Moocher of Morrison:
"I don't know who you are, and
apparently neither does anyone else. But
just for a minute put yourself in our
position. Think how it must feel when
you've gone to all the trouble to walk
downtown in the cold just to get your
supper and you find some (obscenity)'s
stolen it, forcing you to eat at Chase
(which is a story in itself) or some other
such (eech) place. Maybe if someone
started making off with your stuff-which
was more than likely theirs in the first
place-you'd have second thoughts about
putting yourself on instant welfare."
He probably even stole this paper from
someone instead of bothering to go get
one of his own. -
Phillip K. Morris
429 Morrison
Homosexuality not
wrong or sinful
To The Editor:
After reading "Larry's" letter
concerning "Boys In The Band," I felt I
had to say some things. It is sad that he
used the words unfortunately" and
"regrettably." This letter is not
concerning the play, rather "Larry's"
remarks about gay people.
His use of the words "unfortunately"
and Regrettably" show that he has guilt
feelings and feels that the gay life is
wrong or a sin. There is something that
exists called "gay pride." It is the great
feeling of peace of mind, knowing that
the homosexual has a sexual drive as
anyone else and that drive must be met.
Just because society feels that it is wrong
does not make it wrong. Homosexuals are
human beings and we are put here on this
earth by God to live our lives. If we bring
happiness to another human being or do
all we can to make this world a better
place, then our lives will have been
worthwhile, no matter what our sexual
preferences.
If your being a homosexual bothers
you as much as it once bothered me,
there are e great many mental health
centers who offer free or very inexpensive
counseling by professional social workers
or psychologists. It may make it easier to
live with yourself. It gave me a whole
new, happy outlook on life.
The Gay Liberation Movement is very
important today. It has done a great deal
to help people realize that homosexuality
does exist, we are in great number, and
that we are human beings and want to be
treated as such. "Larry," take pride in
what you are, don't be afraid to show
your true feelings.
It is unfortunate that you feel you
must hide. There is an active social life
for homosexuals here in Chapel Hill.
There are numerous parties and a number
of people who could become real friends.
There is also a gay bar that you could go
to.
Again, I say, take pride in what you
are. Don't feel ashamed and feel you have
to be always on your guard and have to
hide the fact that you are gay from
everyone.
This letter must be anonymous
because many people have not learned to
accept homosexuals as human beings.
There is still a great deal of discrimination
against homosexuals. Hopefully, soon we
can display our pride to everyone,
although a personal, inner pride is much
more important. The best of luck in
whatever you decide to do about your
homosexuality.
Automobile laws
are going too far
To The Editor:
The following is an excerpt from the
Sunday magazine PARADE: "What
would you think if the Government
go rogeoaeir
e
"Any religion that professes to be
concerned with the souls of men and is
not concerned with the slums that damn
them, the economic conditions that
strangle them, and the social conditions
that cripple them is a dry-as-dust
religion."
As long as the Church remains split
over social involvement, dividing itself
into separate ""spiritual and secular
"ministries," it can't help but repel the
people it wants to reach. The world is
unsatisfied with both "naturalistic
pottage" and "dry-as-dust religion." And
it rejects this fragmented Christianity.
More than ever,- Christians need to
redouble their efforts to change man and
his society.
God, through the person of Jesus
Christ, offers all men the chance to have a
strong spiritual relationship with Himself.
OB
issued an order .limitir.g the maximum
speed rate on aH vehicles to 95 miles per
hour?"
"The U.S. Transportation Department
is proposing that all cars, tracks, buss
and vehicles be engineered to operate no
faster than 95 miles per hour. Moreovsr,
all vehicles would be equipped to sound
an alarm and flash lights at 85 m?h. The
only exception would be police cars.'
"This proposal, to become effective
with 1973 models, is currently open to
the automobile industry and the public
for comment until Feb. 26, 1971.
Now I drive a car that will not go over
SO mph, so it is not the speed control
particularly that bothers me, but if we
don't put a stop to this type of
Government control now, they will soon
be telling us exactly what kind of car we
can buy. We are already being forced to
pay in excess of $100 for the required
safety' equipment on most new cars and
several low-volume manufacturers have
been forced out of business or banned
form this country.
The day may not be far ahead when
we win be forced to buy a $4000, 20
foot, 2 ton, 10 mpg hog of a car simply
because the government thinks that small
cars like Datsun, Gremlin, Opel, M.G.,
Pinto, Porsche, Peugeot, Toyota, Vega,
Volvo, V.W., etc. are 'unsafe at any
speed' as was said about one of the best
American cars, the late Corvair.
It's already too late for the Corvair
and it will be too late for our freedom of
choicl if something is not done now.
Remember, there are only about 2 weeks
until the deadline, so write right away
even if it is only a post card to:
Docket no. 1-19
National Highway Safety Bureau
400 Seventh St. S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20591
It might also help to send letters to the
editors of your hometown newspapers
and to your congressmen.
Patty Giddings
Student athletic
fees undemocratic
To The Editor:
"Money Talks" This is the rational
behind the student athletic fee of $12.50.
At a recent meeting I had with Dean
Cathey the instance of a doctor who was
on the UNC football team giving the
school $500,000 was cited as a typical
reason for forcing students to support the
athletic program.
This letter advocates a democratic
process of governing, something which is
less than evident in many of the UNC
administrative transactions. The process is
a student referendum in which each
student, by his vote, states whether he
wants to spend $25 of his money each
year for what his conception of the
athletic program is. The vote would
distinguish between graduate and
undergraduate students.
The school stands possibly to benefit
monetarily as well as democratically from
such a referendum. If a majority of one
or both of the above groups decided it
was not in favor of the fee, the fee could
be made optional. Those tickets not
subscribed to by students would then be
sold to alumni and other interested
parties rather than forcing them on
students who neither want nor use them.
Mark A. Noblett
252 Craige
v. .
1
The Daily Tar Heel accepts letters to
the editor, provided they are typed on a
60-space line and limited to a maximum
of 300 words. All letters must be signed
and fee address and phone number of
fiie writer must be included.
The paper reserves the right to edit all
letters for libelous statements and good
taste.
Address letters to Associate Editor,
The Daily Tar Heel, in care of the
Student Union.
I
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And God also desires that man live in a
society free from injustice, hate, and
oppression. Christians are, as Paul says,
"ambassadors for Christ, God :naking his
appeal through us." But just as Christians
are agents of the reconciliation between
man and God, no less are Christians
agents of social change.
There are, of course, different ways to
exercise social responsibility and
involvement good and bad. Just as there
are times, in our concern with
individuals our friends, room-mates,
strangers-to speak and to shut up.
But unless we Christians come to
know when and are willing to speak and
to act, we will have failed both rr.in and
society.
And the Christian gospd will be Ldd to
rest, and no one will mourn its
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