6The Daily Tar HeelTuesday, January 29, 1985
Goetz: Separating fantasy from reality
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Jeff Hiday, Editor
JOl.L BROADWAY, Managing Editor
MARK STINNEFORD, Associate Editor
BEN PERKOWSKI, Associate Editor
Kelly Simmons, university Editor
VANCE TREFETHEN, Slate and National Editor
MELANIE WELLS, City Editor
DAN TILLMAN, Business Editor
LYNN DAVIS, News Editor
Frank Kennedy, sports Editor
Jeff Grove, Arts Editor
Sharon Sheridan, Features Editor
JEFF NEUVILLE, Pbotoeraphy Editor
Star mwl
92 nd year of editorial freedom
Just another battleground?
The space shuttle Discovery landed
safely Sunday afternoon, but instead of
the usual pomp and circumstance, this
landing attracted no fanfare whatsoever.
Rather, this particular mission was
clouded with secrecy since neither the
National Aeronautics and Space Admin
istration nor the Defense Department,
which sponsored the whole event, was
talking about what was going on.
Being a curious lot, the press snooped
around and found unidentified sources
who said the Discovery was carrying a
satellite designed to monitor Soviet
missile tests and eavesdrop on Soviet
communications. Quite a change from
past shuttle missions, where scientific
experiments and space repairs have been
conducted.
The secrecy and military purpose
surrounding the Discovery is setting the
stage for a whole new era in space shuttle
missions, but, unfortunately, it is hard
to admire anything about this change.
While there are many reasons why the
shuttles should be involved with military
maneuvers such as saving the Defense
Department millions of dollars the
use of the space shuttles as springboards
for the military contradicts the basic
philosophy on which the space program
was founded.
Despite NASA's glowing press
releases about the shuttle's ability to save
stranded satellites and perform other
services of benefit to mankind, there is
little doubt that this amazing piece of
space technology is basically a Depart
ment of Defense toy. A huge military
base for secret shuttle missions is under
construction in California. In fact,
No kidding
Considering the generous supply of
snow and slush Chapel Hill has wit
nessed so far this year and the DTITs
uncompromising commitment to "serv
ing the students and the University
community," especially when the health
and safety of our readers are at stake,
we would like to pass on some helpful
hints aimed at avoiding those nasty nasal
symptoms associated with the winter
months.
The impetus and primary source for
this act of editorial altruism comes from
a story printed in Sunday's Raleigh News
and Observer directed at the same
purpose. Most of the advice makes sense:
make sure the air at home is not
overheated and is well-moistened; and
stay away from aspirin, which thins the
blood, if you are susceptible to
nosebleeds.
But some of the hints make a tad too
much sense, if you get the drift. Advice
like: "People suffering from allergies
should keep their wardrobes and homes,
especially their bedrooms, as free as
possible of allergy-provoking substan
ces." Uh-huh. This bit of wisdom must
have been inspired by that commercial
a few years ago where the woman is
sitting in a grassy field begging for relief
money for the shuttle may not have been
appropriated in the first place if balky
congressman hadn't been convinced of
its defense applications.
Those who remember the first lunar
landing in 1969 can probably also
remember the plaque that was left
behind, which said, "We came in peace
for all mankind." Judging from the
events that occurred this last weekend,
we seem to have forgotten the plaque
and the message it stands for. The
purpose of the space program then was
to increase our knowledge and speed up
progress. And while we were competing
with the Russians, it was hardly in the
same context that we compete with them
now.
Another comparison between the then
and now is the national support which
surrounded the program. Almost every
child in elementary school in 1969 could
name the three astronauts on the Apollo
1 1 flight which put the first man on the
moon, and everyone knew the historic
words "One small step for man, one giant
leap for mankind" by heart. What a stark
contrast to Discovery's latest mission
where the names of the astronauts
weren't even supposed to have been
known.
Meanwhile, the Reagan administra
tion is further promoting militarization
of space by its insistence on continuing
research into the "Star Wars" anti
ballistic missile system. Space, once the
object of romantic musings and boy
hood dreams, has now become just
another potential battleground. Perhaps
its time to ask why.
from her hay fever. Ot course, the
unanimous reaction from everyone
watching that ad serves as a succinct
expression of this aforementioned
advice, namely, "GET OUT OF THE
FIELD, STUPID!"
Along the same lines, a recent Asso
ciated Press story gives a wonderful
winter driving tip. No, nothing about
how to brake on ice. Something much
more practical: "Safety experts . . .
advise drivers to try not to sneeze while
behind the wheel" because they could
be stunned in that condition.
Do these "safety experts" believe
drivers are in favor of 55 mph sneezing
attacks? And what, exactly, do they
expect us to do if we find a sneeze coming
on at the same time we're maneuvering
a hairpin turn? One of the fun things
about stopping an upcoming sneeze
anywhere, much less on the highway, is
that phenomenon known as "watery
eyes," or, in the case of a big sneeze,
"Lake Pupil." So what's more dangerous
a quick, basically unavoidable sneeze,
followed by a momentary "stun," or a
two-hour, half-blind stuggle to stop one?
Well, we hope someone out there has
found these tips helpful. Let it never be
said the DTH is only a fair-weather
friend.
The Daily Tar Heel
Assistant News Editor: Steve Ferguson
Editorial Writers: Dick Anderson and Karen Youngblood
Assistant Managing Editors: Amy Styers and Kevin Sullivan
News: Mike Allen, Crystal Baity, Lisa Brantley, Tim Brown, James Cameron, Matt Campbell,
Joan Clifford, Tom Conlon, Randy Farmer, Katy Fridl, Mike Gunzenhauser, Beth Houk, Sallie
Krawcheck, Scott Larsen, Genie Lindberg, Guy Lucas, Georgia Ann Martin, Dora McAlpin,
Andy Miller, Marjorie Morris, Kathy Nanney, Janet Olson, Beth Ownley, Grant Parsons, Ruthie
Pipkin, Mark Powell, Karen Rogers, David Schmidt, Devi Sen, Rachel Stiffler, Rachel Stroud,
Lisa Swicegood, Andy Trincia, Jennifer Trotter, Laura Van Sant, Kevin Washington, Scott
Wharton, Leigh Williams, Lorry Williams, and Laurie Willis.
Sports: Scott Fowler and Lee Roberts, assistant sports editors. Tim Brown, Scott Canterberry,
Tim Crothers, Mark Davis, Paris Goodnight, David McCullough, Mike Persinger, Kurt
Rosenberg, Mike Schoor, Jim Suroweicki, Beth Velliquette, Mike Waters and Bob Young.
Features: Marymelda Hall, assistant features editor. Mike Altieri, Nancy Atkinson, Tom
Camacho, Vicki Daughtry, Loretta Grantham, Jennifer Keller, Anjetta McQueen, Mary
Mulvihill, Tom Rose, Liz Saylor, Sonya Terrell and Lori Thomas.
Arts: Frank Bruni, Steve Carr, Elizabeth Ellen, Ivy Hilliard, Eddie Huffman and Virginia Smith.
Photography: Larry Childress, Nancy London, Jamie Moncrief, Jonathan Serenius, Stretch,
and Lori Thomas.
Copy Editors: Angela Gunn and Carolyn Wilson.
Artists: Bill Cokas, Deborah Kelly, Kelly Mclntyre, Remus, and David Sumner
Business and Advertising: Anne Fulcher, general manager; Paula Brewer, advertising director;
Tammy Martin, student business manager; Angela Booze, accounts receivable clerk; Terry Lee,
student advertising manager; Alicia Susan D'Anna, Greg Goosmann, Patricia Gorry, Kellie
McF.lhaney, Melanie Parlier, Stacey Ramirez, Doug Robinson, Rose Shacklettand Scott
Whitaker, ad representatives; Patti Pittman, classified advertising manager, Laura Bowen,
assistant; Jim Greenhill, office manager; and Cathy Davis, secretary.
Distributioncirculation: William Austin, manager.
Production: Brenda Moore and Stacy Wynn. Rita Galloway, assistant.
Printing: Hinton Press. Inc. of Mebane
By DAVID GOLDMAN
On the walls of the 1 4th Street and 6th Avenue
subway station in Manhattan, a new piece of
graffiti has recently appeared for public con
sumption: "GOETZ RULES NIGGERS." It is
a succinct comment, and one that cuts to the
heart of the hoopla surrounding Berhard Goetz,
New York's putative "subway vigilante."
Goetz has been hailed across the nation as
a "public hero," a man who finally got fed up
and fought back against the criminal elements.
Now a New York grand jury has bolstered this
image by refusing to charge Goetz with attempted
murder for the shooting of four youths on a
subway last month.
But this portrayal of Goetz is a myth a
fantasy through which America can indulge its
worst fears and its most violent impulses. In
reality, it is racism which lies at the core of the
shooting, and its stench pervades public reaction
to the incident. While the press ignores and denies
the racist implications of the incident, everyone
in New York knows otherwise.
The significance of a white man emptying his
gun into four black youths is lost on no one.
Goetz, described by his neighbors as a bigot,
was not a man defending himself from criminal
attack. Witnesses report that the four teen-agers
were only "horseplaying" and that when the
youths asked Goetz for money he replied, "IVe
got something for each of you." He proceeded
to empty his gun into their bodies. Two of the
youths were shot in the back as they fled. Later
in testimony to police Goetz revealed, "I wanted
to gouge their eyes out." Nice Guy. New
American Hero.
Meanwhile 19-year-old Daryl Cabey, whose
spine was severed by a bullet in the back, remains
in the coma he slipped into two weeks ago. If
he had died the charges against Goetz would
have been upgraded to murder. But now the
grand jury's verdict precludes even this
development.
As Cabey's family prays for his recovery,
journalists around the country and here in Chapel
Hill continue to laud the sentiments surrounding
the shooting. Mark Stinneford, in an amazing
display of his inability to distinguish fantasy from
reality ("Justice, not vengeance," Jan. 24),
concedes that adulation for Goetz "may be a
little misplaced," but at the same time argues
that it's "easy to understand the near deification
''A'
A'
of Goetz ... For too long we've allowed
criminals open season on responsible citizens."
Stinneford's article rails about our rights to self
defense but he knows that self-defense is not the
issue here. Bernhard Goetz was not defending
himself. Even for Stinneford there are better
heroes.
What has emerged from this tragic incident
is the ugly spectacle, so pathetically represented
in Stinneford's column, of Americans disregard
ing the mythical story of one man, one blond
lonely yuppie, who stands up against the dark
hordes surrounding him and threatening our
nation. It is this fantasy, and not the actual facts
surrounding the shooting not even first-hand
experience with crime which has marshalled
the approving rage of people around the country.
Isn't it a bit odd that Stinneford, a senior
journalism major from Raleigh, can assert that
"it's easy for us to imagine being harassed on
a subway by weapon-carrying youth"? North
Carolina subways are notoriously crime-free; it
does indeed require a vivid imagination for him
to relate so passionately to the plight of New
York subway patrons.
There is quite definitely something more than
sympathy with New York City crime victims
being expressed in the tremendous national
outnourino of raee over the 0wt7 rs It is
an unthinking rage rooted in frustration and
helplessness which focuses on a metaphorical
enemy, crime, as the cause of our problems and
sees violent revenge as the remedy. But "crime"
is only the metaphor, "self-defense" the code
word. Is our sense of history so shallow, our
memories so short, that we are unable to
remember where calls for socially sanctioned
revenge have led?
Here in the South, in the decades following
the end of Reconstruction, Southern elitists
spoke of "protecting our way of life from
outsiders." These rhetorical code words trans
lated into violence against thousands of blacks
who had sought to transform the old Southern
way of life. In 1930s Germany, public campaigns
against "decadent elements" served as the prelude
to the Nazis' slaughtering of millions of Jews.
No, we have not yet reached that point. But
the current national fantasy about solving crime
by killing "criminals" is in this historical vein.
In this case "criminals" stands for the urban poor
particularly blacks, the nation's desperate and
disinherited. If you dont believe it, you can read
it on the subway walls.
David Goldman is a UNC graduate living in
Chapel Hill.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Invest in equality through constitutional funding
To the editor:
Being one of the many whites
dedicated to the promise of blacks
enjoying a fair share in society, I
feel compelled to address the issue
of constitutional funding for the
Black Student Movement. It is one
of the central issues in the upcoming
student body president election,
making it immediately pertinent to
every student on campus black
and white.
Such funding is a political issue
as well as an economic one, but it
is also one that begs special philo
sophical consideration. Our Decla
ration of Independence holds this
philosophical truth to be self
evident: "that all men are created
equal." Well, they are, but it's
certainly not evident in America.
Look at the black ghettos in any
large city, and youH see what I
mean. The reason for such sad
plight has nothing to do with
"natural selection," but with our
society's self-perpetuating systems
of injustice we have to take
responsibility.
We find an immediate example
of one of these vicious, circular
"systems" right here on campus. The
poor representation of blacks on the
UNC faculty suggests a lack of
dedication to black concerns. This
perception, in turn, contributes to
an atmosphere that retards the
equal integration and involvement
of blacks on campus. So, many
blacks here feel alienated, as is
evidenced by the extremely high rate
of black transfers and dropouts. So
it comes as no surprise that of the
blacks that stay here and are later
destined to university professor
ships, virtually none return to their
alma mater. This is one reason we
have trouble here with minority
faculty recruitment. And so we
come back around to the problem
of too few black professors. It's a
vicious circle. (And one, for exam
ple's sake, that is terribly oversim
plified: solving just one of these
problems wouldn't necessarily alle
viate the rest.)
And what does any of this have
to do with our constitutional fund
ing of BSM? For one thing, the
money from this funding will
directly increase black involvement
here at UNC through enhanced
BSM programming. More impor
tantly, our commitment to such
funding is the kind of caring gesture
that will lessen black alienation on
campus. And with an active and
integrated black population, UNC
will naturally attract black talent
from all over the state both
student and faculty that it fails
to attract now.
Here are a few more specific
points that may dissuade those that
feel BSM should not be considered
a special case when it comes to
funding. First, BSM is the largest
student organization on campus
with over 600 members. Next, BSM
programs, which include periodic
black sensitivity forums and the
publishing of Black Ink, are
undoubtedly "worthy" of funding
(an unfounded concern of some of
the SBP candidates). But, most
importantly, it is our responsibility
to alleviate the kind of self
perpetuating injustices that violate
the most basic tenent upon which
our country was founded
equality.
Peter Lennon
Chapel Hill
Keep the bargain, ARAi
l
To the editor:
The mandatory meal plan is a
cruel joke. In 1981-82 I was a junior
in high school and unfortunately did
not know anything about the plans
for the future of UNC meal plans.
My question is why are the fresh
man and sophomores being pun
ished by being required to partic
ipate? We did not have any input.
But who cares? I do not recall being
surveyed, or for that matter fore
warned in any material I recieved
from UNC. As we know the meal
plan is mandantory and we get to
donate a generous $100 for the
wonderful meals provided by ARA
Food Services.
The other day a paper was slipped
under my door describing the $100
meal plan and the great benefits.
One of these benefits was described
as "you can get up to 35 meals for
only $100." Thirty-five meals for
$100 is no big bargain. My room
mate and I can eat three meals a
day seven days a week (that's 42
meals) for less than $60. So no
one is doing anyone a favor charg
ing one person $100 for what may
add up to 35 light meals. In other
words, eating three meals a day for
one month would cost one person
well over $200. At this rate we will
not have to worry about carrying
cash on campus because the ARA
will have it all.
Lastly, I would like to point out
that if ARA foods were such a good
buy, they would sell themselves.
They would not have to coerce
anyone to eat at their nice dining
places. I mean, how did McDo
nalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken, et
al., get started without government
forcing everyone to buy meal plans?
Apparently ARA is not what it is
trying to appear if the only way they
can guarantee its business is by
coercing campus residents to buy
meal plans. Students are well aware
of ARA's existence on campus. If
ARA is such a great place to eat
and such a bargain, it will do enough
business without dragging unwilling
souls to the dinner table.
Julie Wise
Cobb
What do ya knoooooow?
To the editor:
While attending the Georgia
Tech basketball game in our
beloved Carmichael Auditorium
on Sunday afternoon I could
have sworn I overheard the
following conversation:
Michael Jordan (while trying
to take Gov. Jim Martin's seat
next to Chancellor Christopher
C. Fordham III): "The best thing
about being an ex-Tar Heel is
getting treebies to the game. Just
call the front office, and bingo
n
...
Usher (to Jordan): "You're in
the wrong seat buddy, get up."
Jordan: "Oops, I must be in
the front roooww!"
So, great editor of the DTH,
"Is it true?"
Tony G. Deans
Morrison
Perpetuating intolerance
To the editor:
The DTH survey ("Our own
survey," Jan. 28) intended to coun
ter the one by Ann Landers,
includes one brief and careless
sentence that perpetuates an ignor
ant prejudice against Mormons. By
implying that Landers irresponsible
survey of women qualifies her as "an
agent of the Mormon church," the
D TH jokingly foists an uninformed
stereotype of its readers. The DTH
implies that Mormons not only
encourage Victorian sexual atti
tudes, but they underhandedly
employ right-wing homemakers as
secret agents to spread their doc
trines. While the DTH may take
elaborate steps to avoid language
that could slur blacks, homosexuals
and other minorities, this casual
insensitivity toward the Latter-Day
Saint population reveals a persistent
attitude of religious intolerance.
Lorelei D. Harris
Carrboro
Goetz 's subway "defense
leaves some questions
Some friendly corrections
To the editor:
I disagree with two points raised
in Rick Henderson's letter, "Punks
aren't the victims" (Jan. 28).
First, he asserts that "in the Goetz
case, the problem boils down to . . .
Either a person has the right to
defend his life and property or he
doesn't." I believe that the issue is
not whether a person has a right
to defend his life, but rather the
degree to which the "defense" meted
out by Goetz fit the "assault" of the
four youths. In my opinion, this
question is raised by these points:
Goetz shot two of the four in the
back, and Goetz apparently did not
know that the teenagers were car
rying the sharpened screwdrivers
when he shot them.
Second, Henderson charges the
New York City Police with "trying
to destroy a man who was only
doing what the police . . . couldn't
do." Goetz's trial is not an attempt
to crucify Goetz, but rather an
attempt to establish his guilt or
innocence. Goetz's trial may well
exonerate him, but the fact that he
shot four human beings demands
close, objective scrutiny, lest the
wave of public support for his act
be taken as a clear mandate for
other gun-wielding vigilantes to
"protect themselves" from jay
walkers, politicians and other crim
inals. The constitutional right to due
process may seem to be an evil in
an age of rampant crime, but it is
a necessary evil because it protects
the innocent (as well as the guilty)
who are charged with a crime (as
may be the case with Goetz).
4
Blaise Byron Faint
Ehringhaus
To the editor:
We were pleased to read such a
rave review of the Me and Dixon
show ("Crowd-pleasing, unstruc
tured fun," Jan. 22), but since we
are the sort of people who will go
to see Me and Dixon two nights
running, we feel compelled to clear
up a few minor points. First of all,
Don Dixon does not live in Car
rboro (contrary to popular belief).
And, more importantly, we think
that the song about dancing with
girls is entitled "Most of the Girls
like to Dance" (but only with some
of the boys).
Otherwise, Huffman wrote a
great review of a terrific band. The
show was excellent, well worth the
price of renting a dog sled to get
to the Cradle.
Mimi Herman
Anne Grignon
Chapel Hill
N. C. State outclassed again
To the editor:
The DTH has once again out
classed its rival over in Raleigh. The
Technicians perverted attempt at
humor in the form of a parody of
the DTH on Jan. 16 was racist,
bigoted, tasteless and therefore just
plain not funny. The Jan. 18 parody
of Duke's student newspaper. Vie
Llironute, oy coiiuum. was tunny
but not at the expense of sinking
to the level of a Jesse Helms
commercial. For this, you arc to be
congratulated. Thank you and keep
up the good work.
Stephen B. Jones
Medical School Administration