Page 2 SMALL TALK April 19, 1993
T,ditoria[s
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Are You SICK
Of Being SICK?
by; Calhy Clayton
Sick of your sore throat? Sick of
your headache? Sick of your fever?
Sick of hearing about other people being
sick? Sick of waiting in line to see
Sandy or Mr. Foster?
If so, you are among the many
Methodist CoUege students, faculty, and
staff that were plagued with flu-like, si-
nus-like, strep-throat-like, and bronchi
tis-like symptoms during the month of
March. It was suggested that above eve
ry water fountain on campus a sign
should read...DRINK AT YOUR OWN
RISKJ Or better yet we should have des
ignated one room in each dormitory,
gathered together the sickies, locked
them up, and posted a sign on the door
reading...DO NOT ENTER! AREA UN
DER QUARANTINE!! Of course, there
would have been no reason to hold class
es because almost everyone would have
been locked on a dorm under quarantine
restriction. But, maybe that wouldn’t
have been a bad idea!
We certainly hope that each of you
enjoyed your spring break, and that any
left-over symptoms were left behind
where you vacationed.
SMALL TALK
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Methodist College is related by faith to the North Carolina
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Conservatives Corner
By Cliristopher Laning
Witli any luck this months column will remain intact. For those of you that have
expressed an interest in the remainder of last month s column which dealt with special
interest rights, a paragraph from the missing section summed up my point:
"Special interest groups are wanting more than America should give them. For
these groups all I can say is that tolerance, equality and simple respect is all that
should be asked for and all that should be granted. WORD!"
Now to this month's column. I originally wrote it full of cuts, slams, and general
pot shots at the ffiUary Clinton Administration and liberals in general. However,
thanks to a heated episode with a rather channing fellow student with political opin
ions somewhat to tlie left of my own (she assured me that Ronald Reagan was the
worst President we ever had), I have learned that a loss of temper will just make for ir
rationality in arguments. So I revised this column under calmer conditions.
I will concentrate on only one topic this month. I have been approached by sever
al individuals to discuss my feelings on Black History Month and the recently formed
Minority Student Organization.
These things by themselves seem like noble and good things; however, tliere are a
few points that should be questioned. First, what would the reaction be if a group of
students tried to fonn a "MAJORITY STUDENTS CLUB"? I would venture to say
there would be a huge outcry, protests of "racism" and the like. But what really is "ra
cism"?
In my opinion, "Black History Month" is the epitome of racism. It was undoubt
edly begun to help overcome the tragic lack of Afro-American history in the class
room. The History courses generally consist of European History and influences.
This is understandable since our country was founded on the principles of and by the
people of the European culture. The time Has come to start blending various other cul
tures into our history curriculum but Black History Month is not the way.
Black History Month has become another way for the radical minority leaders
(the right Reverend Jackson comes to mind) to push for separatism and to keep the la
bels. What's this? But I thought they were preaching equality and fairness. How can I
say tliey are preaching and pushing labels?
Its easy. No matter what the situation is, the radical minority leaders scream it is
racially motivated. A few summers ago in New York City, a black teen walked into a
Korean deli, produced a gun, and robbed the store. As he was leaving, the shop owner
pulled a gun and shot him. This incident touched off several riots and the likes of
Jesse Jackson and Rev. A1 Sharpton screaming that the Koreans were racist against
Blacks. What did race have to do with it? In addition, they never once condemned
the teen for robbing the store at gun point!
What about the LA Riots? The radical minority leaders were so quick to say that
tlie poUce brutaUty was racially motivated. Only the court can decide that. Even if
they are found guilty, their actions hurt at most one black person (and a repeated crim
inal at that who had just been running 100 MPH through city streets where he could
have hit and killed any Uttle kid). The riots huit hundreds of Blacks because of the
fire and the looting. Not once has the radical minority leaders condemned the rioters.
Why? Because they were "oppressed", "misunderstood", and "angry"? No. It was
because they were black (at least the majority was, the rioters represented many other
ethnic groups including whites). Who is really being the racist?
Sorry to venture off the subject but it is important to realize the Black History
Month just promotes the use of "labels". This is a practice that we have to stop in
America. As I said last month, let's just try being Americans and be proud of that.
Another good example of label promotion and racism is the Miss Black America pa
geant. It is easy to see that this was begun because Afro-American women were not
being given a chance to win the Miss America Pageant in a "white dominated" socie
ty. However, recent history has given us a couple of black Miss Americas. Therefore,
the Miss Black America pageant has served its purpose and is just promoting labels
now.
SOLUTION—get rid of Black History Month, the Miss Black America pageant,
the Minority Students Organization and all label promoting events. Start being
AMERICANS, NO HYPHEN!
Will this ever happen in the future? Not anytime soon. In fact at tlie end of the
hopefully one term Clinton Administration we will see that labels are in stronger use
then than they are today. You see, liberals like Hillary and Bill (listed in order of
rank) say that equality is what they are after, but they subscribe to the radical minority
leaders policy of Equal, but with special rights". The sad thing is that at the end of
the Clinton Era the increased separatism will be the least of our worries. Face it! he
United States has been sentenced to 4-8 years in the depths of hell. If you think 1 am
exaggerating, look me up in 8 years. I'll be hiding under the bed like everyone else,
broke, unemployed, and praying for a Republican (if I can be heard over my charming
fellow student opponent s cry 'OK, Reagan was a good President, now make Bill go
away")!