g CAMPUS OPINION
Gunning for trouble
CHRESTY’S
CORNER
CHRISTY
KIMBALL
News Editor
I recently watched the
documentary Bowling for
Columbine. I found it to be
rather disturbing and to use
a cliche, "thought provok*
ing." The gist of the movie
is a discussion of gun con«
trol. The film features a
bank in Michigan where
customers are given a gun
when opening an account.
A bank teller reveled that
the bank keeps no less than
SOOO guns in the vault at all
times. Giving out guns in a
bank seems like a really
good idea (sarcasm
implied). Also, Virgin,
Utah established a city
ordinance requiring all resi
dents to own a gun. What's
wrong with this picture...!
imagine that Vii^in, Utah
does not exist in a state of
anarchy. .
As the title of the film
implies, the Columbine
high school massacre is
discussed. The day of
Columbine, the United
States dropped more bombs
on Kosovo than jn any
other war. This day the
U.S. govern- mm
ment was
condmning an
act of violence while
condoning another.
People blamed media
as the influence of
the young gunmen.
Ten days after the
Columbine massacre,
the National Rifle
Association (NRA) starring
our favorite Moses,
Charleston Heston, held a
large meeting in Littleton,
Colorado, home to
Columbine High School.
The NRA also held a meet
ing in Flint, Michigan
shortly after a six year old
in 1st grade shot and killed
another 1st grader at Buell
elementary school. Isn’t it
ironic that the NRA held
meetings Just days after
gun related tragedies.
Later on in the film, the
narrator and director inter
viewed Mr. Heston. When
asked if he keeps loaded
guns in his home, he
responded that he does
keep loaded guns in his
home, but admits that it is
unnecessary. His reason for
having unnecessary loaded
guns in home: he is exer
cising his right to bear
arms. He has a more amus
ing explanation for why
Americans kill more than
other countries: Americans
have a bloodier histoiy than
other countries. This is
from the man who played
Moses in The Ten
Commandments. Does he
realize that Ancient Egypt
and the United States did
not coexist in the same
time frame? The U.S. is
much younger than other
countries, and has not seen
close to as many wars and
coups as Europe has.
As the following statis
tics show, there
seems to be no cor
relation between a
violent past and a
violent present.
Germany has 381
gun related deaths
I>er year, France:
■■ 255, United
Kingdom: 68.
Other parts of the world are
as follows, Canada: 165,
Australia: 65, and Japan:
39. The U.S. has a little
more than 11 times the
combined amount listed
above at 11,127 gun related
deaths per year. What is it
that midces Americans more
violent. Of course the first
thing people will attribute
violence to is media.
Media in other coimtries is
CHRISTY’S
CORNER
hardly any different than
American media and in
several cases it is the s^e.
If you really think about
it, every time we tum on
the news there is some
tragedy or near tragedy
being reported and most of
the time it is social. It
seems news stations do not
care that we are polluting
the planet into extinction.
The government is more
concerned with war and
"helping" other countries
than helping our own. It is
not music, video games, or
movies making people vio
lent. It is die constant rein
forcement of paranoia and
fiaistration that is.
The Herald we/comes let-
ters to the editor. All letters
must be signed but may be
publl^ed anonymous/y. The
Herald reserves the right to
edit letters for length
and/or offensive content.
The government is more
concerned with war and
"helping" other countries
than helping our own.
Campus Calendar
MEA Luau-Wednesday, September 10 from 4
p.m. until 6 p.m. in the courtyard in front of Belk
Dining Hall. Come out for food, music and lots of
fun!
Spectrum meeting-Wednesday, September 10 at
S p.m. in the Beanbag room in Ledford.
Psychology Club meeting-Wednesday,
September 10 at 7 p.m. in 101 Ledford. Anyone
interested is welcome.
Meet at the flag pole in front of Johnson on
Thursday, September 11 at 8:35 a.m. to remem
ber 9/11. Sponsored by the Meredith College
Republicans.
Meredith Soccer vs. Methodist College-Saturday,
September 13 at 2 p.m.
Women’s Issues Network meeting on Monday,
September 15 at 10 a.m In 218 Hunter. Open to
all students.
Meredith Faculty and Guest Recital on Monday,
September 15 at 8 p.m. in Careweli Auditorium.
Jerusalem Music Trio performing on Tuesday,
September 16 at 8 p.m. In Carswell Auditorium.
Community Calendar
Dames at Sea-a musical at Raleigh Little THeatre
beginning Friday, September 12. Tickets are on
sale now for performances on 9/12-13, 17-20, 24-
27 & 10/1«4 at 8 p.m. Also on 9/14, 21, 28 & 10/5 at
3 p.m. Call 821-3111 for tickets and for more infor
mation.
Nicholas Sparks-book signing on Friday,
September 12 at 7 p.m.at the Barnes and Noble in
Cary
The Gourds playing at The Pour House Friday,
September 12 at 10 p.m.
Central NC Pagan Pride Day-Saturday, September
13 at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band per
forming at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill on
Sunday, September 14. Gail Ticketmaster at 834
4000 for tickets and for more information.
WWE Smackdown on Tuesday, September 16 at
7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15-$40. Call Ticketmaster at
834-4000 for tickets and for more information.
Classifieds
Spring Break 2004.
Travel with STS,
America's #1 Student
Tour Operator to
Jamaica, Cancun,
Acapulco, Bahamas and
Florida.
Now hiring campus reps.
Call for group
discounts,
information/
Reservations
1-800-648-4849
or
www.ststravel.com.
Childcare needed
1 day per week
in Apex home
for 4 yr. old
and 8 month old.
Excellent pay for
experienced sitter.
Call Christa
at
363-0206.