• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1982-07-08_Vol46_No35_03

Editorial 3 July 8,1982 Western Carolinian Moslems and Mid-East Common Sense b\ l.ARRN HARDIN As one reads over the headlines concerning the Middle East it looks like a religious all-star program. Christians, Jews, and Moslems are all interwoven into the drama which is unfolding and creating so much world tension. With the thoughts that have passed through my mind concerning the whole situation 1 can not help but wonder at this aspect ot the conflict. Are not religions, at least these major world religions, supposed to deal with humankind's spiritual needs' I can not understand where a man's (or a woman's) mind would be in killing for Cod Not only this, but all three of these religions arc also interwoven in beliefs, history, and basic spiritual futures for their followers. Of the three religions. Islam is the least known to Western minds, and the least understood. Due to the fact that Moslem nations and their governments are part and parcel with their faith, we in the West should know more about these religious percepts that are helping shape U.S. policies (the commitment of U.S. military forces among other things). Mohammed, or "the Praised One," is the founder of the Islamic faith. After his death in AD 632, Mohammed's teachings spread and have continued to spread to this day. One of the differences between the Moslem religion and Judaism is in how they trace their blood lines. They believe their ancestry to be through Ishmael (the first born) and not Isaac as do the Jewish people. Another difference between Islam and other two religions in the Middle-East is their view of who is a saint. Among M oslem saints are Adam, Noah, Abraham. >es and Jesus. The Koran, the written visions of Mohammed, is the 3ible of the Moslem faith. These teachings are the laws or odes in the same manner that the Torhas the law of the ew ish faith. These codes have led to Islam being as much total cultural perspective as religious one Education, overnment, the arts, the econonn and religion are all ..iterconnected, thus their political leaders are also religious authorities. These leaders are viewed as being where they are at due to devine right and not public- consensus. One more point ol understanding about the Moslem religion is that we find so manv common terms and people sprinkled in all three of these influences in the Middle East. 1 am of the opinion that religion should be doing what it can to end human suffering, not create more ol it; religion should not be something that adds to humankind's problems, rather a should be seeking wayi to solve problems. In m\ readings oi these world religious, 1 have found the differences between faiths to lack grounds for any combat However, in my readings ol religious histories 1 find these world religions to be a large part of the cause- suffering in which many people find themselves 1 Pen the straight history ot politics is interwoven into the religious histories of all nations. One would think that for all the high and holy ideals set forth by these faiths we would see better results. Perhaps in the odd combination of politics and religion it is religion that suiters the worst for the contact. At least our forefathers had some sense in trying to separate these two odd bed fellows. U.S. Troops Ready For Lebanon? Viewpoint by JIM BUCHANAN Publishing vs. Instructing My Line by CHARLES SOSNIK One of the things that really gets my goat about the University system in this country is the fact that the ability to teach has vary little to do with being a successful college professor. A college instructor's success is measured in the amount of material he or she has published. Recently, I was conversing with an instructor in the music department. She told mc that she was under constant pressure from the administration to research and publish new material. She said that in fact this pressure was so severe that it was interfering with what one would think would be her main function on campus - that of teaching. Many other instructors I have spoken with have told me the same thing. The main function of a college professor is to publish. In my modest yet eager imagination, I cannot fathom a plethora of benefits for the student under a system of education which places its emphasis on publication. The vast majority of college instructors are dedicated men and women, yet the system in which they work will not release them to fulfill their primary duty. lt seems mat the various college administrations cannot make a name for themselves by hiring instructors who can actually teach. Prestige is associated with the most widely published; not the most talented teachers. As a matter of fact, some of the most brilliant instructors have absolutely no ability to teach. There are, of course, many exceptions, lt appears rather strange that college professors arc not required to take any courses in education or teaching. Why are college professors employed by colleges? One would assume that they are employed to teach young college students such as myself who are hungry for knowledge. Unfortunately, hungry young students must compete with hard driving administrators who, having the authority to hire and fire, will usually win. 1 am not directing this editorial directly to Western Carolina University's administration, but rather to our university system in general. However, this University's administration is no exception. P.S. I would liketothank Glenn Stiilion for trying to contact me concerning my last editorial. Dr. Stiilion, it seems, wanted to show me all the future sites of parking lots at WCU, and insure me that the administration does in fact care, and is making our community a better place to live. President Reagan's proposed plan to send troops into Lebanon will not mark the first time the U S. has had Marines in that countrv In 1958, President Eisenhower sent in troops at the request of Lebanese President Camille Chamoun. Chamoun requested l S. aid because of the overthrow ot neighboring Iraq's pro-western government. Fearing a communist takeover in the region, he called on Ike for help. And he got it 14,000 troops were eventually staged in Lebanon Ihere was no major fighting at all, and some ot our older residents mav remember the films on the 7:00 news of Marines storming up on beaches covered with bathing beauties and soda pop vendors. This time, however, we are faced with a different situation A small history review lor those who haven't been keeping up with current events: Lebanon is a country of many different political and religious sects that have been engaged in a bloody civil war for six years. The country's population consists of 40% Christian and 60% Moslem. The Lebanese government traditionally was made up of a Maronite Christian President, a Sunni Moslem as Prime Minister, and the leader of the Parliament a Shiite Moslem. The 99 member parliament allowed for 54 Christian seats and 45 Moslem seats. The last parliamentary election in Lebanon was 11 years ago. The most powerful political and military force in the country at present is the Lebanese Forces, a coalition of four Christian factions. Also called the Phalange, these forces have a standing army of 15,000. Although these forces are not aligned with Israel they have been (and still are) engaged in fighting with the PLO. Yassir Arafat and the PLO took advantage of the country's internal turmoil to use Lebanon as a staging area for strikes against Israel. The government could do very little to stop them. Israel decided they could. In a fashion, Israel has taken worse advantage of Lebanon's political instability Where does the I nit. .it into this scenario? "Ihe Lebanese government," President Reagan stated,"Has not made a formal proposal (for aid), but 1 have agreed in principle to contribute a small contingent of IS. personnel subject tocertainconditions. Lhc has pledged to do all that it can to bring peace and stability to the Middle Last, and we must keep that pledge " Here the questions start compounding. Why did Israel, so intent on the destruction of the PLO, stop it's attack when it was so close to final and total victory.' What is the real story behing the Haig Schult/ change of command'.' Yassir Arafat, PLO leader, stated that "We are not in need of American help. Ihe weapons and the 6th fleet that helped kill my women and children cannot protect us. Definitely I won't accept it." Unfortunately, none of the current discussion has been centered on the real losers in this war, the Lebanese people. Flipping through Wednesday's Atlanta Constitution, I came upon this full page ad: "Begins Holocaust in Lebanon-Beruit, June, 1982." In one week, the ad said, "600,000 Lebanese and Palestinians were made homeless. 10,000 Lebanese and Palestinians were killed. 30,000 Lebanese and Palestinians were wounded. 10,000 Lebanese and Palestinians were made captive." Sadly, these figures are fairly accurate. I do not agree with the tactics of the PLO. 1 believe Arafat to be a murderer, not a hero. I also do not condone the Israeli blitzkreig on Lebanon, in which far too many innocent people were killed. But most of all, the reason 1 am writing this editorial, I do not believe in interjecting an American presence into a region of such widespread instability. All Lebanese, both Christian and Moslem, believe the Palestinians have led to the collapse of their society. But with their presence gone, the old debts between the other warring factions will be repaid. If the Marines do once again land in Lebanon, they should not hang around long. Because when the firing begins once again, it may well be that both sides would just as soon hound the Americans as anyone else. Traffic & Security Hassle Guest Editorial by MJ Schutz The history of student dissatisfaction with the Traffic and Security Department at Western Carolina University is a long and well-known story. It has been the subject of numerous editorials in the campus newspaper and students voice their grievances with T&S frequently in letters to the editor. In a closed community such as Cullowhee there is little that people can do to change things when they are dissatisfied with the status quo. Perhaps students at this university will never obtain any real influence over the attitudes and actions of WCU Traffic and Security Officers. But perhaps this would be worth a try. Consider this story. On Wednesday afternoon. Traffic and Security Officer Cynthia Slaughter detained an eighteen-year-old male student in the parking lot beside the Old Student Union. This student was known to Ms. Slaughter. She had detained him prior to his enrollment at the university for bringing beer on campus. Although no charges were pressed, the young man was warned not to be seen on campus again unless he was enrolled as a student. Officer Slaughter recognized him as he was pulling out of the parking lot Wednesday Afternoon. She motioned for him to pullover, he complied. When the student got out of the car, Ms. Slaughter said crisply, "Let's go." He understood what she meant, and said. "I'm a student now." She decided not to believe him and asked him to wait in her car while she radioed in to verify his statement. As they waited, a second T&S car pulled in behind Officer Slaughter's vehicle. She joined the other officer at his car, and after several minutes of conversation, she returned to her own car. The student's statement was verified, however, he was not permitted to go on his way. Ms. Slaughter asked to see his driver's license. He didn't have it on him. (A-ha! Now she had him.) She walked with him to his car, where two passengers were waiting. The passengers were informed that their driver was being taken to the jail in Sylva, for driving without a license. Officer Slaughter (not respectfully) declined to wait while the passengers fetched the suspects drivers's license although the entire trip would not have taken more than five minutes. Nor would she hold him at the T&S office on campus .No, sir, he was going to the Magistrate with her. The student's parents were informed by the passengers and they ran off to Sylva. valid driver's license in hand. They arrived to find that their son had actually been jailed - held in a cell - for driving without a driver's license, when he had a driver's license. It is true that in this state if the license is not on your person, you can be thus charged. Regardless, this was a clear case of harassment, as the student had been driving safely, legally, and sanely, and had been simply taking care of business when he was detained. The officer knew his car, knew him, and apparently didn't like him. That was his real offense. This is an old story here, though. Student's conversations are liberally peppered with gripes about Traffic and Security. "They know my car..." is heard dozens of times a day, and everyone understands who "they" are. Everyone complains about the excessive ticketing of cars for parking violations. It's an old joke now. But how funny is it when students feel inhibited by security officers whom they don't respect and don't trust? Traffic and Security is here to keep students safe, to protect the security of the community, to help Cullowhee keep its justifiably good reputation as a pleasant., low- crime community. Some of the officers do just that, and do their jobs well - That's part of the reason that Cullowhee has the fine reputation it does. Some of the officers also use their authority to carry out personal vendettas and to harass the student population. When will students be able to get across the point that most of them are honest, honorable, human beings who deserve to be treated as such? .__ FOREST HILLS MOTOR LODGE Efficiency units available for summer school and by the month for regular school session Free golf, swimming and tennis included. Air conditioning. Only slightly more than a dormitory room. Call 293-5442 Barrett's Riverhouse Restaurant Old Hwy 107 Cullowhee Welcome New Students The biggest hot sandwiches All kinds of cold sandwiches King size hoagies 21 item said bar w/homemade soup Steaks - Seafood - Italian Dinners Fresh Shrimp Cocktail Dave & Sandle 293-3616 estern Carolinian I Editor in Chief Larry Hardin Business Manager Jim Stewart Associate Editor/Design Jim Buchanan Features Editor/Ad Design Charles Sosnik Production Supervisor Jennifer Passalacqua Illustrator Susan Sadler Production Annette Sykes, Gregg Adams Photographers Tim Schutz Writers Michael A. Davis, MJ Schutz, Mary Fleming Darrell Beck, Joey Miller, Becky Adams, Sherry Inlow, Eric Schutz Circulation Supervisor % Jim McCrae Faculty Advisor Dr- Gerald Schwartz

The Western Carolinian is Western Carolina University's student-run newspaper. The paper was published as the Cullowhee Yodel from 1924 to 1931 before changing its name to The Western Carolinian in 1933.

• Creator
  • Western Carolina University
• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Date
  • Date original: 1982-07-08
  • Date digitized: 2018-11-19
• Extent
  • Dimension: 15" x 11.5"
  • Pages: 6 pages
• Subject - Topic
  • College student newspapers and periodicals
  • Cullowhee (N.C.) -- Newspapers
  • Universities and colleges -- North Carolina -- Cullowhee -- Newspapers
• Location
  • Jackson County (N.C.)
  • Cullowhee (N.C.)
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Source Collection
  • WCU Students Newspapers Collection
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1982-07-08_Vol46_No35
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library