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Show 4 Hie Signpost - Monday, May 8, 1989 Editorial North is a man of conviction By Ray Eldard Jr. Senior Reporter S Political scandals raise doubts about editor's career decision It's time to pay the piper. Last Thursday the jury in the trial of Oliver North found the former lieutenant colonel guilty of three of the 12 charges against him. North, who will be sentenced June 23, faces up to 10 years in prison and a possible $750,000 in fines. So what is the uproar about? Why arc so many people upset over the convictions? North received his day in court, a jury of his peers heard both sides of the case and came up with a verdict. As far as I can tell the system worked. Still there are those that think Ollie got the short end of the stick. They say Ollie was the low man on a big totem pole and that he was only following orders. So what. Ollie may have been only following orders, but they were orders he knew were illegal. Do we let the followers, of Charles Manson out of prison because they were only following Chuck's orders? Are terrorists to be held unaccountable for their actions because their orders come from heads of state? I think not. If "higher ups" were involved, prove it and prosecute, but their involvement makes North no less guilty. Still, some are outraged that North will lose his S23.000 a year Marine pension. Why? Federal law requires that North, as a convicted felon, forfeit his office as a retired lieutenant colonel, hence, he forfeits his retirement pay. Oliver North, for whatever good and honorable actions he may have done, willingly and knowingly broke the law. All his charisma and patriotism cannot exempt him from paying the price of his actions. The jury spent a long time deliberating the decision. Their verdicts were the result of many hours of reviewing testimony and government documents. All twelve are to be commended. As for North, somehow I think his 523,000 a year loss of income will somehow manage to be supplemented by his S20,000-S25,000 a shot speaking fees. Rafsanjani a moderate terrorist So much for "moderate" Iranians. Last Friday Speaker Hashemi Rafsanjani of the Iranian parliament called for Palestinians to kill Americans and other Westerners in retaliation for attacks by the Israeli military against Palestinians in the occupied territories. Rafsanjani, once considered one of Iran's moderates, called upon Palestinians to kill five Americans, Britons or Frenchman for every one Palestinian killed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Compared to Ayatollah Khomeini's February death sentence against British author Salman Rushdie, Hashemi's remarks might be considered moderate by Khaddaffi maybe, but probably not by the rest of the world. By Scott Summerill Editor in Chief After three and a half years of higher education in a field I have always longed to be a part of, I find myself wondering about my career choice. Such a profound statement needs some explanation, so let me back up a bit and give a brief overview of why my re-evaluation began. I started school at Weber State with a desire to be a journalist and a firm belief that I could make a difference in the world. I'm no Clark Kent, but the idealistic philosophy of The Daily Planet was something I could identify with. As my education in the discipline progressed, I developed an insatiable hunger for information about the events that shaped the world around me. I found myself turning on CNN every morning before the sleep was rubbed from my eyes to get my first fix of news. Throughout each day, I would continue to seek out sources of what's happening in an attempt to satisfy my hunger, usually to no avail. Recently, I have become more and more alarmed at the number and scope of government officials and associated individuals who have made the news. It's not that political scandals are new, but the reaction of the American public, or should I say lack of reaction, is becoming more embarrassing with each revelation of political abuse. To me, it is disconcerting to have an ex-marine colonel, Oliver North, accused of dealing arms to a country that has vowed to strike out against Americans whenever possible, and then hear the public cries that the press is being unfair to what the president called a "national hero." Okay, so now the same ex-marine has been convicted on three counts. Then, he went out on a speaking engagement and addressed nearly 1 ,000 Nicaraguan and Cuban refugees who paid 5100 each to hear him speak. What did our illustrious "national hero" have to say that was worth 5 100? He said the U. S. Congress was a bunch of self-serving power mongers who's only goal was to control all of the world's governments. "They have too many people in Congress that want to become Secretary of State," North told the refugees. I'm not debating the reality of his statement. But, it seems inconsistent for a man that said the press is just a mud-slinging operation when they were exposing his activities to be throwing tank-size mud pies at his previous employers. Even more alarming is his continued public support. In a recent CNN poll, 45 percent of those asked said they would like to see President Bush pardon North, 39 percent said they opposed a pardon. I don't understand why a man who sold out his country should be pardoned. Of course, I didn't understand why Nixon was pardoned cither. What it all comes down to is that people don't want to know when they're getting shafted by those in power, and when they arc told, they blame the press for being too negative. Even when the facts arc undisputablc, and even when the courts hand down a decision that substantiates the facts, the public turns a blind eye and refuses to believe. What's worse, they want to have the guilty parlies pardoned. I don't know if I want to be subjected to the abuse that journalists must face in the wake of an apathetic society. Maybe I'll change my major to political science. As a politician, even if I screw up, I can go on tour or write a book and make more money than I'll ever sec as a journalist. The Signpost Editorial-Advertising-Production Spring Quarter, 1989 The Weber State College Signpost is published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during fall, winter and spring quarters, and once a week during the summer quarter by the WSC Department of Communication. The Signpost is distributed free of charge and is available by subscription for S9 per quarter. The Signpost offices are located in the Union Building in Room 267. Mail correspondence should be sent to: WSC Signpost, Weber Slate College, Ogden, Utah 84408-21 10. Editor in Chief 626-7121 Advertising Department 626-6359 News Department 626-7105 Entertainment Department 626-7105 Sports Department 626-7983 The Signpost Staff Editor in Chief Scott Summerill Managing Editor Jill Titensor News Editor Tim Fairholm Sports Editor Ethan Yorgason Entertainment Editor Pete Tesch Signature Editor Lisa Dayton Photography Editor ; Robccn Gilkm Asst. News Editor Cecily Markland Asst. Sports Editors Chris Barrett Rich Ericson Asst. Entertainment Editor Debra George Asst. Signature Editor Christine Stout Photographers Stacy Netz Clark Hurd Senior Reporters Ray Eldard Jr. Peter Avion Columnists Mickey Beck Staff Reporters Brett Hart Kathleen Montoya Joyce Zabriskic Erie Presley Copy Editor Sieve Hord Advertising Manager Dcbra Luby Production Manager Keith M. Quimby Ads Production Mgr Kathy Mohr Production Staff Jeannie Thome Gina Carbajal Distribution . Ray Eldard Jr. JeffBybee Advisor p. Larry Suhle Secretary Leisel Wayment Linda McGee Publisher Randolph Scotl |