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Show 4 May 11, lvyZ EDITORIAL Responses to editorial missed the whole point By LORIN J. MAY Editor in chief of The Signpost What an interesting reception I have received as the new editor in chief. While I expected numerous letters concerning the Rodney King verdict and the L. A. riots, several have been in response to my May 4 editorial and have been, shall we say, quite personal in nature. The odd thing about these "anti-Lorin May" letters, with the exception of their calling for my removal, is that I agree with virtually every point they make. That's right; I am as disgusted as anyone else that the jury acquitted the four police officers who beat up Rodney King. But there are other elements to the issue I chose to express. While the officers' use of force was indeed excessive (and probably intensified because King is black), King's resistance to arrest was what sparked the need for the officers to use force in the first place. While the senseless beating was an obvious representation of police brutality and arguably an example of institutionalized racism, hundreds of even more blatant civil rights violations have gone unnoticed. King became a rallying symbol because someone captured his beating on tape; it is unfortunate we don't have on tape one of the hundreds of documented cases where police and others have brutalized - even killed - people under no extenuating circumstances, but The Signpost staff Editor in chief Managing editor News editor Gov. affairs editor Asst. news editor Sports editor Asst. sports editor Asst. sports editor Arts editor Senior arts reporter Signature editor Asst. Sig. editor Copy editor Asst. copy editor Special editions Photo editor Asst. photo editor Senior photo Production manager Asst. prod, manager Ad design manager Advertising manager Asst. ad manager Office manager Advisor Asst. advisor, editorial Asst. advisor Publisher Lorin J. May Scott D. Summers Laurie M. Wirth Tina Tritsch J. Stanley Howard Cory Sovereen Kelly Farnsworth Jamie Martin Patric Toval Mark Lukes Jennifer Harding Tyson Hiatt Justin C. Scott Cheryl Jensen Jennifer Harding Danielle Mabey Charles Bowhay Brian Schiele Matt Snyder Mark Lukes Jana Jacobs Shaun Shelton Craig A. Sanders Laura Lueck P. Larry Stahle Dale S. Oberer Jim Sawdey Dr. Randy Scott Letters to the editor policy The Signpost welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be typed and should not exceed 400 words. For lengthier expositions, arrangements may be made with the editor in chief. Letters must include name, address, phone number, relationship to staff and the signature of the writer. The Signpost reserves the right to edit for reasons of space and libel and reserves the right to refuse to print any letter. Bring letters to the editorial office in UB 267 or mail to: The Signpost, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah, 84408-2110, Attn: Editor in chief. simply and undebatably because of their race. Indeed, someday someone else will have a camera in the right place at the right time, and our outrage will be focused on a victim who did not break any laws and did not forcefully resist arrest. Though neither that person nor King will have deserved to be beaten, the comparison will make Rodney King seem like a poor martyr. But I am new in this job, and had to learn the hard way that when attempting to present these sides to a multi-sided issue, it's what you don't say that counts to some people. Because Ididn'tpointedlyproclaim that Rodney King was brutalized by criminals with badges, my commentary was taken to be in favor of the ruling. But I expressed no opinion on the ruling. For those who mistook my absence of judgement for acceptance, I had even considered clarifying a few sections of my May 4 ed itorial here. But I shouldn't have to restate my position every time someone misses the point and responds with anger. Instead I will repeat a famous quote from an anonymous editorial writer: "I know you believe you understand what I said, but lam not sure you realize that what you heard is not what 1 meant." I must emphasize that the "personal" King letters contain valid viewpoints and good information. Hopefully the factual points they make will not be overshadowed by the less factual,emotionally-charged responses that accompany them. The Signpost phone numbers Editor in chief Managing editor News Sports Classified Advertising Production Fax 626-7121 626-7105 626-7507 626-7983 626-6358 626-6359 626-6358 626-7401 The Signpost is published Monday, Wednesday and Friday during fall, winter and spring quarters and on Tuesday during summer quarter. Subscriptions are $9 per quarter. Ad deadline is two days before publication. Letters to the editor Officers who beat Rodney King were not scared To the editor, This is in response to the editorial by the new editor in chief Lorin J. May. It is too bad we didn't get to hear 30 seconds ofcross-examination of Rodney King. You see Lorin, the same police dept. that beat Mr. King to a bloody pulp right in front of your eyes, is the same police dept. that filed the reportabout the high speed chase. Personally, Mr. May, I find it hard to believe that four officers are able to pound a man into the ground, but as they clai med, were unable to handcuff him. Resisting arrest? I think trying to escape with his life might better Eliminate voter apathy; put Perot To the editor, "Where apathy is master, all men are slaves." (anonymous) But what is apathy, that we hear so much about nowadays? Definition, according to Webster Apathy: Without emotion; lack of interest; listless condition; indifference.The sorry condition our government is now in, being the inevitable result of our having succumbed to all the above, we must take desperate measures to fight our way out of a looming abyss. Politically and economically, we face countless problems which the recession we are immersed in has visited upon us. We the people, are searching for someone to rally around; one who will fight for us, rather than to promote his own selfish interests. The political arena is like a boxing ring. As of now the incumbents may be knocked down because of recent revelations of excess they have rewarded themselves, of which much has been made public, in every level of government. In their self-regard as the "rulers" over their constituents, they may be temporarily "knocked down." They may be down, but we, their challengers, whom they regard as the "thorn in their side," still have our work cut out for us. They may be down, but certainly describe it. Lorin, if as you suggest, we bring up Mr. King's violent past, we should also bring up the violent past of the LAPD. Please keep in mind that Mr. King was the victim and the LAPD the assailant. Mr. King's past is totally irrelevant to the crime. Or, are you trying to tell us that because Mr. King had a past record it's OK to beat him senseless? Do you think the officers involved knew at the time Mr. King had a past record? Do you really think thatfourheavilyarmed cops (the same cops that deal with 50,000 gang members on a daily basis) were afraid of one unarmed man? Could this have been the not out yet. Comes now a prime challenger, namely H. Ross Perot. One to whom we can look forward to champion the cause of honesty and efficiency in government. A man who has achieved remarkable success the hard way; who knows the value of a dollar; a man who is fiscally responsible. "Ross for Boss!" A man up to who we can look; who could run government as it should be run: As a fiscally responsiblebusiness. Although he may not represent a panacea for all the skeletons as of now in our government closets, he, even now, is a catalyst, instilling in us a FEELING to course us out of our apathy, to inspire the people of this JlWktJ J PUMPING-(OROrjn SERVICE 'Ml ploy used by the defense attorney to convince the almost all-white male jury not to convict the all-white male defendants? The poor defendants were scared to by the big black man ... Lorin, is this what you consider a trial by a jury of your peers? Your ignorance astounds me! But perhaps you're right. We should have killed the messenger and everything would be just fine. You could have watched your basketball and the bearings would continue - only we would be unaware of it. Damn those camcorders anyway ... Pete Jahsman Alumnus on ballot for 1992 great nation to action, specifically to VOTE, come next November. We of THRO (Throw the Hypocritical Rascals Out) movement in Utah, pledge to do all we can to see that in signing and otherwise helping in any way we can with petitions, that his name appears-solidly on the November 1992 election ballot. If you would like to join the fight for better government at all levels, consider joining the THRO movement. Our next meeting is . scheduled for June 2 at 7:00 p.m. in the Weber County Library auditorium.We do not ask for contributions. Richard Swenson WSU student " - , |