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Show OPINIO,N ... . ,... , . GLENN HALTERMAN \ COMMENTARY More good news is bad news "lt is discouraging how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit," said past British playwright Noel Coward. In a day when murders, rapes and beatings are still uncommon enough to still be considered newsworthy, it is indeed a sad commentary that exemplary acts of honesty and virtue are, at the same time, equally extraordinary enough to make the news. Thankfully, most of the news we hear, reaa, and see is still negative. As Jon Smith points out in his newswrlting classes, the time we really need to worry is when The Spectrum begins to print headlines like "Nobody was raped in Cedar- last night." However, society-at-large seems to be heading for a crossroads where too much positive press translates into bad news. You may recall what happened last year when a Brinks truck overturned, spilling thousands in cash and coins on to an Interstate 95 overpass in o ne o f Miami 's poorest n eighborhoods. The Associated Press reported that more than $500,000 vanished by the bands of local residents as well as commuters, who loaded bags of money into their cars while two Brinks workers lay bleeding. The Detroit News said that police later went door-to-door asking people if they had taken the money and to give it back. Most people, it was reported, answered wjth a hearty laugh. One, Dion Gittens, 18, was somewhat philosophical about situation in saying, "God gave it, so let God take it away." At least two souls, a mother of six and an 11-year-old boy, opted not to wait for divine intervention in the matter and returned their found funds, totaling $19. 53 and 85 cents, respectively. Their honesty made headlines; that should make heads shake. A similar situation occurred last week in Cedar Citywhen an armored truck driver opened an A TM at First Security Bank, sending $20 bills flying in a St. Patrick's Day wind. Though The Spectnzm reported that about 15 people stopped to help and gather (and return) the money, about $580 is still missing. In spite of the illusive assets, the driver, Robert Kelly said, "l'm really surprised at all the honesty." On December 10, 1996, Phil Condit, CEO of Boeing and Harry Stonecipher, CEO of MacDonnell Douglas met, alone, in the Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle to discuss plans for a merger between the two companies. Fortune magazine pointed out there were "no lawyers, no accountants and definitely no investment bankers." . Though talks had broken down between the two sides and theu respective entourages during the previous three years, Condit and Stonecipher were able to arrive at a rough agreement in less than one hour. Then, for the next two hours, they discussed the ramifications of their multi-billion dollar union. "We got ready to go," said Stonecipher, "and Phil said something like, 'Gosh, I guess we ought to shake hands.' So we did." Am I and others surprised by such honorable conduct? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Therein lies the problem. Glenn Halterman is a pohtical science major from Parowan, Utah. PROFESSlONAL STAFF ANO DESK PHONE IIIU!l1BERS: Edi.t or L.irry Bal<e.r S86-775 I Campus Editor Jhn Ro binson 586-1997 Consulting Sports Edilots Neal G ardne r 586-7753 Brett Jcwlte.s 5'86-7752 STUDENT STAFF AND DESK PHONE NU MBERS: Associate Editors Ve.tonic. Garn« S65-8ll5, 5116, 7750 Brandon Rhodes 586-7750, 586-1991 AP Wi~ Editor Kami Eg,in 586-7759 Spons Edit or C had Lllmh 865-8443 Copy Edi1or Tiano Tew 586-5 488 AP Sp<>.n s Editor Ryan Flox 86$,8443 Photo Editor John C uenler 586-7759 Advertising Manage., Mawe Nei5en 586-7758 Arts Editor Anna Turpin 586,5488 Ad,·ertising Designu Adam Moore 586 -7758 REPORTERS' DESK 586-7757 The Unrversity Jnumbl ii puhlishcd every MnnJ1y, Wednesday .:md Fdd:;,y o( the a~demic ycH as 1 rubhcatlon <>( Southern· Ut11h Uni\'crsny, us dec1l11·nm:cnLor commuoicat1on ..and the SUU Studcm Association. The \'icws anJ opinions expressed in .-he {ourmJ! arc those of inJ.iviJu.a.l writers antl do not ncccss.nily rdll."Ct the opinio n of thc::. /oumol l,r any cmny of the umvC::.rS:Lty l..ctttr$ co the o.llt.or mun be LyJX-J :mJ in.elude the n2mc :rn<l phone number. Onl)' the n.amc ,.,dll be rrinu:J Nami:.s will o~t he withheld under any circumstances and t.hc cdhor rese,vt!! 1.~1t1n,g pnv,l~cs.. Leners mu.n be subm1uc-J hy nunn Fr1J.ays for M\>ndly "-dluon.s, TucsJJys for Wcdrtcsday etlunuts and Thursdays for Friday cduion.s Griev-antei! Arty indiv1Jual wuh a p 1t.."vancc .tg~mSt 1hc J<mtnnl should direct 1uc.h pn>blcm rirst t~ t~c cJmu . 1r uorcsolvcd_, tli:n grievance should then be Jm:ctcU to the fuurnal Su..-cang Commntcc. which 1s d,.,rcJ by Dr. fr.un C. Pc.rson, Sll6-797 I UaiY<r.drr /ournol: Ofllces in SUU Tcebnology BtnlJing om Mail •• SVU Box 9.lll4, Ce.hr C 1<y, Utah 84720. FAX (4351586-5487. E-m• il aJJrcs,: 1oumal@sl1u.cJu O PRINT ED O N RECYCL10 P/\PIR PLEAS[ RECYCLE THIS COPY KATHLEEN PARKER COMMENTARY Time for Clinton to come clean There comes a point when even the most generous, fair-minded and patient among us calls time and says, Enough. That time has come. Enough stalling, enough hedgi ng, enough denials. It's time for Clinton either to step up to the plate or get out of the game. Maybe both. Throughout the weeks of our national embarrassment, most Americans have adopted a wait-and-see attitude to the various sexual claims against the president. Others, who presumably know more than the rest of us, have condemned him from the get-go, not even pretending to give the man the benefit of doubt or due process. For my jury of peers, I prefer the former. Should I ever be accused of a crime or a social affront, I'd like to think I'd get a fair shake. In this country, we judge by fact, not insinuation. For that reason and that alone, I've postponed judging the president. It's a good reason given what I don't know: I don't know what happened with Paula Jones. She says Clinton propositioned her in a hotel room in a graphically disgusting way while he was governor of Arkansas. He says h e didn' t. Sexual harassment? I dunno. I don't know what happened between Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. Sbe teld a spy-friend the two had a sexual relationship. He denies it, and now she does, too. Adultery ? I dunno. I don't know what happened between Kathleen Willey and the president. She says he groped her in just outside the Oval Office. He says he hugged her and kis sed her on the forehead. Sexual assault? I dunno. Those are the "facts" thus far. That's what we know. Not enough. People make false claims all the time. In these sexually sensitive times, we can't afford a rush to judgment. Regardless of whether the president is guilty as accused, we've spent enough time on this subject. We've reached a point in t he debate when the president's silence and avoidance of questions is almost as offensive as the charges. M eanwhile, Americans are angry, divided, confused and tired of the whole business. Which means this: Clinton has lost control of his realm. His credibility is weakened. His days of effective leadership are numbered. He must come forward. He should do it now- before Paula Jones takes him to court and we're subjected to weeks of descriptions of the man's sex We. Inevitable are even more graphic descriptions of Clinton's anatomy, his so-called distinguishing characteristics. In the early days of the current onslaught, when Lewinsky's story first emerged, the rumors of presidential pe ccadilloes were somewhat entertaining. The stories leaking from Kenneth Starr's chambers-the intern, the wired friend, the gifts, the kneepads- were fodder for all of us. Joke-writers and colwnnists never bad it so good. But such stories have lives of their own. Suddenly we're weeks into the £ray and what used to be bawdily amusing has become a dirty, run-on joke that isn't funny anymore. Even t urning on the news has become an iffy proposition. Like sex, you have to be in the m ood. "Should we watch the news tonight, honey?" "Nah, I have a headache. " When we no longer want to hear about what's going on in our country-or when the news of our president is so repuJsive we have to evacuate children from the family room-we' ve got a problem. The solution isn't a trial, God forbid. It isn't denial. It isn't escaping to Camp David. It's facing the nation. Clinton must come forward and come clean. At this point, Americans will be shocked by nothing; they' ll be pleasantly surprised and morally reassured the president has the guts to deal with everybody's worse nightmare-public shame. If he's innocent, he has nothing to fear. If he's guilty, just say so: "I'm sorry; I'm ashamed; I b~g forgiveness; I repent.'' Americans, bless theu hearts, love to forgive. Always generous of spirit and biblical at heart, most would consider his confess.ion an act of heroism . Whatever the case, only the truth will set us free. The time has come. Kathleen Parker is a nationally s yndicated columnist. |