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| Oct. 21, 2004 | ||||||
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Our Perspective... Allow The Appalachian a moment to be sarcastic and a little mean. This year’s Homecoming theme is Mountaineer Mardi Gras, and it’ll be blast. There are few things better in life than painting banners and watching the football team give the Wofford Terriers the Bob Barker treatment. However, The Appalachian questions the wisdom of taking the trashiest, raunchiest tradition New Orleans has to offer, and bringing it to Boone to be enjoyed by thousands of college students, many of whom do not need an excuse to get drunk any weekend, much less this particular one. Maybe raunchiest is a little stern, but what other word do you use to describe activities where girls get beads by lifting up their shirts? This tradition is brought to you by the same state that recently proposed banning the selling of low-riding jeans because the jeans are considered “indecent.” Perhaps The Appalachian is being a little paranoid, but, just as if a tornado were coming to town, consider this a “flash warning.” The Appalachian upgraded this from a “flash watch,” because with the watch, there’s a probability nothing will occur. Conditions are ripe for the “warning;” and by conditions, The Appalachian means alcohol, stupidity and certain campus organizations. Throw all that in with the presence of children and unsuspecting parents, and what you will get is the live, up-close version of “Old School.” There hasn’t been a party like this since the Political Party a month ago. Will Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock grace the parade with his presence, only to have his feathers ruffled? This will be the year that sets the precedent for Homecoming for years to come. Will we go even further next year (Cancun 2005, perhaps?) or will next year be everyone standing in a circle holding hands (An ode to Dr. Phil?). However, one thing will be missing this year: MTV. Oh dear MTV, how horribly, horribly bad you have been to us. What will Appalachian do without MTV’s making a total mockery of our school and its track stars and resurrected romances? Rejoicing, praising whatever deity you may believe in and living life without fear of humiliation immediately come to mind. All joking aside, The Appalachian hopes everyone is safe and watches out for beads.
Democrats think 2004 is revenge of nerds
When did the Democratic Party become the party of computer nerds, Lord of the Rings fanatics and marching band heroes? John F. Kennedy, they are not. Instead of actually standing up to the Republican Party and its scare tactics, the Democrats seem to find it easier to lie down and take it like a little boy who wants his mommy. Which is all well and good, I suppose, if you’re trying to establish that you want to really talk about the issues while the other guy wants to smear and fear. However, they haven’t done that very well, either. At some point you have to get out of the sandbox and fight. No one wants a commander-in-chief who is scared of playing Battleship. The Democrats had a real opportunity in this election to take control. The Bush camp was on the ropes and was just ready to be knocked out by a strong contender. Instead, the Democrats spent an entire summer trying to prove that Sen. John Kerry was just as much of a man as President George W. Bush. This was the grave mistake. He’s never going to win that battle. Bush is too well-liked by people who judge a president on how he looks in cowboy boots. Kerry is intelligent. Bush is not. He had to slow down to say “exaggeration” in the last debate. Kerry served this country in Vietnam. Bush ducked and ran from a stethoscope in Alabama. Kerry is a leader. Bush is leading with no one behind him. Kerry understands that views change, circumstances differ, new ideas are important. Bush understands only staying the course and refusing to admit any wrongs, however slight they may be. When the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ran their attack ads on Kerry, the Democrats waited over two weeks just to categorically deny the allegations. Instead, he let the public opinion sway over to the defenders of vile and vengeance. Somehow the guy who never served gets to be the war hero. When that many people are saying Kerry is a “flip-flopper” it becomes fact, despite lack of evidence. The Democrats instead relied on a series of Bush-bashing books. Sadly, the American people do not read books, especially in the summer. They also have relied on “The Daily Show” to refute the Republican argument. As smart and sarcastic as Jon Stewart is, when you are relying on him to win the election you are … well … uh hum … in the poo. This is not to say that Kerry should have made Bush scream “Uncle!” every step of the way. That is surely not presidential. However, it is very vice-presidential. Instead of selecting a tough guy who could push the buttons of Bush and his cohorts, the Democrats chose a guy who gained popularity because he refused to go negative in the primaries. Bob Kerrey was available. John McCain would have been if he felt like he was anything more than a bridesmaid. No, oh no, we have our man in good old, safe John Edwards. Despite all of this, Kerry is ahead by a point or two in some recent polls. If he manages to pull off what seemed impossible just a month ago, it will not be because of Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe or his various dim-witted friends. The Democrats have never recovered from the beating Bill Clinton took during the impeachment process. Ever since then they have had their heads in the sand, hoping not to be called out on anything. This is the party of Kennedy and Roosevelt. This is the party that includes all, who says, “Yes, pull yourself up by your boot straps but if you need a hand we’re here.” This is not the party that buckles in the corner, only hoping not to be beaten too bad by the big bad Karl Rove.
How does this sound Red Sox fans? Down in the series and things are not looking too great. Entering your last at bat of the next game, down a couple runs, a loss puts you out of contention. Bang. They tie it up and send the game to extra innings to eventually win by a walk-off home run to the stands. The next day, same scenario, same result. Down to your last at bat, tie it up again. Send it to extra innings and win via a blooper hit over second base to bring in the winning run. Sounds like the recent American League Championship Series (ALCS) between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, right? Wrong. I mean you’re right, but wrong at the same time. If I’m confusing you, especially those that are not of Red Sox origin, I don’t mean to boggle your mind, but the 2004 Red Sox improbable, epic games are no different to the epic games of the 2001 New York Yankees. You may think Boston has accomplished something no one will forget whether they come back to win the series or not ... guess again. In the 2001 World Series, on a bigger platform, the Yankees pulled off what the 2004 Red Sox are trying to repeat. And if they succeed, the end result will not be to the Red Sox favor. What on earth am I talking about? Well Red Sox fans, your David Ortiz who knocked out the game-winning two run homer in Game 4, and popped the game winning hit in Game 5 did nothing any different than what Tino Martinez and Scott Brosius did in the 2001 World Series. And nobody remembers them; guess what ... nobody is going to remember Ortiz, either. Allow me to reintroduce my point by going back three years almost to the very week. The Yankees are in the World Series facing Curt Schilling (huh, coincidence) and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Down two games to one, the Yankees were losing by two runs in the bottom of the ninth (any of this coming back yet?). With Arizona’s best closer on the mound (Yung-Kim), two outs gone, Tino Martinez rocketed a two-run homer to tie up the game (at home, just like Boston). The next inning, Derek Jeter jacks a walk-off home run (a la’ Ortiz’s walk off homer in Game 4) to tie a series that the Yankees were easily on the brink of being behind 3-1. The next game, the same result. Bottom of the ninth, two outs, same closer (as Mariano Rivera in Games 4 and 5). This time unsung hero Scott Brosius launched the two-run homer to tie the game up. In the 11th inning, Alfonzo Soriano hit a slicer over second base (strangely the same type of hit Ortiz had in Game 5) to bring in Jeter for the winning run. The Yankees had all the momentum, all the hype, and the series lead. When they went back to Arizona, they never won another game and lost the World Series. Red Sox fans, I can’t help but reflect back three years prior when I see all the dancing and excitement in beantown over the comebacks your team has overcome in Games 4 and 5. Although the series lead wasn’t exactly the same, the scenarios and momentum swings are eerily familiar. Riveria and Yung-Kim in the same role, blowing last inning saves on back-to-back nights. Both teams leaving their home stadium after the deja vu experience to try and keep the hope alive. The only result left incomparable is both teams’ fate. The Yankees lost everything they gained from those two memorable games when they left Yankee Stadium. The Red Sox have left Fenway Park and arrived in New York with the momentum swinging their way. Although this article was written with Game 7 left to play, my personal prediction is that the series will be matched to the very end ... with Boston falling. If I’m wrong, then Boston can finally claim they have one up on the Yankee Bombers. Be open to new music to enjoy future classics (In reference to Lori Fox's column, "All you need is love, musical insects" Oct. 7): I agree that pop is over played on the radio but you cannot bash music of today. We are living in the best time for enjoying music but yet so many people will not open themselves up to this new music but instead will live in the past of the Beatles and other bands. The classic rock stations have become just as much pop as the new stations. They play the same old rock songs over and over. It is great to listen to the past and I love old rock and old bluegrass is my favorite music, but I cannot hold myself to just this old music, for there are so many great new bands out there who are just as cutting edge as these past bands, and are built on the past. I really think that no one can put down today's music, for I can go online and hear anything I want or get XM radio, and every night in cities like Asheville and even some in Boone, I can walk down the street and hear a variety of music. But if you want to live in the past, do it and I will support you in that, and if someone wants to listen to pop let them and I will support them in it. Who am I to tell someone what is good music, music has soul and everyone has different souls and different love of music. So be easy on people and let them listen to what they want to. Thanks for listening, peace, and PS: If you dig that old rock, check out North Mississippi All-Stars. I think you will love them. Matthew Blackburn Jaywalking a serious problem on campus It has become clear to me as a driver for a food delivery company here in Boone, that ASU has no interest in enforcing the law as it concerns jay-walking. It is an everyday concern to me that I constantly have to watch for students jaywalking all over the place; they are a danger to themselves and to me as a driver. I try to drive at the posted speed limits around campus but having to slam on my brakes every time one of the students just walks out in front of me as if they do not see me or care that they are breaking the law is asking too much. It is time that the ASU Police be forced by the administration to do their jobs and force them to enforce the law and not be allowed to turn a blind eye to law breaking. David C. Gross Could Nalgene sales be dangerous? I read in your paper about the SGA selling Nalgene bottles and wondered whether or not these were No. 7s (indicated on the bottom inside the recycle symbol). I recently read an article stating that No. 7 plastic bottles are dangerous because the polybicarbonate leaks when washed with hot water causing birth defects and mental retardation in laboratory rats. I had a bottle myself, but after reading the research and even talking to stores who sell the bottles (who also claim this is true) I threw mine away. Here are some sites below about it: Allison Sparks Jaywalking a serious problem on campus With the election coming Nov. 3 I'm surprised at the lack of political articles in The Appalachian. While I realize that other publications are covering events, it would be nice to see what the students at ASU think (maybe on the front page instead of the very back). Out of the six pages there are 5 pages that contains sports. Jonathan Chapman Football fans distasteful after Furman game I love a good football game, even when my team is on the losing end of the game. The past two times I have made the trip to the beautiful town of Boone to watch Furman play, my team lost. But each time I make the trip there, the students and fans I encounter after the games are an embarrassment to a great school like ASU. I can deal with an occasional middle finger thrown my way after a game, or people cussing and taunting fans of the losing team. While those actions are a horrible display of sportsmanship, I'm not personally offended by it, and I actually come to expect it at certain schools. However, when I leave a stadium with my young nieces and nephews, that type of display is not something I care for them to see and hear. Imagine what it feels like to have your 4-year old little girl ask you, "Daddy, what does 'f--- you' mean?" I have close friends who are students at ASU, friends for whom I have the utmost respect, and I realize that the "bad apples" I refer to in this letter are not necessarily in the majority. Every school has their share of bad fans, but I see more evidence of this at ASU than other schools. I urge you to do your best at keeping ASU football an environment of class and good sportsmanship. Win and lose with class and you'll gain the respect of everyone you face. Bootie Cothran Columnist forgets idea of separation of church, state This is in reference to the opinion article written by Elizabeth Ashford regarding a good president. I was disgusted and frustrated to read once again the same ignorant opinions that I have heard from my fellow students and Americans. I read that Elizabeth had to throw God and religion into her "political" argument. This is irrelevant! SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. I know this is difficult to comprehend for the protestant "God comes first" mentality but it is unconstitutional and not every American believes in what the Christian Bible has to say about right and wrong. I don't believe that an microscopic embryo is a life until second trimester, ask my sonographer mother about that one. You need to consider quality of life and overpopulation before you encourage taking away my Right to Choose. And there is no sanctity in marriage. Divorce rates are at 50% and there are popular television shows like "The Bachelor" which glorifies falling in love in six weeks. How is it an injury to anyone for a same-sex relationship in which the couple LOVES each other to marry under recognition of the law? You write about discrimination. Making gay marriages illegal a constitutional amendment is discrimination and it is reversing human rights in this country. Try to look beyond your close-minded white, Christian ideals for a moment and put yourself in someone else's shoes who is being treated unequally in this "free" America. Emily Conner I am writing in response to an article printed in the Oct. 12 issue of The Appalachian. The article claims students are "not represented in town." Let me begin by saying I am a Boone native and a university employee who works very closely with students (Mountaineer Escort), thus I feel I can fairly see both sides of the argument. I think there are two reasons for this. First, students do not pay taxes. As stated in the article property taxes are paid "indirectly," but that's the key word. You can't expect to contribute indirectly on a paper and get the good grade for that paper. Secondly, and most importantly, students don't try to be represented. If a student wants to be represented it is their responsibility, not the towns, to do the research and find out how he or she can go about it. The town makes those resources available at www.townofboone.com. It is also my belief that students don't want to be represented because they don't realize there is a community out there that lives and thrives totally separate from ASU. I constantly hear students say "there wouldn't be a town here if it weren't for ASU" or something to that extent. This statement is totally false, and is probably produced by the atmosphere created by the amenities on campus at the fingertips of the students. Also, there are many wonderful clubs and organizations that immerse students in the University atmosphere. But unfortunately, with that, people tend not to see the town's atmosphere. For instance, most students think Horn in the West is just a parking lot. Locals know it as an outdoor drama that has been a part of this community for 53 years. It has always been my hope that the town and the University can work together and bridge this gap. Daniel Cook
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