Words Of Wisdom
In the last few days the University
has seen the emergence of a
united student-faculty-clergy coalition
which is combating the institutionalized
racism so prevalent in
our local community, as well as in
the country at large.
For those who have had the
eyes to see and recognize the evils
of racism which permeate the country
in general, and this University in
particular, the thrust of the coalition's
efforts are heartwarming.
However, a sizeable number of
people in this Academic Community
are in doubt and confusion
towards this grave issue. I would
ask these people to reflect on the
words of Norman Mailer, who himself
is facing another of the issues
threatening to destroy this country
- the vastness of the military-industrial
complex, and its influence
upon governmental policies. Although
the immediate issue is different
from racism in this context,
the effect on our country is the
same.
"America - the land where a
new kind of man was born from
the idea that God was present in
every man not only as compassion
but as power, and so the
country belonged to the
people;
Broad on that country who
expresses our will. She is
America, once a beauty of magnificence
unparalleled, now a
beauty with a leprous skin. She
is heavy with child - no one
knows if legitimate - and languishes
in a dungeon whose
walls are never seen. Now the
first contractions of her fear -
some labor begins - it will go
on: no doctor exists to tell the
hour. It is only known that false
labor is not likely on her now,
no, she will probably give birth,
and to what? - the most fear
some totalitarianism the world
has ever known? Or can she,
poor giant, tormented lovely
girl, deliver a babe of a new
world brave and tender, artful
and wild? Deliver us from our
curse, for we must end on the
road to that mystery...
Edward P. Offley
College 4
