McMurry University War Whoop (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 69, No. 11, Ed. 1, Tuesday, March 31, 1992 Page: 2 of 8
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WdMUfrpEmWeWlty WAR WHOOP
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ditorial
During my Spring Break visit to
London England I made a serious
attempt to discover films that had not
yet made its way to Texas. I learned
quickly that every major and minor
movie theater in London was playing
exclusively American films with the
exception of a few French films
(which can also be found in some
American theaters). Frustrated by
the selection and the prices to see
these films (5 or $10 for one ticket)
my attention was garnered toward the
advertisements for some of these
films. Specifically I noticed posters
for those nxwesnominatedforOscars
in the Best Picture category.
Reflecting on the selections for
Best Picture I suddenly became em-
barrassed that two or three of these
films arguably provide sensational
and escapist images of American
culture and outrageously pass as the
best American film makers have to
offer. More high-minded films ig-
nored for this honor included Spike
Lee's relevant and superb Jungle
Fever BruccBcresford'smagnificcnt
Black Robe and the Coen brothers'
entrancing Barton Fink .
I have heard the arguments re-
lentlessly from every direction that
movies are not supposed to make you
think but are only for entertainment.
These arguments ignore the sublimi-
Editorial
KY DUTCH DRIVER
Wendy Valedictorian of her high
school class has just enrolled at Pascal
University majoring in communica-
tions. Within a couple of weeks she
will meet Albert coincidentally also a
former Valedictorian and communica-
tions major. They will be linked to each
otherovertheircollegiatecareers. Will
it be love at first sight? No that would
be the idyllic conclusion of their meet-
ing end a much happier one. Instead
the two will engage in one of the most
intense bouts of rivalry that Pascal U.
has ever seen.
The students of our story Wendy
and Albert will compete against each
other for scholarships grants and
grades. Both of them will lose the to
other one many many times. Their four
years of college will include disap-
pointments frustration stress nnd many
heartbreaks until one of them has re-
ceived one setback one loss too many.
The result was tragic. Society will
never know the potential of Albert's
contribution to it
Competition is as American as
applepie. It it one of the basic values of
our country and mostof thesub-systems
of our country operate with it. From the
first chair in the trumpet section of the
band to the starting center of the
women's basketball team to die male
lead in the theatrical production of
Hamlet all of these positions are iden-
tified as winners conquerors of the
competition but there are many more of
nal and dangerous messages movies
such as Beauty and the Beast offer
naive young minds. These messages
feed our subconscious and reinforce
our juvenile sensibilities. Disney has
been guilty of corrupting young im-
pressionable minds with portraying
life as a simple conflict between good
and evil. In their latest animation
marvel JHeautyandtheBeast Disney
suggests and perpetuates the idea that
love can conquer anything. One can
easily identify the abusive husband
(the Beast) and the loving wife
(Beauty) who is convinced that her
lovecan change the Beast. People arc
often mystified when abused wives
appear on Oprah why they stay with
their monstrous husbands but with
such Disney films it is easily identifi-
able. As I have already written in the
Jan. 28 issue of the War Whoop both
the Prince of Tides and Bugsy pro-
vide the best examples of American
cinematic mediocrity and melodra-
maticrepugnancy. Millions of people
around the world will see these films
as a snap shot photo of American
own impressions of London and the
surrounding country side was unde-
niably affected by my own exposure
to U.K. movies. Films such as A
Clockwork Orange Brazil Time
Bandits Chariots of Fire A Room
the conquered and vanquished than there
are victors.
What does this say about our soci-
ety? Are we to give into the doctrine of
social Darwinism and the survival of
the fittest? What about the losers? What
do we do about them? Shouldn't the
victors have a responsibility to the los-
ers? Should competition be at the core
of our daily lives?
There is no doubt that the debate
over the answers to these questions will
go on until the day of reckoning but I
am going to propose my soluuons to the
last two questions concerning the re-
sponsibility of the victors and whether
competition should be at core of our
daily lives to enter the debate.
The victors or winners of any
situation DO have an obligation towards
the rest of us. Our mere presence as
possible challengers provided the threat
which pushed them to excel I have
hearditsaidover and over again that the
cream always rises to the top and this is
true. But if the cream rises to the top
then it cannot set there without the
milk.
Winners should feel obliged to
share the secrets of how their triumphs
were attained the mistakes they made
along with the parts that they got right
with the rest of us so that we may have
a better chance at becoming winners
ourselves and if they do not pass their
secrets along we should demand them
to do so.
.You CDVceeihis principle ilios-
With A View 84 Charring Cross-
road 451 Fahrenheit indllope and
Glory just to name a few have
etched a distinctive image in my mind
concerning the British culture. These
films reflect in my mind a people
caught in a world of restraint and
oppressive bureaucracy. As I saw the
sights of London I was able to iden-
tify where those images had origi-
nated from. However I am able to
identify those films as social com-
mentaries and artistic endeavors rather
than true vignettes of English life.
My anxieties lie in the resent-
ment that the Oscars fail to nominate
films that will speak for and about the
American experience rather than a
distorted image of what Americans'
wishtheexperiencetobcabout. Films
shape our minds and lives in quiet
ways. Those that attempt an honest
sometimes brutal portrayal of our lives
are condemned and rejected as too
violent or sexual. The systematic
lowering of cinematic standards and
the desensitizing of the media is
wholly welcomed by the American
public (Bugsy ). When films make
people feel uneasy because they touch
some ugly truth they are brushed aside
and ignored (Jungle Fever ). The
Oscars have unfortunately become
a dangerous tool for legitimizing these
false images.
OiktrCoocmrmd R$ad4f:M
trated when you are m the bookstores
around town. I believe every book was
written to share the knowledge that a
winner of some kind of competition
was asked or felt obligated to write
about so the rest of us could avoid
making mistakes increasing the likeli-
hood of our chance at winning and any
coach will state that the team thatmokes
the least number of mistakes will win
the game.
Should competition be at core of
our daily lives? At the core not Key to
txitnotcentraitomecompetiuonsnould
takesecondplacetocooperadon. Why?
B ecause every las ting thing that we have
achieved as a race has been through
cooperation.
The examples of this are numer-
oisTheBible the Great Wallof China
Neil Armstrong's footprint on the moon
and this university were all achieved
through cooperation. Even the educa-
tion which you have received over your
lifetime was a cooperative effort be-
tween yourself and many many others;
beginning with your parents your
education leads back to ancient times.
If you were to refuse to use your
knowledge to aid the ignorant it would
be the most selfish and egocentric act
that you would ever be likely to per-
form. How much more could society
havegainedbythecooperationbetween
two winners like Wendy and Albert
instead of the destructive competition
i which in aim led to Albert's siiicide?
1992 student body
express concerns
BY CLAUDIA GRAVIRR
Elcctionycarl992meansagreat
deal to many people especially to
those running for office and those
voters electing the new officers.
However in order to pick the "best"
candidate for the job one must know
where they stand on important and
relevant issues. Moreover to be the
"best" candidate one must know what
the voters consider relevant and im-
portant issues.
When students were offered the
opportunity to express their concerns
a great variety of issues were raised.
"More activities open dorm and
dorm restrictions bass speakers in
the caf more athletic sports (swim-
ming wrestling gymnastics) are ex-
amples" freshman Chozet said.- "I
think most of these tilings can bo
provided for the students with just a
little more work. The potential is
there. The school just needs to get
motivated."
Other students recognized some
of the same concerns.
"Mature issues need to be taken
on school spiritstudent involvement
in issues" juJor Grcel Myers said.
"And better student representation in
all issues."
Junior Kerry Nes agrees. "Stu
4s
McMurry University
WAR
The McMurry University WAR WHOOP Is published
very two weoks during tho tall and spring semesters
xcoptdurlng school holldays.DeadWeekand during
final examinations.
Editorial statements or commentary appearing In
War Whoop columns articles and letters are solely the
opinion of the writers and In no way reflect the official
position of the newspaper the McMurry University
administration or all students.
Tho War Whoop encourages letters to the editor that
pertain to Issues relevant to tho McMurry community.
Priority wHI be given to student written letters.
All letters submitted may bo subject to review by the
War Whoop Editorial Advisory Board whose members
are: Dm. Joe Stamey Sandra Harper and Mike Daniel;
Zackle Van Houten; Brent Ostos; Matt Drumhetler; Sue
Rowtett; Chris Proctor-Cleveland; and Eric Luette.
Letters to the editor wHI be edited for length and
good taste
Editor.
Brent Ostos
Staff Writers:
Len Wilson
Brian Comerford
Claudia Gravler
Tammy Carter
Dutch Driver
Yvetre Vasquez
dent representation in issues and stu-
dent involvement as well as better
representation of all students needs to
be addressed."
"Along with more student in-
volvement and school spirit better
relations between students and ad-
ministrators need to be tackled" se-
nior Karen Jones said.
Other issues were also brought
up.
"I would like to see better rela-
tions with Hardin-Slmmons and
ACU" sophomore Tammy Ready
said. "I think that good terms be-
tween all three universities is good
for the public image of McMurry."
Students also raised the question
of dorm policies.
"I hate being kicked out at mid-
night wuen trying to study for a test"
freshman Jeff Smith said.
The issue of money-spent was
also raised.
"I believe it needs to bo public
how MSO spends its money. I don't
believe students would approve of all
expenditures" Joey Parker said.
The issues now revealed candi-
dates and the future MSO President
and Senate havo an idea of what
problems the students would like to
'bcaddreswi. - '.
WHOOP
7no Editor
Photographers:
Butch Hernandez
Jeremy Mebane
Graphic Designer:
Tina Schoenhals
Advisor.
Zackle Van Houten
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McMurry University War Whoop (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 69, No. 11, Ed. 1, Tuesday, March 31, 1992, newspaper, March 31, 1992; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth104522/m1/2/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting McMurry University Library.