opinion
Craft case goes into
appeals ad nauseum
We should have seen it coming. Perhaps Christine Craft did.
She told the Associated Press she was appalled, but wasn't
surprised.
Monday, a federal judge in Kansas City ruled that Craft was
not a victim of sex discrimination when she was demoted from
her position as news anchor. He then threw out the $500,000 she
was awarded by a jury on the basis of fraud charges
It's really not surprising with the intricate mechanism of
American jurisprudence. Everyone tinkers with the machinery,
whether it's broken or not.
The judge, Joseph Stevens (who also heard the initial suit),
said the jury of four women and two men in the first trial was af
fected by the "pervasive publicity" in the Craft case.
If this were true than it's an adequate reason to overturn the
verdict. Although, what's odd in this latest turn of events is that
the jury should have been given the usual caution by Stevens
regarding talking about the case to others, or reading or viewing
accounts of the case in the media.
It's the court's responsibility to ensure the jurors are
isolated from publicity and public comments surrounding the
case they are hearing. More than the court, isn't it the judge's
responsibility to ensure the jury's verdict doesn't become
tainted by publicity?
Stevens said: "The court is firmly convinced that this verdict
is excessive and is the result of passion, prejudice, confusion or
mistake on the part of the jury."
This is a strange statement coming from the judge in the
case. He has repudiated the findings of a jury in his own court.
Stevens apparently had no control of his own jury.
Why is Stevens overturning the verdict at this time? It's
unusual for a judge to overturn a jury verdict.
Stevens went on to state the Metromedia TV station that
demoted Craft did so because of "her affinity for the beach life
and her apparent indifference to matters of appearance. . .ap
propriate to her unique circumstances."
Stevens, by this statement, seems to be encouraging a
strange sort of discrimination. To sanction Metromedia's demo
tion of Craft because of "her affinity for the beach" is more than
a little questionable.
Craft, on a lecture tour, (she recently ^poke in Eugene), com
mented that she was appalled, but not surprised. "I think as a
reporter I was prepared for the worst.... (But) I will pursue it to
the highest level if I have to."
It appears Craft will have to pursue it, and more than likely
Stevens' rulings will be overturned, and up the ladder of litiga
tion the case will go until maybe the Supreme Court, if the
Supreme Court will hear the case.
All along Craft downplayed the jury verdict, saying it wasn't
a landmark decision against sex discrimination in the news
media. Perhaps she was correct. We'll find out though on the ap
peal, and the appeal of the appeal, and the appeal of the appeal
to the appeal ad nauseum.
Atiyeh on triple high
over Hatfield bid
Tuesday was a triple-high for Gov. Vic Atiyeh.
First, Atiyeh expressed his "complete joy" that Sen. Mark
Hatfield has announced he will run for another term in the U.S.
Senate.
Atiyeh went on to note that Hatfield is one of the most
dynamic politicians Oregon has ever produced. He added Hat
field will demolish any challenger in next year's elections.
Second, Atiyeh said he was confident that the state's
economy is improving. "Our economy is improving," he told
reporters at the weekly press conference. "I think the future is
bright for our state."
Regardless of all things "bright" and "joyful" in Atiyeh's
eyes, we've heard these type of comments before on the state of
the state's economy. Let's hope Atiyeh is not looking through
rose-colored glasses.
*> **!«««* WWt
'DON'T look now, Bur M MARINES WAVt Ianled! '
A Christian duty to be political
Although I am certain to anger and upset a large
portion of the people who read this, I herein state my
unequivocal support for the passage of a very con
troversial law. Even if only one half of 1 percent of the
voters are in favor of it and are able to force its
passage, I will be satisfied to see it enforced. I’m real
ly not concerned that many others, even a majority,
oppose or consider this law oppressive, for I know I
am right. I am, after all, only attempting to force
others to conform to Cod's clearly and positively
stated values.
comments
theresa purviance-garcia
God's values? Yes. But just what are these values?
No, I am not referring to the controversial anti
abortion legislation. Biblical instructions on that are
open to interpretation. I refer rather to a law which
would enforce upon all people, Christian and non
Christian alike, the injunction, clear and definite, of
the fourth commandment
We could pass this law, taken verbatim from
God's word, and so forte everyone to observe the
seventh day, Saturday, sabbath. We'd be absolutely
right and justified according to the letter of Cod's
law.
It is not, however, my purpose to argue here the
rights or the wrongs of either abortion or the sab
bath. My purpose is to address the question; do I or
any others truly have any right to pass and enforce
such laws upon all those who do not agree with
them?
There are a great number of social ills in our
society. Abortion is not so much one of those ills as it
is a symptom of them. It does little good and makes
less sense to concentrate on treating the symptom
while ignoring the disease that is the underlying
cause. Abortion is a symptom of the disease of
promiscuity.
How can the disease be cured? By keeping our
homes pure and Christian. By teaching our children
to have respect for, not only their own, but also
others' bodies. By training our boys, not only our
girls, to be chaste ana circumspect in aeaung wim
the opposite sex. Then both the disease and its symp
toms will be eradicted.
Another social ill which, I believe, has its roots in
promiscuity, is homosexuality. I can not accept the
often quoted modern theory that this is a viable
"alternative lifestyle." Neither, however, do I accept
that the homosexual person is automatically damned
by God.
I belive, against most "authorities," that
homosexuality is a learned or chosen behavior, and if
the motivation is strong enough, it can be changed
or unlearned. If, as is now often claimed, homosex
uality is "natural" or as "normal" as heterosexuality,
why then does it cause so much guilt and unhap
piness by its practice? Why is the disease AIDS, con
tracted and spread mainly by its practice? No,
homsexuality is both unnatural and abnormal. Its
practice is a sin. However, I become upset when I
hear "Christians" shouting things like,"God hates
homosexuals" and "Kill a queer for Christ."
God doesn't hate the homosexual any more than
he hates the fornicator or adulterer. God hates the
sin, not the sinner. He hates the sexual act outside
the bonds of holy sanctification, but just as the for
nicator and adulterer can obtain forgiveness for their
sins, so may the homosexual receive divine pardon.
"For all have sinned, and come short ot the glory of
God." (Romans 3:23).
Many "Christians" have become intolerant and
self-righteous, incapable of showing Christian charity
toward others. In their so-called social concern, they
are intent only on curing others' failing be forcing
conformity to the moral values they feel are valid.
This is one danger inherent in Christian involvement
in politics. At the other end of the scale are those
"Christians" who become inurred to immorality and
begin to accept it as the normal thing. This is the pro
blem with those denominations which have begun
accepting practicing homosexuals into fellowship
and even ordaining them into the ministry. This is as
wrong as ostracism is wrong.
Christians do have an obligation to become in
volved in politics, but not to pass laws restrictive to
the freedom of conscience and religion of others.
Theresa Purviance-Garcia is a University student
majoring in history and English.
letters
Got a good beat
"This morning there are only
isolated pockets left." — C BS
News on U.S. invasion of
Grenada, Oct. 27.
Dopplegangers. I am isolated. I
resist.
Will hold out with all my
heartsblood.
Know of no c urse sharp enough to
cut
the pain transmitted, your
language
is war yet you sleep nights snug
in your deceptive conceptions;
putrescent
taffeta popcorn; money hunger,
sensation moneerinp
How may we be real respondents
of The All?
How may we be at all? Hear our
War Chief
Winburger: “There were 3 or 4
small poc kets and
the fighting is eliminating that."
Once again: What do we think
we're gonna do? Outlive them?
P.»ul Prf»mkv
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