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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 1999)
Opinion 2 Wednesday, February 10, 1999 TI-IE CI ac I<AMAS P r ÌNT Intentions not enough And so we arrive back at our old We human beings like to feel good about ourselves. We try and question: by what standard do we fail, we try again, and through it judge behavior to be moral or im all, we harbor the idea that as long moral, right or wrong? Is there an as we mean well, things will be “OK.” After all, tar why else would our pe rennial phrase for the n cnown excusability of failure be, “I’m only human?” But are good inten JOEL P. SHEMPERT tions really morally suf Copy Editor ficient? Aristotle would be the first to Absolute remind us that good intentions are on which to not enough—that compassion stand? Many be without knowledge will do more harm than good, and that knowl gin from edge without compassion is noth the prin- ing more than self-serving. Only ciple, “Do harm to no man.” I in the combination of knowledge would even further refine this idea and compassion will wisdom be to encompass the Golden Rule: achieved and true good enacted “Treat others the way you would like to be treated.” This is the es in society. Therein lies the rub, however. sence of love—not only avoiding Motives may be pure, but has the harmful actions but also-actively individual’s knowledge brought seeking helpful ones. At this point I must again ask, him or her to the correct conclu sion? Is the course of action a “What about good intentions?” right one? Hell’s road may be As long as I try to help, as long as paved with good intentions not I mean well, is my conscience only because those intentions clear? I must answer no. Actions that were not realized, but in some cases lead to harm, even unintentionally, because they were. I have pointed out in the past, are wrong. If I do not, through as G.K. Chesterton before me, that wisdom (knowledge combined it is precisely on the “right solu with compassion), do all I can to tion,” enacted from “pure mo avoid this harm, I have not done tives,” that people disagree the all I can in love. Solomon, in his Proverbs, as most strongly. How can one de serted that “There is a way which termine which action is right? The latesongwriter Rich Mullins seems right unto a man, but the has an insight here: “Because I end thereof are the ways of death.” grew up in Indiana, in the Protes This is why I am grateful to have a tant tradition, in fact in the Quaker reference to a perspective higher tradition—that had a lot to do with than my own when making the big biasing me.. .1 need to be aware of decisions of life. My perspective what my perspective is, so I can is imperfect. My perspective is in both appreciate it and be a little complete. I see truth “through a glass, darkly.” distrustful of it.” In other words, I don’t have all An individual’s perspective, whether cultural, political, or spiri the answers, but I know Who tual, is inherent to that person, does. I know it’s awfully Judeo- which is not necessarily bad: Christian of me to keep bringing people need a reference point for up the Biblical perspective, but this judgment. It’s impossible to make is the anchor that helps to keep decisions in a vacuum. Perspec my good intentions from drifting tive, then, is a tool, to be used toward disaster. Ishowyou a more excellent way. wisely. Th E AI of AN U I Cod Making money off of fears It is a sad thing when a whole Last week, I walked out to my car in the middle of the day, and portion of our society feels so watched as a group of people cir depressed about the way they culated through the parking lot look that they are willing to take placing fliers on wind shields. e in a Smurfing one off of the nearest windshield, er ect or I had my eyes assaulted by the garish green KARLKATZKE color. The flier screamed, “Lose 30 Assoc. Editor pounds in 30 days!” Sure, I mused, if you’re spending drugs that may harm money in British Pounds. Of course, maybe the weight them, call loss program was in the exercise numbers gained in putting the fliers on the on hand windshields... the slightly over written weight people who I saw sweat signs ing their way across the parking along the freeways, and starve lot sure looked like they were los themselves to look like that per son on TV. ing weight. And what’s even worse is that The worst thing about the inci dent is that almost everybody who we have entrepreneurs who will received a flier simply ripped it off capitalize on people’s weaknesses. and threw it on the ground, litter Can we not, as a culture, have the ing the environment, wasting pa common decency to allow some per, and so on. The only good one to feel good about them thing about the fliers is that they selves? Of course, the media plays a part pointed out a part of our culture in this. Have you ever seen a that sickens me. To B P W I H heavy model in a department store ad? Nope. What kinds of maga zines are on the newsrack? I’ll name a few. Redbook; Seventeen, Fitness... need I keep going? And then there’s the stores. The majority of women are ‘plus- sizes’... and the department stores only carry things for skinny people. Until we, as a people, can feel comfortable with ourselves, our minds, and our bodies, we will never be able to exorcise the sick parts of our society... those that will try to make money off of someone’s fears. It's your choice. Use your voice. Correction In the Feb. 3 article entitled “McGee: a student living in his tory,” an incorrect phone number was printed for the Civil War Council. The correct phone num ber for Chairman Donny Cameron is 645-4184. To Whom it May Concern: The idea expressed in 77ze Clackamas Print about de-commissioning the public safety officers is not only foolhardy, but seems to be putting the students safety second to cost. There are several reasons to keep the officers we have now. First and foremost is the physical presence and training the officers already have. I etters am currently a security officer and shift leader for Mall 205 Security. I have seen personally the difference t between how civilians/students react to both security officers and police/ commissioned officers. The reactions are 180° different. The reaction to security officers is “Yeah right this is only a civilian with a crackerjack badge,” and the reaction to police/commissioned officers is “OK, this officer can give a ticket/arrest me, I better comply.” The visibility of the officers is a factor also. There is no one more professional looking or more welcoming in a serious situation than an officer of the law. Many would argue against it, but the drugs, violence, and general peaceful attitude maintained against (drugs/violence) and maintained (peacefulness) are due to these officers. The people least wanted (i.e, drug pushers, speeders, burglars) are kept away due to them. I implore, whichever committee is in charge of this descision to rethink getting rid of “our” officers. I feel safer with them here. L to U e EdiTOR Respectfully, Dennis Knight The Clackamas Print aims t6 report the news in an honest, unbiased, pro fessional manner. The opinions ex pressed in The Clackamas Print do not neccesarily reflect those of the student body, college administration, its faculty, or The Clackamas Print advertisers. Products and services ad vertised in The Clackamas Print are not neccesarily endorsed by anyone associated with The Clackamas Print. The advertising rate is $4.75 per col umn inch. All signed letters to the editor should be 300 words or less and will be considered for publica tion if submitted by 1 pm the Friday prior to publication. The Clackamas Print is a weekly publication and is distributed every Wednesday except during Finals week. 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