Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 31, 2001)
X 2________ Letters Opinion WEdNEsdAy, J anuary 51, 2001 All signed letters to the editor should be 500 words or less and will be considered for publication if submitted by I pm the Friday prior to publication. Letters to the Editor are subject to editing. We reserve the right to not publish any letter. Poll Pros, cons: were parking tickets justified? Student How do you Rich shouldn't get Sometimes the law feel about allows for grace animal special privileges Staff Writer I recently heard about an inc ¡dent at this college that went like this: a party is being held for some people who had donated some large sums of money to the college, and a public safety officer since the individual was persuaded against ticketing the vehicles, then they are just in doing so, since they have the strength of money on their side. Or are large corporations like Microsoft justified in manipulatingtax JENNY CHAVEZ Copy Editor I agree with Matt that the rich shouldn’t be able to buy their way through the justice system in order to dodge repercussions of lawbreak combined at the same location, park ing in undesignated areas would be predictable. I am reminded about an incident that happened to me not long ago. I openly confess that I was driving 45-mph in a25-mph zone. Shame on me-1 know better. I was caught too. The officer did the routine license and registration check and followed the procedure of the law, except he didn’t give me a ticket. I didn’t give him an excuse or wave a bribe in front ofhim, he merely chose to give me grace. Was he doing wrong by not giving me a ticket? I’ll be the last to tell you that. With a short reproof, ing. But this wasn’t what was hap pening in this situation and I would was in the parking lot giving tickets to have to disagree with his outrage. cars which were illegally parked. One The people who had their cars tick of the cars ticketed belonged to the eted didn’t wave their donation Fine Host people who were delivering check stubs in order to avoid a food. Someone found out and pro ticket. They were innocently partici ceeded to persuade the officer to not pating in a dedication ceremony for give them tickets. The officer eventu isn’t as if the well-off in question here a childcare center, which they gen ally removed the tickets. I had a problem with that Ifcars are are necessarily using their fnoney for erously donated to out of care and belief in the program. There was a he sent me on my way and I was blocking a fire lane or a loading zone, this purpose, or even knew that the thankful that the law allowed for celebration happening, and those money they had donated was cited as that could become an actual problem. human error without judgement. people were our guests. Some par But then, the person who told me this a reason to let them off. I’m objecting, I want to say thank you to those not to the fact that they were let off, but ticipants were donors, others were said something that I’ve been think for the reasoning that was used to jus not, but everybody there had been guests of the college who care ing about for the last couple of days. invited to a hospitable occasion. about what’s happening here. And tify it It was not justice that removed She justified the people who were ille If anyone has ever been to the thank you to the officer who re gally parked by the fact that they had the ticket, but mercy. I want to make center on an average day, they moved those tickets while guests donated thousands of dollars to the myself perfectly clear, however. I do of the college were inside being college. This bothers me because it not decry mercy, for I am not worthy of would notice that the front parking entertained by Mother Goose. Heaven, but because of the mercy of area is small and usually full. And, equates money with justice. It says, sidewalks leading to the center from And thank you Matt for remind “Well, if they donated a lot of money God, I am going there. lam simply ob ing us that the law is the law, but to us, it’s ok for them to park illegally.” jecting to the concept that because the expanded parking lot are still under construction. Whenever con in this case, grace prevailed, and Why is the fact that they gave someone has money, they should fol struction and a big celebration are rightly so. money to the college justification for low a different code of justice. their parking illegally? If money can be used to justify injustice, then more money can be used to justify a L e~maft replies to us at cccprint@clackamas.cc.Tft.us St in Bl04. “greater" injustice. The rich can jus Do you believe that one’s personal beliefs should be taken into account when applying for a job? For example, former Senatot tify any wrong they commit based on John Ashcroft is awaiting confirmation for the position of U.S attorney general, a position requiring him to maintain laws the money given to “worthy causes.” such as abortion rights and affirmative action he has fought against for years in his home state of Missouri. The senate has scrutinized his record heavily during his confirmation hearings. Is this fair? Should it be legal? What do you think? Is that justice? Is justice merely the “interest of the stronger,” as Well, 1 think they should definitely put their personal beliefs into consideration, but only to a certain extend though Thrasymachus puts forth in Plato’s Re Because after all, qualifications should be the most important factor in considering whether or not that person is fit for the jot public! Is there really no such thing or position. For example, everyone knows that marijuana is illegal here in the states, except for medical treatment Anyway, if an officer found a bag of marijuana on someone, they have to fulfill their duties as an officer, which is to confiscate the as a principle of justice that overrides marijuana whether or not they feel it’s alright to use marijuana, on a personal level that is. Heck, they might even use a little all behaviors? Is Justice only a tool for on their own personal time, but that should have nothing to do with the decisions they make while on duty. I feel that as long the strong to impose their wishes on as one can perform their duties to the fullest, who cares what their personal beliefs are, that’s their business. tlie weak? If so, then I suppose that laws to completely avoid federal in come tax. Because, after all, money dominates this world. Therefore, jus tice is in the interest of the wealthy, and those with money are justified in using that money to circumvent re sponsibility for their actions. Perhaps I am overreacting, after all, it testing? "I think it's good. It's better than scratching our heads trying to figure out what else we could do." James Hundtoft "I never really thought about it. It's ok if it helps people." Sarah Hollin "I'm against cruelty." Casey Kinney World’s stupidest criminal an easy bust Have you ever heard the phrase, “the world’s stupidest criminal?” I believe I met him last week. 1 was at work when a co-worker came to me and said that a strange man was in my car - in broad day- light. Natu rally, I freaked and ran to my car. I was lucky that my man ager overheard the conversation and ran out after me. 1 found a thief in the back seat of my car bagging all of my be supposed to clean it out for him.” I responded, “Yeah, right!” We threatened to call the police and he took off. thing back. Then the police found Some longings. We demanded he step out of the car and put all of my stuff back. His response was, “My brother bought this car and I am The police took me to identify the man, but they couldn’t charge him for stealing anything from me because I made him give every m ♦ ♦ ♦ Daisy Bain Staff Writer It was a surprisingly short, three-minute wait from the time I talked to the dispatcher’s office to the time the police came and took my statement. While they were taking my statement, the perp was caught about a mile away trying to hot-wire another car. my work nametag in his pocket and he was charged with theft - all for a measly little $2 nametag; He also had in his possession sto len checks, someone else’s mail i and car insurance and registra- I tions from many other victims. I According to the police, he had just been released from jail three days prior for forgery. I did learn a valuable lesson af ter everything -1 could have been easily hurt. What if he had a gun or had a tendency towards vio lence? 1 should have called the police first, and then asked my manager to walk out with me. Editor-i n-Chicf: I have some advice, especially to all of the women out there. Al ways have someone walk with you to your car at night, even if it is '/close to the front door. If you ab solutely have to walkout by your self, then carry a defensive device such as mace, a whistle or a panic alarm, all of which come in com pact sizes that can fit on your keychain. If you have a phone, have it ready to call 911 in case of an emergency. Here at Clackamas, there are Public Safety officers who offer courtesy services to students and staff, which include an evening es cort service. In December, 46 'people took advantage of the ser vice. Call 503-657-6958, ext.2234 dr dial 0 from any campus phone for assistance. Business Manager: Diana Scrivner (x2447) *7 555?* amas Fkr ! —JA(- ¡SAMAS Pfcjj Feature Co-Editor: Daisy Bain (x2578) Web Master: Maggie Jirasek Feature Co-Editor: Jim Spickelmier Staff: Tarn Oliver ^Frinii Fair rtith Ryan Brinkley Darrel Hobson Chris Lundgren Elena Boryska Liesl Muggli Matt Shempert Melodi Huey Allison Gerfin Gillbert Barrett A & E Editor: TanaPliver Opinion Editor: Corinne Rupp Copy Editor: Jenny Chavez Sports Editor: Jason Lingel News Editor Secretary: Steve Nielsen Photo Editor: C.Ot.VI JoAnne Gale Advisor: Mike Pollock Linda Vogt (x2310) "I think it's a good thing. I would like to see human testing." Matt Tabisz PHOTOS BY GILBERT BARRETT QUOTES GATHERED BY MAGGIE JIRASEK Look for representatives from The Print on campus this week to be a part of next week’s poll The Clackamas Print aims to report the news in an honest, unbiased, professional manner. The opinions expressed in The Clackamas Print do not necessarily reflect those of the student body, college administration, its fac ulty, or The Clackamas Print advertisers. Products and services advertised 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. The Clackamas Print is a weekly publication and is distributed every Wednes day except during Finals week. The Clackamas Print Copy right2001.
