Enterprise-Journal du lieu suivant : McComb, Mississippi • 2

(Pfiffi)fi(n) Enterprise-Journal 2 Wednesday, June 28, 1989 Symbols do matter Editorials Kirksey ponders anoiher lawsuit By Sid Salter Syndicated Columnist As a teenager, I was somewhat mystified over the 1970's practice of bra burning by feminists hell-bent to tell the world that they wanted equality and they wanted it now. As a little boy in a rural county whose link to such happenings was a two-channel television whose signal depended on a rusting antenna and the cooperation of the weather, I was similarly bewildered by the burning of draft cards, crosses and other materials that seemed both more flammable and inflammatory in the 1960's. Wiser counsel told me such acts were not necessarily ends unto themselves, but symbolism. The bra was a symbol of the repression of women, the draft card a symbol of 3q the folly of America's entanglement in the Vietnam War and the flaming cross a symbol of divine blessing for bigoted whites and a symbol of fear and hatred for blacks. Symbolism, they said.

It's the thing literature teachers try to impress upon us in understanding what the whale represents in Melville's Moby Dick and such. LAST WEEK the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the American flag was no less a symbol than the bras, the draft card, a Klansmen's cross or Melville's elusive whale. In a 5-4 ruling, the court held that the American flag could be burned with the same impugnity as one would enjoy in setting fire to a week's worth of trash possibly more, since most towns have laws on the books prohibiting the burning of trash in the city limits because that act citizens. The flag that was raised on Iwo Jima is the same flag that the Supreme Court now says may be burned, defaced, spat upon or worse by any political jackass with a cause.

The court ruled that local communities cannot outlaw such acts, no matter how large or strong the majority exists that opposes those acts. The flag is also fair game for fashion designers, says the high court. The shirt the late Abby Hoffman was arrested for wearing in Chicago can now be part of everyone's wardrobe. CONGRESS SHOULD send a message to the Supreme Court. In ruling that our flag can be legally desecrated, the court ruled that the burning of a flag is a form of free speech.

I'm in the free speech business. If someone wants to make a speech, publish a pamphlet or simply stand in a crowded movie house and scream to the top of his lungs: "I hate America, I hate the I disagree with him but defend his right to do so. But there must remain some symbols of patriotism that remain sacred. The burning of a flag does not represent free speech it represents a crime against America's veterans who fought and died to keep it waving. If the court thinks symbols don't matter, then why does the government get so angry when counterfeiters try to print paper money? After all, the dollar has no worth it's only a symbol of worth.

Write your congressman and tell him enough's enough. endangers the property of one's neighbors. Did you get that, people? The American Civil Liberties Union was successful a few Christmases back in removing a lighted cross from the Walter Sillers Building in Jackson on the grounds that it was offensive to the constitutional prohibition against the establishment of religion by the state or any arm of the state. Organized prayer in the public schools got the constitutional axe a long time ago. In the Boy Scouts, they taught us not to even let the flag touch the ground.

My father taught me to salute the passing of the flag. When my friend Joe Graham who didn't burn his draft card came home from Vietnam in a government-issue casket, the American Flag was his last blanket. ARE WE SO LIBERAL in our interpretation of civil liberty in this nation that nothing, absolutely nothing is sacred? If some fruitcake wanted to climb the Lincoln Memorial to paint a moustache across Old Abe's face in the name of political activism, are we to applaud him for his courage in exercising his rights? Certainly, Old Glory is a symbol. It is a symbol of freedom a freedom purchased on the battlefields, in the halls of government and in the desire of our forebears to establish an environment of equality free of the whims of one man and dedicated to the principle of a majority rule tempered with a protection of minority rights. The flag is our birthright as Henry Kirksey is at it again.

He says he may go to court to block Mississippi's 1990 judicial balloting. The former state Senator can't seem to anticipate an election in Mississippi without trying to find some way to make changes and stamp his own imprimatur on the proceedings. Because black candidates for various judgeships didn't fare too well in this month's judicial elections, Kirksey says the black vote still is too diluted and further reform is necessary. By that he means that districts need to be realigned so as to make certain black candidates can't lose. The districts used in the recent election were established in such a way as to make the election of blacks easier, but apparently not enough gerrymandering was done.

In the June voting, four of six black candidates in contested races lost to whites. Since the 1990 Census is going to require widespread changes in all kinds of political districts, Kirksey figures black candidates may benefit. "We're operating on 1980 figures now and there have been population changes, particularly in the Delta and southwest Mississippi, with respect to black citizen concentrations," he declares. So Kirksey wants the judicial elections delayed until after the census results have been reported and redistricting has been completed. The hope is, of course, that some already heavily black districts will become even moreso following redistricting.

Kirksey was provided advance inspiration for his latest whimsy, of course, when the Legislature decided to postpone the 1991 state and local primary elections from the first Tuesday in August to the third Tuesday in September, giving about six additional weeks to complete the redistricting and prepare for the election. Both Kirksey and the Legislature may be a little optimistic in their reckoning. In the early 1980's it took several years to get a myriad of redistricting controversies resolved and to get some elections settled down briefly to a normal schedule. The same thing could happen in the 1990's. If the former senator insists on moving ahead with his new crusade, we'd like to recommend that he also try to completely eliminate "off year" elections for judicial Offices so that all state and county officials can be elected at the same time.

That would save the counties money and would let voters do their duty with fewer trips to the polls. Kirksey also might try to make some current elective offices appointive and thereby bring the scope of county-state elections Into more comprehensible That way we could have our regular elections just once every four years as per schedule, let's hope and we could make voting a lot more orderly procedure. In that respect, Kirksey could make a really positive contribution to the election process. NOCtfANNRACTRiR CHINA, Pocket phone now available 74 -c introduced in April for $3,000. Later in the year this phone, no larger than a fold-over wallet, may be selling for half that.

The' g6-anywT5efe' felepfioneV presently represent only about 10 percent of mobile phone sales but they will dominate the market before you know it. Even the car phone, vulnerable to theft, is being displaced by the pocket-size instrument. THE MAJOR disadvantage is that these devices have to be left in a recharger overnight. The smaller units are less powerful, more subject to static and interruptions. But competition is fast overcoming these 'Reverend' studies sin in shortcomings.

Uniden Corp. hopes to offer a 12 oz. portable this fall for $900. San Francisco's is m'onitra'tffig prototypes btva wristwatch radio. Seiko, by the end of this year, will be marketing a two-way wristwatch radio a combination watch and paging device.

Initially each will cost $200; eventually $50. On speaking engagements I can take my pocket telephone with me to any of 300 market areas in the United States; I am never out of reach of home or office. Portable phones are also being marketed as security devices for use in emergencies. A portable phone in "And what have you found?" "As I said to the committee last night I think we have to engage in further study before making any statements in regards to our findings." "You mean you are going back to see more showgirls dancing?" I asked, in disbelief. "Especially Boom Boom and Cinnamon." "Why 'especially' them?" "Obviously, you've never seen Boom Boom and Cinnamon," said the Rev.

Fandango. "These unfortunate lost lambs have editor Letters on any subject are Letters must be signed. Drivers warned change is coming Some drivers might appreciate a reminder that, beginning July 1, drunk driving in Mississippi can be even more risky than in the past. On that date, a new law will go into effect. It provides that an individual may be charged with a felony if he or she is convicted four or more times, within a five-year period, of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The state's Implied Consent Law was amended during the 1989 session of the Legislature making the fourth or subsequent DUI conviction within five years a felony instead of a misdemeanor. Lt. Col. Billie T. Hughes, assistant chief of the Mississippi Highway Patrol, says that as of mid-June Highway Patrol records show 41,617 driver's license holders have one DUI conviction, 12,774 have two, and 7,505 have three or more.

The revised law doesn't provide for removal of DUI convictions on an individual's driver history, so those with previous offenses to their credit are most threatened by the upcoming change. But every driver should remember the added risk and start observing the old maxim, "if you drive, don't drink; if you drink, don't drive." The same rule can, of course, be applied to drug users. the car affords easy access to tow truck, filling station or police. Jim Morewood of Albuquerque, N.M., had a heart attack while driving Before' losing consciousness he was; able to call police, The i ambulance got there in time to save his life. TWO MILLION people now have mobile phones and half of them bought them within the last year.

Manhattan-based Argus Research projects sales of 3.1 million by the end of this year and 21 million by 1996. So bullish is the outlook for cellular companies that they are already takeover targets. Vegas perfected the sin of dancing." "Has Las Vegas been disappointing to you in any way?" I asked. "The Leonard-Hearns fight," he said. "You mean you were disappointed to see two men engaging in physical violence for sport?" "No," he said, "I had Leonard in 5 and Hearns took him the distance." "Where might we see the Southern Baptists convene next year?" was my last question to the reverend.

"Atlantic City or Reno," he answered. "We vote tomorrow." the committee decided there was a possibility fraud might have taken place. Also, logic seems to dictate that if one part of the election process was tainted, then all of the results of the other races be thrown out as well. Can an election be partially tainted? Is that anything like being partially pregnant? Mr. Mathis claims his only interest is "the benefit of all the people of Summit." If that is the case, he should support the will of the voters which was expressed in the election on May 2nd.

Charlie Hewitt McComb J.N. LONG Circulation Director DONALD CARLISLE Production Manager By Paul Harvey Syndicated Columnist Tomorrow. is rushing toward us on invisible wings. A generation ago, Chicago tailor Lawrence Pucci developed a three-piece suit with a special vest pocket for concealing cigars. Now his son, Lawrence is designing dress suits with a special pocket for concealing "a telephone." The pocket phone is here now and the wristwatch phone is next.

Portable telephones are shrinking in size and weight and price. Motorola's newest Micro TAC was By Lewis Grizzard Syndicated Columnist In a move that surprised many, the Southern Baptists recently held this year's convention in Las Vegas. Southern Baptists are known for their strict intolerance of such things as drinking, gambling, and dancing which covers everything from doing the Virginia reel in shorts, to fooling around with the lights on. One simply wonders why would these such pious individuals convene in the headquarters of hedonism. To find a possible answer, I contacted the Rev.

Leroy (Fingers) Fandango, pastor of The Buck Stops Here Baptist Church. I first met the Rev. Fandango when he was a used car salesman. Later, however, he had a religious experience, which was finding out he could make more money selling The Word instead of 1963 Plymouths with bad transmissions. "ISN'T LAS VEGAS an odd place for Southern Baptists?" I asked the Rev.

Fandango, who was speaking from his suite at Caesar's Palace. "On the contrary, my son," answered the Rev. Fandango. "We thought it would be a good idea to see if there's anything new going on here that we needed to be against." "And have you seen any new form of sinning?" I continued. "Saw a guy fold three aces," said the reverend.

"But what about the fact there is prostitution in Las Vegas?" "That's not true." "You mean there aren't women that can be bought?" "Not that I know of," said the Rev. Fandango. "As a matter of fact, Las Vegas is really quite a family place. You can't imagine how many fathers I've seen enjoying themselves with their daughters." "But there is drinking in Las Vegas," I said. "I know Southern Baptists are against drinking." Ml welcome.

Please be brief. Abusive or libelous letters will not be published. Backward glance From the files of the Enterprise-Journal. "We're getting much more liberal on drinking," explained the Rev. Fandango.

"In what way?" I asked. "We've started waving at one another in liquor stores," he answered. "BUT WHAT ABOUT the showgirls in Vegas?" I pressed on. "Southern Baptists have always taken a hard stand against dancing." "As a matter of fact," said the Rev. Fandango, "I am chairman of the dancing committee that is here studying this sinful practice." Letters to the Says Mathis letter sadly ironic Editor, Enterprise-Journal: I found the 22 June 1989 letter from Mr.

Mathis in your newspaper sadly ironic. On the 25th anniversary of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner having been murdered for being outsiders in Neshoba County, Mississippi, Mr. Mathis complains about "non-native people" trying to stir a racial division in the Summit election process. "Non-native people" sounds a lot like "outsiders" to me. I wonder if justice has a certain address? Does legality and what is right have a special hometown in which it lives and can live nowhere else? The alleged racial motives in the Summit contest seem to be much like the alleged fraud charges in the mayor's race.

It appears to me that white people testifying that blacks "improperly influenced" the election process could indeed, to a degree, be interpreted as racist in nature. At least, as the Summit Democratic Executive Committee would say, the possibility of racist motives appear to be grounds to intelligently make the charge. When one attacks individuals and doesn't address the facts of a case, it's a sure sign a case can't be made based on the facts. Obviously, this is one of Mr. Mathis' problems.

In neither of the meetings of the Summit Executive Committee did I hear one charge that Mr. Atkinson influenced a single vote. Not one poll watcher mentioned in the allegation was working for Mr. Atkinson. Yet Eiitcrprisc-Jomuial Founded 1889 Oliver Emmerich, Editor-Publisher 1923-1978 FIVE YEARS AGO Wednesday, June 27, 1984 Local artist Bess Dawson was to have a solo exhibition of new paintings at Mccarty's Galleries in Mount Eagle, during July.

10 YEARS AGO Wednesday, June 27, 1979 The Kellwood baseball team captured the McComb Dixie Youth Baseball League championship. Coaches were Bo Barksdale, Joe Pezant and Steve Barksdale. 20 YEARS AGO Wednesday, June 25, 1969 Robert "Dub" Darville of McComb was to go to Chantilly, France under the auspices of the Lions Club and Jean-Francois Grassineau of Paris was to come to AAcComb. 30 YEARS AGO Wednesday, June 24, 1959 Robert M. Maddox was reelected commander of Harry Harvey Post 14, American Legion.

Ernest Ginn, James W. Brown, Louis Diment U.L. Wells were vice commanders. 50 YEARS AGO Wednesday, June 28, 1939 New officers of the McComb Lions Club, serving with B.D. Mason, president, were O.C.

McDavid, W.L. Brantley, A.E. Andrews, James Lenoir, J.B. Hay. CHARLES M.

DUNAGIN Editor-General Manager ROY THOMAS Managing Editor JOHN 0. EMMERICH JR. Publisher OTIS R. BARDWELL Advertising Manager Published daily, except Saturday, by O. Emmerich and Associates, Inc.

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