Issue: Winter 2004

Mailbag

We welcome letters from readers, although we do reserve the right to select and edit for space. Send letters to:

Mailbag, c/o USC Trojan Family Magazine, University of Southern California,
Los Angeles, CA 90089-7790, fax: (213) 821-1100, e-mail: magazines@usc.edu

The Rivalry Reigns
Celticist Lisa Bitel and vice provost Neal Sullivan of USC’s Center for Interdisciplinary Research (“How Many Academics Does It Take?” Autumn 2004, p. 38) surmounted the athletic rivalry documented by Lonnie White (“USC vs. UCLA,” p. 30). Bitel and Sullivan did it last spring by hosting at USC the first-ever session of a University of California Celtic conference not on a UC campus. It is held alternate years at Berkeley and Los Angeles.

Seeds of ‘Faiths’
Kudos to the USC Office of Religious Life for the program on religious pluralism highlighted in “Leaps of Faith” (Summer 2004, p. 32). Awareness of religious diversity is doubtless a good thing, especially if it is supplemented by the scholarly study of religion in the university curriculum. College is just the place to learn how to avoid supernatural nonsense while coming to appreciate the mythopoeic profundity of religion. Knowledge of how a so-called sacred text like the Bible or the Koran is created can provide an antidote to unintelligent notions of “the Word of God,” and knowledge of how ecclesiastical doctrines and institutions have developed can prevent a too-submissive reverence for priestly elites.

In addition to awareness and knowledge, students must also cultivate the powers of discernment that will enable them to evaluate faith traditions in terms of whether they support or endanger human well-being. Above all, they must come to recognize Enlightenment principles of religious tolerance and freedom of conscience as one of the greatest achievements of European civilization. This will lead to a lively comprehension of the evils of theocratic fundamentalism as a pernicious brand of religion that differs from other forms of religious faith in its insistence that what it calls the will of God should be imposed on everyone, everywhere. Impassioned believers who see themselves as “defenders of God” are a menace, for they mistakenly think that God’s honor will be stained unless all humankind is forced to conform to their notion of his law.

A university religious life program has an obligation to insure that all its participants realize one cardinal truth: All believers are worthy of respect, but not every kind of belief is. The mortal dangers of theocracy must be exposed and denounced, hopefully by those of the same tradition – Jewish, Christian or Muslim – where misguided fanatics pursue Holy War objectives through savage tactics.

Religious belief is an option for those who derive comfort or inspiration from it. But it is merely a possibility or a hope, not something we can know for sure. Philosophical and political pluralism, on the other hand, are part of a moral worldview whose benefits we know and need, and religious liberty trumps mere belief. It is the responsibility of higher education to protect and promote pluralism, and – no matter how subtly or politely – to oppose any manifestation of religion that imperils it.

Henry Clark is a professor of social ethics emeritus in the USC School of Religion.

It’s in the Cards
Your observation in USC Trojan Family Magazine that, as 2005 approaches, the new symbol for USC-125 would be showing up “throughout the University” caught my eye (Editor’s Note, Autumn 2004, p. 5). While I realize that you may not be the one making decisions about where and when, let me make an observation and suggestion.

One of the university’s prior symbols, the back-to-back E’s noting Excellence in Education, was a very prominent part of the card stunts at the halftime activities at the USC vs. Notre Dame game in 1966. I remember it well, because I helped code the computer instructions for it.

Please pass along to whomever makes such decisions that the feature of halftime card stunts should be reintroduced and that the first display for each game should be a big “USC-125.”

Not Okay
My aunt, now in her 80s, was one of the dispossessed people from Oklahoma who migrated west during the Depression. While your staff is undoubtedly too young to remember what the term “Okie” meant in those days (although they could trouble themselves to read a little California history), allow me please to speak for my aunt, who sadly explained to me one day just how humiliating it was to be taunted with this term.

I thought that by now this unpleasant, insensitive term was long gone, yet it turned up in Carl Marziali’s description (“an Okie transplant”) of Elizabeth Garrett in the Autumn 2004 issue (“...And Referenda for All,” p. 24). For shame! I sincerely hope I live long enough to see the hateful terms “Okie,” “Arkie,” “hillbilly,” “redneck” and all their myriad nasty relatives, which I am too polite to enumerate here, consigned to oblivion. They are not amusing in any way and simply show the poverty of intellect of the persons who use them.

Your writers, and most certainly your editors, should know better than to use such ignorant terms.

We apologize for the distress our use of this term caused Ms. Morgan (and other readers).

Terms of Courage
The account of the 2004 Commencement (“A Call for Trojan Courage,” Autumn 2004, p. 14) time-machined me 53 years back to my own 1951 commencement outdoors in the spring sunshine surrounded by the peaceful campus . I graduated in a Navy uniform when another of our ubiquitous wars, Korea, was in progress. As in 2004, our Commencement speaker was a military gentleman who, like Sen. John McCain, had earned distinction as a warrior.

The allusions to courage in wars, as well as elsewhere, emphasized by the senator, were not inappropriate. Yet I yearn for an elusive and perhaps fantasy time when the only Commencement speakers are peacemakers – because there are no warriors in the world; because we study war no more.

The juxtaposition USC Trojan Family Magazine provided on facing pages was ironic and moving. On the left was the senator’s worthy panegyric to the courage of dying for a cause. He quoted the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s sad words in Detroit, June 23, 1963, that fitness to live requires finding something for which a person is willing to die. I believe King was speaking prophetically about himself and never meant that statement literally. His whole civil rights career was a noble testament to and confirmation of the need to find something to live for.

On the right was the account of Desmond Tutu’s visit to the campus and his emphasis on the ultimate goodness of the human family (“Clergyman to the World,” p. 15). Bishop Tutu pleaded for the human family to live when he issued a divine plea: “‘Will you help Me realize My dream? Please, please help me,’ says God.”

I submit that 2004 graduates, as well as 1951 graduates and all the graduates in between, should adopt Tutu’s address as a permanent Commencement address for all the years ahead as we meet with whatever courage it takes the challenge to live.

Losing Our Marbles
Your Autumn 2004 edition has an article on the Elgin marbles (“Marble Magic,” p. 17). In it, the author states correctly that Lord Elgin was involved in the removal of the marbles lying about the Parthenon. As you know, the Parthenon was used as a military base by the Turks when warfare erupted between them and the Venetians. A shell from a Venetian gun landed on a powder store in the Parthenon, and the ensuing blast sent the marbles flying. You might add that Lord Elgin paid for the marbles and that the government of the Ottomans was in agreement with his plan to remove the marbles. In no way did he steal them.

I think it is correct that the British government is willing to return the marbles provided that the Greek government constructs a suitable place to store and exhibit them. It’s not known whether the British government or the descendants of Lord Elgin will recover the 75,000 pounds.

Trojan Memories
I attended USC from 1968 to 1970, and there was a curious, possibly apocryphal, story in circulation then. Walter Ducloux had departed for University of Texas, and Hans Beer was leading the opera department; Pelléas et Mélisande, The Bassarids, and The Yeoman of the Guard were the three productions I accompanied in the orchestra.

During World War II, Hans, as a teenager in Germany, was reported to have been an anti-aircraft gunner for the Third Reich, and Walter was reported to have flown bombing missions over Germany. Do you think either had the other in his sights?

Hans Beer, USC Thornton School of Music professor of conducting studies, responds: “We did not meet during the war. Walter was in intelligence; he was a linguist, he spoke four European languages fluently. I was in the German army as a child; we were recruited right out of high school. But I never saw Walter during the war. I didn’t meet him until I came here in 1955 as a student on a Fulbright.

It’s true that I was an anti-aircraft gunner in the German army. And it's true I once met a man I had been shooting at. He was a dealer who sold me a car. It was a fantastic story: He was a pilot, so we began to talk about flying. Soon we were discussing the war, and I found out that in 1944 I had hit his plane. The grenade passed through the fuselage and exploded 1,000 yards behind him. We laughed about this, had a friendly conversation, shook hands, and we were both very glad I hadn’t shot him down.”


Thank you for an informative and interesting article on Orrin Freeman in the Autumn issue (“He’s in the Majors Now,” p. 55). As a member of the 1973 USC junior varsity baseball team that Orrin managed, I greatly enjoyed the update on him and his career, and would like to share with your readers an experience that further illustrates his competitive nature and sense of humor.

I was a “walk-on” player that year on a squad that included future major leaguers Pete Redfern, Steve Kemp and others, so it was very tough for me to work my way into the lineup; every chance I had to demonstrate my talents was crucial to me.

One day, with Orrin throwing batting practice to the team, I hit four balls in a row over the tall right field fence at old Bovard Stadium. With each one, Orrin seemed to reach back a bit further and throw a bit harder. Then, after the fourth consecutive shot, Orrin wound up, threw a ball that went over the batting cage and hit the very top of the backstop, then looked at me and snarled, “Let’s see you hit that one over the fence.”

He turned to get another ball and yelled “next hitter!” As I left the cage, happy but certainly a bit perplexed at his behavior, I glanced out at him – although his back was still to the plate, I could clearly see a big smile on his face.

Keeping Us Honest
I was pleased to learn that Professor Garrett is a proficient needle-worker (“…And Referenda for All,” p. 24). It is a hobby I share, and I recognize my own habit of “never wasting a moment” in your description. I did not recognize cross-stitch in your definition, however: “cross-stitching [is] a form of needlepoint where the finished product is a decorative tableau.” Like needlepoint, cross-stitch is a form of embroidery. And while some cross-stitch results in “decorative tableau,” American cross-stitch has its roots in the sampler. Cross-stitch was used to teach girls the alphabet, and for girls who would enter service, it was proof of their skills. It is a far broader category than you make it out.

Very interesting piece on “Keck: The Miniseries” in USC Trojan Family Magazine (Autumn 2004, p. 48). I shall attempt to tune in even though Discovery has the disease of all commercial outlets – that is, “commercialis interruptus!” Two criticisms: In Column 3, page 48: Is it “taping” or “filmed?” Be consistent – maybe use “recorded?” And in column 1, page 49: “Not everyone that we followed lived.” People are “who” not “that!”

Notice Board
We need your assistance in preserving the heritage of our university. The USC University Archives exist to collect, preserve and make available records having permanent value in documenting the history and growth of the university. Books (including faculty publications), manuscripts, USC periodicals and newspapers, posters, photographic images, disc and tape recordings and other archival items are available for research under supervised conditions.

Gifts of papers, pictures, letters, programs, student publications or other items relating to the history of USC will be greatly appreciated and carefully preserved.

For more information, please contact me by phone at (213) 743-2435; e-mail me at czachary@usc.edu; or visit us on the Web at www.usc.edu/arc/libraries/uscarchives.

1. Conceit (Petrarchan)
2. Enjambment
3. Epistolary
4. Apologue
5. Spenserian stanza
6. Roman à clef
7. Caesura
8. Incunabula
9. Apostrophe
10. Synecdoche
11. Juvenalian satire