THE SUMTER ITEM N.G. Osteen 1843-1936 The Watchman and Southron
FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 H.G. Osteen 1870-1955 Founder, The Item
H.D. Osteen 1904-1987 The Item
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Margaret W. Osteen 1908-1996 The Item Hubert D. Osteen Jr. Chairman & Editor-in-Chief Graham Osteen Co-President Kyle Osteen Co-President Jack Osteen Editor and Publisher Larry Miller CEO Braden Bunch Senior News Editor
20 N. Magnolia St., Sumter, South Carolina 29150 • Founded October 15, 1894
COMMENTARY
Preparing for battle W
ASHINGTON — Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord. And although retribution shall surely come in the fullness of time, a ballplayer can only wait so long. Accordingly, when Boston slugger David Ortiz came to bat against Tampa Bay’s David Price at the end of May — for the first time this season — Price fired the very first pitch, a 94 mile-an-hour fastball, square into Ortiz’s back. Ortiz was not amused. Hesitation, angry smile, umpire’s warning. Managers screaming, tempers flaring. Everyone knew this was no accident. On Oct. 5, 2013, Ortiz had hit two home runs off Price. Unusual, but not unknown. Except that after swatting the second, Ortiz stood at home plate seeming to admire his handiwork, watching the ball’s majestic arc into the far right field stands — and only then began his slow, very slow, trot around the bases. This did not sit well with Price. He yelled angrily at Ortiz to stop showboating and start running. But yelling does not quite soothe the savage breast. So, through the fall and long winter, through spring training and one-third of the new season, Price nursed the hurt. Then, as in a gentleman’s pistol duel, at first dawn he redeemed his honor. Except that the other guy had no pistol. Which made for complications: further payback (Tampa Bay star Evan Longoria received a close retaliatory shave and two other players were hit before the game was done); major mayhem in the form Charles Krauthammer of the always pleasing, faintly ridiculous, invariably harmless benchclearing brawl; and all-around general ill feeling. After the game, Ortiz declared himself at war with Price, advising the louse to prepare for battle at their next encounter. Price feigned innocence. As did his Yoda-like manager, Joe Maddon, who dryly observed that a slugger like Ortiz simply has to be pitched inside, then added with a twinkle, “Of course, that was a little bit too far inside.” Yeah, like two feet. What is so delightful about this classic act of revenge is both the length of the fuse — eight months! — and the swiftness of the execution: one pitch, one plunk, one message delivered. Revenge as it was meant to be: cathartic, therapeutic, clean, served cold. No talking it through. No sublimation by deep breathing, reason or anything in between. No arbitration, no mediation. “Direct action,” as the left might put it. Think of it, compact and theatrical, as a highly abridged “Count of Monte Cristo,” still the most satisfying revenge novel of all time. There the fuse is deliciously long — the 14 years our betrayed hero suffers and broods on an island prison before escaping — and the execution is spectacularly elaborate: the decade developing a new identity with which to entrap his betrayers and bring each to a tortured demise. I suspect what makes revenge so satisfying in both literature and sport is that, while the real thing can turn rather ugly, revenge thusly mediated can be experienced not just vicariously but schematically. After all, there is nothing satisfying about watching a well-armed real-world thug like Vladimir Putin chew up neighboring countries to avenge the Soviet collapse of 1991. Or the Crimean giveaway of 1954. Or was it Czar Nicholas’ misadventure of 1917-18? Even benign dreams of restoration can be a bit unsettling. Ever seen a Quebec license plate? “Je me souviens.” In English, “I remember.” What? The Battle of the Plains of Abraham, marking the fall of Quebec to Britain — in 1759. The response became known centuries later as “la revanche des berceaux.” Revenge of the cradles. They multiplied. Quietly. Determinedly. A serious exercise in making love, not war. But the amorous Quebecois are the exception. More common are the savage retributive habits of the more tribal elements of the human family. The Serbs, for example, waging late 20th-century war suffused with fury at the Turkish conquest of Kosovo, 1389. Or Ayman al-Zawahiri calling for infidel blood with an invocation of Andalusia, lost to Islam in 1492. We Americans, children of so young a country, can barely fathom such ineradicable grievances. We did give the world Tonya Harding and the Godfather’s horse’s head in the bed, but the best we can do outside sport and fiction is “Remember the Alamo.” Wonderful sentiment, but with Mexico now a best buddy, hardly a battle cry. No. We’ll do our vengeance on the playing field, thank you, where unwritten rules apply and the frisson can be enjoyed with Bud in hand. So mark your calendar. Next Sox-Rays encounter: July 25. Here’s hoping Price is pitching. Charles Krauthammer’s email address is letters@ charleskrauthammer.com. © 2014, The Washington Post Writers Group
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Sumter residents deserve the right to have a choice I continue to read the Opinion page in The Sumter Item with great interest and today the letter from William Heise Jr., got my attention. Alcohol being served on the Sabbath? Oh my, we must prevent this abomination. Is this not the same mentality that an atheist has when it comes to the Christian not being able to pray at a public forum and not being able to display religious symbols in public buildings, as these acts are a violation of their feelings? Why can we not turn the channel on TV if we feel offended by material displayed, the radio channel if words offend, don’t buy a product if the advertising is not agreeable to you or anything else that you don’t like and keep to yourself ? Why do we feel that others must conform to the way we feel about something? If you do not want to drink alcohol on Sunday, that is your right to “just say no” if you are offered the opportunity. If someone does want to have alcohol on Sunday, then they should have the right to order or purchase an alcoholic beverage. That should be at any location that has a liquor license in the community. I do have a drink once in a while; I support the wine and beer tasting on Main Street and do attend the Comedy Night in Sumter on the first and third Wednesday each month. This supports our community, and we enjoy the social factors. I do have wine, beer and liquor in my home and most of it I have had for years. Just because we do not agree with something, as long as it is not physically abusive, intrusive, a nuisance or legally a violation, then people deserve the right to have a choice. I am retired military; I can go on base and have a drink 7 days a week. Why not afford that right to the whole community to enter a civilian establishment and support our merchants? JIM AUSTIN Sumter
Mulvaney takes firm stance on tough issues Although our district’s congressional representative Mick Mulvaney recently received criticism for his decision to discuss possible solutions to our nation’s broken immigration system, I would like to take this moment to say that I stand with Congressman Mick Mulvaney. I appreciate his willingness to
take a firm stance on a difficult issue such as immigration. He stands up for what he believes is right instead of telling different groups what they want to hear or avoiding the issue completely. More importantly, as a fellow Christian, Mulvaney understands the Biblical teaching on immigration, which applies to all Christ’s followers. One of over 90 mentions of immigrants in the Bible says this: “When a foreigner lives with you in your land, you must not oppress him. You must regard the foreigner who lives with you as the nativeborn among you.” (Leviticus 19:33). I believe that this can help us think about our current broken system — which does a disservice to us all. I also believe that the Bible commands us to respect each person’s Godgiven dignity, because we are all created in His image. This looks like keeping families together, as the family is the cornerstone of our society. However, any reform must secure our national borders and also be fair to taxpayers, rewarding hard work instead of giving handouts. Finally, amnesty should not be offered, because it undermines the law. Instead, we must require accountability for those who have broken the law. However, it is important to take note that not reforming the current system is de facto amnesty. I commend Congressman Mulvaney for leading on a difficult issue when the unfortunate norm in Congress is inaction. KIRSTEN FROST Wofford College Class of 2015
Crosswell Drive Elementary graduation a disappointment I attended the kindergarten graduation at Crosswell Drive Elementary School. I was very disappointed. What happened to the part of the program where each individual child is recognized for his or her accomplishment? There was none of that. The parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends who attended were looking forward to seeing a graduation, not a 20-minute ceremony. The principal at Crosswell now needs to go back to the way it’s supposed to be: a real graduation. DIANE JOHNSON Sumter
League of Women Voters makes difference in Sumter Delegates of the League of Women Voters from the Sumter area have just returned from League of Women Voters
U.S. convention in Dallas and are even more enthusiastic about helping to make democracy work in our community than ever. As the League of Women Voters, the non-partisan political organization of women and men approaches the 100th anniversary of suffrage — citizens of Sumter, in the state and the United States continue to work to influence public policy and the understanding of major issues. Through education, the membership stays informed, shares information and advocates so that you/we can make a difference. First organized in Sumter in 1967 by Colleen Yates, chairwoman, the Sumter group of women continued through two chairs in a “provisional status.” In July 1972, Theodis Palmer-McMahon became chairwoman, and under her leadership the Sumter League became a bona fide local League of the LWV of U.S. with required structure and by-laws. Records indicate the demise of this local organization in 1981. However, from 1981 to 1990 a group continued as a “member at large” unit. In July 1995, under the chairmanship of Lois Parsons, the organization grew and once again became a bona fide League of Women Voters of Sumter County in April 1997. Since 1997 a local League has been alive under the administration/leadership of the following presidents: Faith Line, Charles Moore, Julia Wells, Chuck Gibbs, Lorraine Washington Dennis, Jeanette Roveri and the current president, Barbara Brown. Among issues the LWV has focused on during the year are EPA’s pollution standard, voting rights, federal agricultural policies, campaign financing and health care. Statewide, issues have been studied, legislators have been lobbied and the tracking/status of bills during legislative session. Locally, the LWV has hosted forums-panel discussions on domestic violence, weapons in restaurants, ex-inmate community re-entry supports and plans for the future of the city. LOIS PARSONS Sumter Editor’s note: Because this letter exceeded the 350-word length as stated in our Editorial Page Policies which appears regularly on this page, it can be read in its entirety under Opinion on The Item’s website, www.theitem.com.
HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? Send your letter to letters@theitem.com, drop it off at The Sumter Item office, 20 N. Magnolia St., or mail it to The Sumter Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, SC 29151, along with the writer’s full name, address and telephone number (for verification purposes only). Letters that exceed 350 words will be cut accordingly in the print edition, but available in their entirety at www.theitem. com/opinion/letters_to_editor.