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10 tuwda'y\ February 3, 1981 February 3,1981 | Volume 1 Number 2 a feature presentation by teeners to enlighten the Clarkson College Community Cogito: on giving Gift: (from Old Norse-sonvl •thing given; talent) something voluntarily tran- sferred by one person to another without compen- sation. (Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, Eighth Edition, G.&C MerriamCo., 1975) V 1 _ ) by Stephen Rondeau I happened to discover a short article in my French language book that concerned how Americans differ from the French in handling' com- pliments. It said that upon receiving a compliment, Americans generally smile and say \Thank you,\ whereas the French tend to minimize or refuse the compliment (\This old thing?\ \You've got to be kidding-I'm as dumb as they come!\ etc.). I thought this was interesting because more and more people in America seem to be changing to the French manner of han- dling compliments, and I asked myself, \Why?\. My initial reason was simple—Americans are losing confidence in themselves, so they find it hard to believe that someone can find something good in them or their ap- pearance. Then I thought that a compliment always seems more truthful when it's repeated~an excellent way of checking the sincerity of the compliments and convincing the recipient that it really could be true (since most people will repeat the com- pliment if it's refused). But this column concerns gifts, doesn't it? Yes, and a compliment is a gift, a gift of words which may be flowery or barren. But they are words nevertheless. The recipient must judge from his/her knowledge of the compliments the sincerity in- tended, and then choose to respond (or not to respond) in whatever way the recipient sees as appropriate. With my system of values, when I give a compliment, I mean it; other- wise, I wouldn't say it. Don't confuse com- plimenting with flattering- they differ in that crucial part of the definition of a gift \Without compensation\ (as Webster's puts it). In other words, a flatterer expects to get something out of flattering a person, whereas a com- plimenter doesn't, and this person should realize that the act of giving those words was the important part. I consider the gift of material things below com- plimenting on a value-of-gift scale, i.e., the actual physical matter doesn't make a dif- ference. For example, if someone were to give me some clay, I would consider the fact that they thought of me more valuable than the clay. This doesn't seem too unusual (I'm not trying to be), but I would feel the same way if that clay was a sculptured bust of my father. My knowledge of the person would enable me to deduce how much it meant to him/her to present that to me, and I can also judge the amount of time and effort that the person used in preparing this clay. I may see flaws in the handiwork, but these are trivial compared with the motivating thought behind the gift. All these considerations are made at the presentation of the gift and afterwards are independent of the actual ob- ject-if it would break or be destroyed, I would only regret losing a reminder-but the thought that the person had for me in making an effort to please me still remains as long as I will (at least!). . From tangible objects to words to action, the gift scale continues. As exemplified above, the old maxim \Action speaks louder than words\ hold true. A person can say that she/he is going on a diet, but she/he won't lose weight until the diet is started. Whereas the thought of a gift is good, actual effort spent in making it a reality is many times as good. In my relation- ships with people, I make a distinction between my frien- ds~those who I know would display or have already displayed their friendship with me by doing some action and expecting nothing in return for it-and my acquaintenances- those who would not. My role in a relationship is to give irregardless of my expec- tations of them. The ultimate gift is gift of self, or love. In a previous ar- ticle I presented this point in some detail, emphasizing that love is not a total gift of self, for some individualism must remain for obvious reasons. There is no need for the recipient, rather, target of love to reciprocate, respond, or ac- cept the love offered. Again, this absence of compensation is the central idea in giving. It indicates complete sincerity from the \giver\ and displays the depth of concern and thought to the target (\target\ sounds so im- personal, but it's more ac- curate if the target doesn't ac- cept or acknowledge the gift). Succinctly, it says: \I care enough about you to give part of myself, part of my time, part of my life, and I give those to you freely, for I do not intend to bind you or force reciprocation from you. You, also, are as free as my gift. Your presence, your existence, is the second-best gift I could receive, the first being your love. Do what you will with my gift, for I have completed my intention.\ I will reiterate (from my articles \On Love\ and \On Friendship\) that the concep- ts I present are ideal. I am far from being perfect in my giving, for I find it hard to ac- cept no response or reciprocation, and I become bitter if I don't take the time to cogitate. \ I, like most people (the comma' maybe deleted), am searching for mutuality in relationships, and my gifts are intended to display the depth of concern I have for those who are to receive. My gifts are not for- ced upon someone—I only try to persuade the potential recipient that I am sincere and that he/she will never be obliged to \pay me back\ or feel like he/she \owes me one.\ One additional point of clarification~if I ask someone to do something, what they do may be indicative of their dep- th of caring, depending on the request made. But this is not a gift on her/his part! A gift is also something initiated by the \giver.\ A fulfilled request is almost always followed by gratitude, and this is common knowledge. Gratitude is a reward, a compensation. While fulfilling a request is admirable, it is not as ad- mirable as giving. Having defined gifts as such, I am still tempted to of- fer this column as one, but I cannot, for I would like to hear your thoughts, criticisms, or applause on this and any other topic. As these are responses that I am expecting, I cannot call this a gift. Ad- dress responses to: COGITO, Clarkson Integrator, Graham Hall. A diary: I'd rather be fat (and happy!) by Nancy Rmi Thick, juicy porterhouse steak; broiled lobster swim- ming in melted butter; a piping hot baked potato smothered with sour cream; corn bread so fresh that it melts in your mouth; and for desert, cheese cake with enough cherries to please even Queen Anne. The mere mention of these delicacies deliciously tantalizes one's taste buds. Tossed water cress, jturnip greens and bam- boo shoots, seasoned with a squirt of lemon and served with a garnish of parsley, doesn't quite satisfy a big ap- petite. This leads me to the point of low calorie diets. They are for the birds—literally! Try staying on a diet consisting of faraway seeds, bean sprouts and bread sticks. After in- dulging in such a \yummy\ meal, I'd run straight to the snack bar and order french fries and a chocolate milk shake. There are, however, some foods that are edible despite their low calorie count. For instance, a large onion has less than 100 calories. I suppose someone could get awfully thin on an all-onion diet, but that isn't anything to brag about,, at least not orally. What about that good diet food called the salad, that wonderful array of garden vegetables with virtually no calories to speak of? That is until the missing link is ad- ded, the salad dressing. Once the seemingly innocent creamy substance is poured onto the leafy green lettuce, the salad more than triples in the num- ber of calories. A terrible weak spot of mine is the vending machine. If I have 30 cents in my pocket and I walk by a candy machine, the change miraculously flies out of my pocket, into the slot and comes out a \milky way.\ There is something about the sweet milk chocolate and creamy caramel that stands out when compared to wax beans. If you still insist that a low calorie diet is a healthy diet, here are some helpful hints: frog legs contain few calories when not fried. In- stead, boil the legs in beef bouillon for an interesting flavor that will please everyone. You'll feel as though you're eating all night after finishing cooked liver- wurst with sliced scallions. This combination is naturally low in calories and offers a variety to a \ho-hum\ meal. For those rational souls that are leaving the dieting for the summer, go ahead and savor a piece of Boston Cream Pie.a handful of \oreos and two banana splits. You can always follow it up with seltzer water; seltzer water has no calories.. Does your lite center around food? Fear not: you are not alone! Tuesday, February 3, 1981 11 Album Audition These ten top the list of 1980 by Scott Schnackenberg The following is the first in a series of record reviews written in coordination with WNTC/WTSC-FM. These reviews will not be derriere- smooching advertisements, but critical assessments of an artist's work. The best place to start, I think, would be with a look back at 1980. There are many problems with the time-honored device of listing the ten best and the ten worst albums of the year. For one, it is impossible for one person to hear all of the albums that are released in one year. I am therefore restric- ting my choices my albums that fit within the general category of rock 'n' roll because I have familiarity with many of these albums. Another problem is that the albums that are truly the worst rarely have enough exposure to be carefully considered. For this reason I will list the ten most disappointing albums rather than the ten worst. The following are, in my opinion, the ten best albums of 1980. 1) London Calling by the Clash. The race for best album was over almost before the year began. In one giant step the Clash went from the best punk band to the best rock and roll band period. In- stead of hitting you over the head with their urgent social commentary, the personal nature of the songs made the listener think about it. The album expanded the Clash sound to include elements of reggae, rock, and even disco, without compromising the basic forcefulness of the music. 2) The River by Bruce Springsteen. Despite his an- noying habit of calling the women in his songs girls, Springsteen deais with the grown up world of love and marriage without settling for the easy, but often false, an- swers. The ballads, especially \Point Blank\ are both beautiful and desperate, while the rockers are almost silly and provide the relief that was desperately needed on Darkness on the Edge of Town. 3) The Pretenders. The best new group of the year. Chrissie Hynde emerged in a field dominated by men and won tins year's battle of the sexes. The band showed an ability to be both raw (\Precious\) and clean (\Brass in Pocket\). 4) Get Happy!! by Elvis Costello. The ultimate album for the guy who never gets the girl. Elvis pleads his way through twenty organ domina- ted songs, but gets no satisfac- tion. Almost makes it fun to be depressed. 5) Remain in Light by the Talking Heads. The Heads, fresh from the commercial and critical success of Fear of Music, took an entirely dif- ferent approach to their music by experimenting with African rythyms. They kept both their audience and the critics on their side. 6) Making Movies by Dire Straits. Jimmy Iovine's production and Roy Bittan's piano playing provide the per- fect backdrop for Mark Knop- fler's eloquent songwriting and guitar playing abilities. \Tunnel of Love\ and \Romeo and Juliet\ were the best one-two punch to open anv album in 1980. ^Entertainment! by the Gang of Four. These guys are not on trial in China; nor are they very well known in the United States. The name of their game is a new rhythmic style featuring power notes, feedback, atonality, and their own original backbeat. Very different, but very danceable. The lyrics are straight Marx, and sometimes a bit stiff, but are often illuminating. 8) I Just Can't Stop It by the English Beat. Another band that is largely ignored in the United States. The best of the English Ska (rock/reggae) bands. This album is probably the best dance album of the year. 9) Seconds of Pleasure by Rockpile. This album is on the list for no other reason than it is pure rocking fun in a style that only Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds could produce. 10) Damn the Torpedoes by Tom Petty and the Hear- tbreakers. Technically a 1979 release, but most of its chart life was in 1980. Petty rose from the ranks of the power pop pretty boys to establish himself as a major rock and roll force. A number of albums were seriously considered for the top ten, but just couldn't fit in. Significant among these were albums by the Rolling Stones, Neil Young (both Live Rust and Hawks and Doves), X, the Police, and Peter Gabriel. Next week: the ten most , disappointing albums of 1980. Holcroft House shines on Clarkson hill campus The photo essay below by Integrator photo- grapher Blair Schantz shows both the inside and the outside of the restored Holcroft House. Left, the Alumni off ice,the Admissions office, the Student Development Center and the Health Center now occupy Holcroft House. The large white mansion once was part of the Clarkson estate. A reception parlor still maintains a pro- vincial flavor by Its decor in the lower left photo. Below is the stained glass window from the mansion which was restored to its original place and condition.
