Monday letters: If it’s broke, help fix it

Alarmed by Trenton Smith’s April 13 letter to the editor (“USC’s values? What values?”), I hasten to suggest a response regarding our mutual alma mater. The Carolinian Creed was meaningful and respected in my day, and it saddens me to read that Mr. Smith feels (so eloquently) that this is no longer true.

A story about the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington suggests the right response. The Naval Research Laboratory exists because one day in 1915, Thomas Edison was quoted in a New York Times story about the war beginning in Europe and possible U.S. involvement, to the effect that the Navy was technologically obsolete. Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels call:ed Mr. Edison and said “Your are right, Mr. Edison. Will you help me fix it?”

So I suggest that President Pastides call Mr. Smith (who might not be completely right) and ask him to help fix it.

Columbia

This story was originally published April 26, 2015 at 7:30 PM with the headline "Monday letters: If it’s broke, help fix it."