McDermott column bigoted and erroneous
Tom McDermott's queer-bashing and leftist-baiting perspective on the Boy Scouts and HR 2403 was long on inflammatory language and short on facts. I'm afraid his deliberate misrepresentation of the issue, and his inaccurate portrayal of gay rights advocates as out to destroy the Boy Scouts, reveals no more and no less than simple bigotry.
Denying the Boy Scouts certain public funds is not about gay rights any more than it is about the rights of the Boy Scouts or their point of view. What is at issue is discrimination. The Boy Scouts are a private organization, and as such have the right to discriminate against whomever they wish. And they do. But this in no way means the Boy Scouts have any special right to be exempt from the consequences of the discrimination they perpetrate.
Most alarmingly, Mr. McDermott tried to portray HR 2403 as supporting equal access. It must be remembered that the Boy Scouts have long enjoyed preferential treatment by local governments around the country, selectively receiving some public funds, United Way funding and perks like renting public facilities for far less than a fair market price. HR 2403 would force cities to violate their own non-discrimination laws and policies by continuing to give preferential treatment to a discriminatory institution.
The existing policy of the city of Tucson toward the Boy Scouts is entirely proper. It does not destroy the Boy Scouts, coerce their values or interfere with their rights as a private organization. It does not stop the Boy Scouts from discriminating. It just says they can't discriminate at public expense. The state's attempt to thwart this logical application of local policy merely enshrines existing prejudice.
Jim Dugan
non-degree graduate student
Israel not entirely to blame for conflict
Carl Case is obviously anti-Israeli, or is not informed on what is going on in the Middle East. He says the Israelis kill children in cold blood. Who is responsible for that? Just the Israel Defense Forces?
Palestinian parents often encourage their children to go throw rocks - which, by the way, can hurt and kill, in case Carl didn't know - or do whatever they feel is necessary in this conflict. Putting the blame for the killings on the Israelis alone is just stupid.
As for Ayad, I wonder if Carl knew that Ayad had connections to the terrorist organization Hizbollah, and had been planning in conjunction with Hizbollah a number of kidnappings. And that Ayad was responsible for mortar attacks in an Israeli neighborhood - Hizbollah radio announcing that it was Ayad's group that carried out that attack. If it were me, I'd do all that was possible to prevent more kidnappings and terrorism.
And yes, hundreds of people have died. People die in wars. Though this is short of being a "declared" war, just look at what is happening, and I would hope that people see it as such. The Israelis aren't cold-blooded murderers, they are not cutting down innocent unarmed civilians.
Finally, look at the region. Israelis live in a region that is not exactly happy to see them there. The Palestinians are fighting for a state, but it took the Jews roughly 2000 years to achieve their state. The Palestinians want in less than 60 years what took the Jews 2000.
I'm not saying they should have to wait that long by any means. But statehood takes time. America was not fought for and won in a day. To say the Israelis are peace keepers there is like saying the British troops were peace keepers here during the Revolution.
Once peace is achieved and the Palestinians have their state, things will hopefully die down. Until then, remember that in war there are casualties, no easy way out. Put simply, war is hell.
Jeremy Slavin
political science sophomore
Letter's claims off base
In response to Carl Case's comments about the Middle East conflict, how can Case claim that Israel is working just like terrorists? Does he know how it feels to be threatened with terror every day of his life? There has to be a way to fight through this terror. Ehud Barak attempted a peace deal and accepted many tough concessions while Mr. Arafat decided that was not enough. Israel always seems to be giving in on negotiations while the Palestinians are always on the receiving end.
Now, about the threat of violence that is beginning to peak - Israel is using blockades to try and shield itself from more terrorist acts. However, the Palestinians and their terrorist friends can still get through. They are cowards and blow themselves up on buses and run any Israeli they see over with buses as well.
Do you want Israel to just sit there and watch the Palestinians and their Arab friends take over their land and kill their citizens? No, this would be horrendous, so they are trying to fight back any way they can. It is hard to fight an enemy you cannot see.
Ending with this fact - the Palestinians send their young children to throw rocks at soldiers, even though they know danger lurks. If the Palestinian people can love their children more than they hate the Israelis, then peace can be reached.
Daniel Greitzer
operations management sophomore
Napster gives exposure to unsigned artists
I know I have written in here before about Napster, however, I wanted to voice my opinion about Napster once again, from a small unsigned artist's point of view. Cory Spiller and Tom McDermott both mention in their view points that Napster harms the little guys the most. This could not be further from the truth. About six months ago I uploaded my music onto Napster, and it's the greatest thing that ever happened to me. So many people have downloaded my music that otherwise would have never heard of me.
Now, my name is on people's play lists right in there with all the big name artists. It's so much easier to tell people, hey, type my name in on Napster.
Spiller also is off the mark when he says, if we don't pay for it, they will stop making music. I don't care if I never make a dime playing music. I'll play my guitar till my fingers fall off.
And if they think this issue is over, they couldn't be further from the truth. Internet technology will absolutely revolutionize this business. The guy who produced my CD already explained to me how he is starting an online business where people pay for a CD to be burnt for them via download.
The major difference is, it doesn't take much capital to do this, so losses are small for unsuccessful artists. This means a much more competitive music market, unlike the virtual monopoly that the industry is today. No wonder the record industry wants to hold this back with legislation. This technology will ultimately bring down their monopoly.
Well, I guess I'll go back to paying for CDs to be made, and hope I break even so I don't lose money, but it is a sad day for us unsigned artists.
Kevin Durkin
lead singer of Probable Cause
UA should recognize Presidents' Day
What sets this Monday, Feb. 19, apart from other national holidays? Students at the University of Arizona will be attending classes while other schools, businesses and government agencies across the country will be taking the day off.
One may ask why it is that the university gave us Jan. 15, Martin Luther King Jr. Day off of classes to celebrate a national holiday of a great leader in our nation, whereas a month later we will be in class during another national holiday that honors 43 great leaders of our country. This is an erroneous decision.
This coming Monday is Presidents' Day, a day that was founded in 1971 to recognize and honor the men who have held the highest position in our great United States. This day is dedicated to men like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy - men who were founders of this country, who fought to defend it, brought us through a civil war and helped us through the Great Depression.
The office of president has been under attack in recent years, but it is still an office of great honor and importance. I believe that it is no more important to honor King than the other men who served our country as president.
Maybe in the future the university will be fair in observing national holidays and honor all of the men who helped make this country great, and not just MLK.
Amanda Gabriel
political science freshman
