Israel unfairly condemned
To the editor,
Nick Zeckets, in his commentary Friday, urged for "peace in the Middle East" and talked about the "ripple effects" beginning here at the UA. Although he may have ended his piece nicely, wrapping it up with a cute statement about peace, anyone reading his commentary would realize this was not his goal. "They shoot children, don't they?" accompanied with a gun with a Jewish star on it does not evoke a peaceful image, but rather blatantly accuses Israel of wrongdoing and baby killing. This image and title immediately condemns Israel and yet Zeckets urges for peace. How can he urge for peace, when he has already condemned one side?
Zeckets, in the commentary, discussed "an eloquently related story" about a Karin Laub from Ramallah in the West Bank. Chris Hedges also eloquently related a story in the New York Times on Oct. 8. It discussed another Palestinian child named Muhammad Rayyan,12, who stated "I wait for God to choose me," and "When I see another fall, I am jealous. I long to be like him. This is my goal in life." Zeckets refuses to ask the question of why young children are standing at the front line throwing rocks when their community knows the reaction that this will warrant from Israeli soldiers. In the case of Muhammad Rayyan, his father would give each of his four boys three shekels to take a taxi to Netzarim junction where Palestinians throw rocks and Molotov cocktails at Israeli soldiers. This child of 12 was encouraged to throw rocks by his family. His father knows that the consequence of throwing rocks at Israeli soldiers could be death, but he still encourages his child to participate in this action. He believes "God has chosen this for him."
I too wish for peace in the Middle East, but I do not condemn one side. This is a situation that has been going on for thousands of years; many people have died fighting this battle. There has been unnecessary bloodshed on each side. Each death, whether Israeli or Palestinian is a tragedy. Young Palestinian children dying is a tragedy, young Israeli soldiers being killed by a mob in a Palestinian neighborhood is also a tragedy. This is the reality of war. But as an editor of a respected newspaper, if Zeckets's goal was to rally his peers for peace, he failed. Maybe the ripple effect should begin with him reporting in a manner in which both sides are represented fairly. Fighting for peace isn't about who is right or wrong, it is about peace.
Jaime Freedman
Creative writing senior
Where's the game?
To the editor,
The Arizona football program might be the most frustrating thing I have ever experienced. Just as I was getting the disgusting taste out of my mouth from the 1999 campaign, Dick and the boys came up with another reason for me to smash my head against a wall. It never ceases to amaze me how the team just lets these games get away. OJ, I noticed that you completed some passes on Saturday night. Next time please throw them to somebody with an "A" on their helmet or kindly take a seat on the bench.
I guess we have to wait until next year for the Rose Bowl, but don't we say that midway through every season these days? The UA football team has always been good next year. What is it that the billboards say? "You get the tickets. We've got the game?" Well, until I see proof of this, I am going to hold off on the tickets for awhile. Thanks again for flushing another season down the toilet and disappointing the city for another year. Good job boys!
Ken Gafner
Alumnus
Socialism not un-American
To the editor,
I wanted to respond to Anthony Nelson's attack on socialism in his Oct. 30 letter. He notes that "Microsoft innovated computer use and made it cheap and accessible to everyone." Mr. Nelson, do you really think this is true? One only has access to computers if one is fortunate enough to be born into a middle or upper class family. He says later that "Socialism is taking away people's right to do what they want with the money they earn."
First, those born into middle and upper class families have exponentially better chances at making a decent living. Second, we seem to have no problem limiting people's rights in the name of public protection, i.e. laws prohibiting murder. Why, then, should it not be right to prohibit the hoarding of money, or the living of lavish lifestyles, when it is harmful to others to not contributing money back to the society that gave it to you. Finally, he makes the very patriotic claim that "Socialism is the definition of un-American."
Thank you, Mr. McCarthy, for enlightening us. If it is un-American to institutionalize the increase of quality of life for everyone, than sign me up for the next boat to Sweden!
Zachary Neal
Philosophy senior
