Socialism is not the answer
To the editor,
This letter is in response to several recently published letters regarding socialism in America. Socialism, a system of government that allows complete government control of some or all sectors of a nations economy, does go against American based ideals. The problem with socialism is that it allows the government to monopolize an industry.
A monopoly is still a monopoly whether or not it's held by a company or a government, and with a monopoly comes all the negative effects normally associated with monopolies. Monopolies hurt consumers, they reduce innovation, cause prices to rise, and limit production. Canadian health care is an example of socialism in action. Everyone is covered by the country's health care system. The effects are higher taxes, and long waiting list for much needed medical procedures that cause people to cross the border to the United States, and pay for their treatment expense out of pocket.
Not only does socialism hurt the economy, it also gives rise to totalitarianism and other negative forms of Marxism, like Communism.
A special report on socialism was released in an issue of Time magazine in 1978, it stated that: "Socialism is a flag of convenience that accommodates technocrats and market minded economist, that allows fascist-type dictators or small-time Bonapartes to perpetuate themselves in power."
Sure socialist governments give everyone the opportunity to receive the same quality education and health care, but at what cost? In the former Soviet Union, China and Cuba most of the middle class has been totally eliminated. Most of the people in those countries live in poverty while their leaders allow themselves lavish lifestyles, where as here in the United States we have a huge middle class at the cost of having some poor people. I'm not saying we shouldn't try to help the poor, but I'm am saying socialism is not the answer, it has been proven time and time again.
Jared Parks
Economics junior
Band unfairly condemned
To the editor,
I hate sports journalists sometimes. I saw a random Wildcat sitting idle on a bench and picked it up after my last class. I also randomly read Ryan Finley's commentary entitled "Dot . . . Dot . . . Dot . . ." I, for one, was really surprised to learn so many things about the UA marching band.
Dude, they really stink. It's really making me wonder why I've been a part of that stupid organization for three years now. I guess I've been really misled - I thought that the true Arizona football fans sat down during halftime and watched their fellow Arizona football fans perform for them. I thought that they listened to Don Haskell as he announced the theme and message behind the show. I thought they watched in rapt attention as we played our guts out. But lots of them don't. They go get another drink or they try to act as outrageous as possible so they can be on CatVision.
But since Mr. Finley is obviously an expert on "the so-called 'Pride of Arizona,'"
I'm just going to let everyone else know what he already knows about the band. The UA band is not performing a tribute to Oingo Boingo-we are playing the music of Danny Elfman. Danny Elfman composed more music than the tunes he played with Oingo Boingo. The theme of this year's show, as Professor Rees writes music with a message, one that he wants the rest of the UA community to understand, is simply stated "Music for a Darkened Age." The band's announcer explains this before we even start playing, every time. We live in a world that is filled with hate, desperation and darkness-but even with all of this-there is hope. There is hope in everyone of us-well maybe not Mr. Finley-but everyone else. If Mr. Finley would have listened to the introduction of "War Again" and the "Finale from Edward Scissorhands" then he might understand this. That's the message, in a simplified manner at least, so that one can begin to understand why the Pride of Arizona plays the way we do.
Mr. Finley also says that the band has time to come up with a cruel joke to play on the family of Damon Terrell. 'Cause we're mean like that. 'Cause we have time to do that. That's right, we do. Come to the Homecoming game, we've been practicing all of Oregon State's fight songs and their field show. We love to make the other team feel good about themselves. Which brings me to another point. I was actually in Professor Rees' office when he called UCLA head coach Bob Toledo to ask him what the team's unofficial anthem was. I was glad to hear that we would be playing the theme from "Gladiator." Especially since I thought the song was called "Carmina Burana."
Kimberly Terpe
Pride of Arizona member
English and creative writing Junior
Cartoonist needs a life
To the editor,
You want to know what I hate? I hate it when people who are given the ability to communicate ideas to the entire campus misuse it and spread their bile. N.C. Winters' comic on Friday was a perfect example of someone who does not know the limits of good taste. Does he realize that what he drew/wrote was a threat to Ryan Finley? And what was the reasoning behind it? Finley editorialized about factual events during the halftime ceremony for the football game against UCLA.
They did play "Dead Man's Party" right before the halftime ceremony for Damon Terrell, and if that isn't a perfect example of either a distasteful joke or a lack of foresight, then I don't know what is. And I don't want to hear that they didn't know that the ceremony was occurring because it had been in the news for the entire week before the game. So, if they didn't know, they're idiots. Either way, all of you, and specifically the person who picks the songs for the band, should be ashamed and issue an apology not only to the family of Damon Terrell and the entire football team, but also to all of the students that have had to endure your terrible renditions of Smashing Pumpkins, Oingo Boingo, Papa Roach, or whatever lame alternative group your guys are ripping off that week. You guys suck, and you've sucked for as long as I've been attending this school. And back to Winters, maybe instead of locking yourself in your dorm room and scribbling away with your crayons in an attempt at humor, you should meet some people outside of the band. I think that most of us have had it with your insipid attacks on sorority girls, non-smokers, non-band geeks, people with senses of humor and/or people with solid opinions. Instead of displaying to all of us that you have zero social tact, how about attending a party that isn't chaperoned by your parents?
Then, when you get to this party, how about talking to a girl, treating her with some type of respect, and maybe even establishing a friendship with her? You may not only receive some affection from a member of the opposite sex, but you may also be able to address some of those anger issues that seem to be an ongoing theme to your strip. Also, how exactly do you smoke and still have the lung power to blow into your recorder/flute/kazoo long enough to get through the entire halftime show? Maybe you can convert that talent into a real profession in your future, since I don't think there are many "Alternative" marching bands in the real world. Maybe you can blow up air mattresses/future girlfriends for a living. You know, I could go on, but I think the point has been made. Shut your piehole. Your comic sucks. Talk to a girl.
Connor Doyle
Communications senior
