Tuesday September 25, 2001

Dale's column is a disservice to the University

Please allow me to mention that while some comments made by some of the speakers at the Sept. 14 student Teach-in, which brought together students of varying backgrounds to speak their free mind about peaceful justice in answer to the horrific events of Sept. 11. may have been construed to have political tone, every one of the speakers received an applause at the conclusion of their speech.

Shane Dale's commentary in the Friday issue claimed: "A man in the military said American soldiers want peace more than anyone, but was booed off the stage." This comment is nothing short of a bare-face lie. I was at the teach-in, he received a warm applaud-no one was booed off the stage.

Many of my fellow students who were there at the teach-in till the end feels the political intonation observed by Shane Dale should be welcome. But an out-right lie of someone being booed for their expressed opinion is a disservice to the university community and the rest of your readers.

The freedom of expression that prevails in our society is part of what further advances our development. The teach-in did indeed exemplify such freedom; it expressed loudly that we pride ourselves on diversity and respect for people of all races, faiths and sexual orientations.

The message of the teach-in was very clear. All of the speakers strongly condemn the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Most say the perpetrators should be punished. However, they warn that a military response by the United States could cost more innocent lives and might provoke further terrorist attacks. Instead, they urge the U.S. government to bring the perpetrators to justice by peaceful means. They also warn against "scapegoating" people of any nation, race, religion or ethnicity for the actions.

Nurdeen Lawal

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Student

Footage of Palestinian celebration is fake

Sept. 11, 2001, will always be a day of great tragedy. Yet the way the nation's TV networks portrayed certain things are the reason for the spark of hate crimes against Muslims as well as people of Middle Eastern and South Asian descent. Especially the cheering of the Palestinians that day. I wasn't aware of it until I saw some coverage of it again and again on video archives.

Any sane individual who has even the basic knowledge of second grade geography would have known that those Palestinians were not cheering the bombings on the World Trade Center. If it is day time in the western hemisphere, the entire eastern hemisphere of our earth is observing nighttime.

While it is day time in New York, it is night time in the Holy Land! How on earth could there be a live coverage of Palestinians cheering in the day when the sun is also shining in New York? Furthermore, Arabian sources have now proven time and time again that footage of Palestinians cheering is a video from 1991. Because of such propaganda in our media, hatred was increased in ignorant fools who killed a Pakistani man in Dallas and killed Balbir Bhai in Mesa.

All viewers, and independent newspapers like the Wildcat have a responsibility to make sure our corporate media is not presenting falsified information to the public! Such hate-crimes can be prevented in the future!

Ahmad Saad Nasim

UA Alumnus

Former ASUA Senator

A few simple guidelines

I would like to point out that our fans are terrible at this point in the season. I know it is not on purpose; nevertheless, it is still a problem that needs to be remedied. I should point out that fans can and do affect a game.

In the hope of ridding our campus of fan naivetŽ, I have established some simple guidelines for all to follow.

1: Permit Wildcat communication and prevent opponent communication. This means don't cheer loudly when Johnson is under center getting the snap. It prevents him from telling his players certain things and prevents the other players from hearing him. Keep excessive cheering between the end of a play and before the team gets set for the next play. However, cheering loudly when the other team is on offense is desirable. False starts, quarterback frustration and poor play execution result when the offensive players can't hear themselves think.

2: Be especially loud when our defense has the opponent's offense in a third down or punting situation. It gets our guys hyped up.

3: Don't let one interception or fumble return for a touchdown by the other team kill the atmosphere. Bad things will happen throughout the course of the game. Just stay in the game and keep showing your support for our team.

4: Know when to boo the referees. They, for the most part, make the correct calls.

5: Student traditions are to be upheld. I see we have the key jingling down-good.

6: Cheerleaders, do not put up "Make Noise" signs when we are on offense.

7: Do not drop Wilbur when crowd-surfing. Please, beware of his location at all times.

8: Feel free to heckle the band at any time during the game. This leads to hours of enjoyment.

9: Pay attention to the other players besides the quarterback, receivers, returners, and running backs.

In the interest of not infringing on additional trademarks, the tenth rule will be omitted.

May this guide lead to better times at the football games. Enjoy yourselves people!

Anton Anderson

Mechanical engineering Senior

UA band is truly the "Pride of Arizona"

I had the privilege to drive to Tucson from Phoenix this past weekend to attend the football game versus UNLV. Obviously, I was thrilled to see our Cats go 3-0, and I was impressed with the gutsy offense of Coach Mackovic. But that's not why I'm writing.

I'm fairly biased, but I thought the "Pride of Arizona" Marching Band's pre-game and half-time shows were very touching. I was moved with Prof. Ed Reid's solo trumpet performance of the Star Spangled Banner, and when the entire band joined him part way through the song, tears welled up in my eyes. Then at half-time, during America the Beautiful, the trumpet soloist (who usually stands where Tucson would be on the map of the U.S.) stood in New York City... whoa! That was it for me.

The students in the "Pride of Arizona" Marching Band truly are the pride of the university. They put in extra hours last week to learn a completely new show for the UNLV game's half-time performance, even with all of the distractions and fears that we all experienced. These kids get only1 credit hour for the class, yet they meet for rehearsals as much as 13 hours a week! It takes a very special group of people to do that so well week in and week out, year in and year out. Prof. Jay Rees, Drum Major Mike May, and the entire band staff should be commended for their efforts and leadership through this time and through all times. They spoil us every game with such fine performances, and they truly are the "PRIDE of Arizona."

Carrie J. Rituper

UA alum '98

America must be willing to sacrifice

I fully concur with J.D. Schechter regarding these acts of war that have been wreaked upon our civilians. In the case of the WTC, the civilians represented a multitude of countries, and hence, not only our own citizens died.

Courage, honor, and commitment must not take a back seat to political correctness. Major battles are not won with words, but with the blood of our military personnel. Although we are not eager, nor anxious to die, we must realize that this is a war on America and our precious freedoms. These freedoms were bought with a price on many battlefronts. Hence, in serving our country, we must be prepared to die with honor if necessary.

While I do not believe that we should be seeking indiscriminate retaliation against a somewhat elusive enemy (i.e. the terrorists) by killing thousands of innocent people, I believe that we are involved in a new kind of war. We must ferret out Osama Bin Laden and bring him to justice by any means necessary, including death.

I personally know many decent, hardworking Islamic people who are just as patriotic as we are. This is a war against terrorists-not a wholesale attack against a religion. Yet, as a former military man, I believe that this particular war will be difficult and will certainly involve death and casualties. Yet, whatever happened to the moral fiber and courage of the World War II generation?

Our resolve must be at least equal to the terrorists who were willing to give their lives for a perverse cause. If we muster that kind of courage and resolve, we will not be defeated, because our cause is just, and our objective is freedom.

Malcolm Little

Gerontology graduate student