Thursday October 11, 2001

Political cartoon offensive

I am appalled that the Wildcat staff chose to print the political cartoon in the Oct. 4 issue (Page 4, Perspectives). This comic showed a group of ragged and pierced protesters with peace signs in the sight of a rifle, apparently about to be shot. The caption included an invitation to Osama bin Laden for a group hug. The printing of this comic was a very obvious attempt to belittle those who are taking a stand against the recent violent actions and words of the United States. First of all, the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 were not intended to strike those who work for peace. They were strikes on a foreign policy that has, since its establishment, sponsored violence.

Second of all, no individual who is protesting attacks on Afghanistan is supporting Osama bin Laden. If he is responsible for the attacks of Sept. 11, he should be brought to justice. He is not invited to a group hug.

Finally, to malign a movement that is solely motivated by the desire to save innocent human lives is to perpetuate the thoughts and actions that led to this attack. Those protesting the recent violent actions and words by the United States likely know far more about the nature of the events than do those who are blindly supporting American violence. To hold peace workers up as a subject of ridicule is to put your support into violence, which is an extremely irresponsible move as journalists.

Kate Mahady

field technician for the school of renewable natural resources

New ticket system better

Michael Badowski and Walter Opaska are both dead wrong about the new ticket system; it is the best yet. They are wrong because they were not there. Having waited last year for eight hours to get leftover lottery tickets, I was quite mad and was glad the UA changed the system. This year I waited only one hour for my tickets while some of my friends waited five minutes to get theirs. Yes, the ticket office did give tickets out two hours before they were scheduled to, but people who got there that early deserve them. If you think our ticket system is bad, look at Duke. People wait a week to get tickets while we wait only a few hours.

Personally, I think people should be able to camp out. If people are willing to do that, I want them watching the games and cheering on the Wildcats; they are true die-hard fans. But if you aren't willing to wait for tickets, then you don't deserve to get them, because you obviously don't care enough about them.

Jake Simoneaux

marketing and social psychology senior

Wildcat editorial presumptuous

I mean this as a direct statement to whoever wrote Tuesday's editorial.

Ahem... Are you kidding me!? How presumptuous are you to think that you have somehow ascended to some sort of intellectual and moral higher plane to tell me how to accept our action in Afghanistan? Do you feel it is your duty as a member of the media to take us under your wing and, through your vast hoards of wisdom, explain the ways of the world? Does it help you sleep at night knowing that you have presented a "balanced" view that makes excuses for the actions of the terrorists (read it again, it's there)? I find it refreshing that you've unabashedly presented all sides (with one helluva bias) without actually saying anything that wasn't 100 percent conjecture. Maybe I'll become a journalism major so I can be just like you.

One last thing, if you choose to wax melodramatic, for Chrissake let's shy away from using such triteness as "only time will decide;" if you're going to steal catch phrases, at least steal some good ones. I'd recommend Churchill.

Tylor Brand

philosophy freshman