Thursday November 1, 2001

Media responsibile to ask difficult questions

Mr. Bieda says the following, "I must point out that the media would rather report the death of an Afghan civilian than show the pictures of those who lost their lives on Sept. 11 or the children that have been orphaned since the attacks." I must point out that Mr. Bieda is totally detached from reality.

Mr. Bieda apparently has not been watching the news very often. It has been a deluge - one heartrending story after another. It was essentially wall-to-wall coverage. I believe Mr. Bieda is alone in his opinion that the evil media forgot to show proper grief. Also, Afghan causalities are not worthy of news coverage? Mr. Bieda seems to think not.

In regards to Afghan causalities dehumanized by the militaristic newspeak, "collateral damage," I really believe this is not the way to reassure the people of Afghanistan that this war is not against them.

Has the media shown the real effects of our bombing beyond video-game like footage of things blowing up? I really would like Donald Rumsfeld to tell the American people just how many terrorists they have vanquished and how many terrorist cells it has broken up as it bombed abandoned terrorist camps and Taliban "strongholds." Also, I would like Rumsfeld to tell me if he is going to bomb Saudi Arabia and Egypt, since that is where most of the money comes from to fund these organizations.

But he won't, because I know what really makes the world go around - oil.

Are these questions unpatriotic? Do they place the military in danger? Should I shut up? Should we follow the old Soviet code: "Do not think. If you think, do not speak"? A truly effective media would ask these questions instead of acting like the favorite pampered son of the political and military establishment.

Carlos Chiquete

astronomy and physics sophomore

Haley letter hypocritical

In response to Wendy Haley's letter printed in Tuesday's Wildcat, it must be pointed out that the Wildcat has in the past included advertisements that advocate the pro-life stance. Last year, the Wildcat included not merely an ad within the paper, but an insert. This insert was at least two pages, front and back and in color, encouraging women not to have abortions, even if they are victims of rape or incest.

The insert was probably not offensive to Haley, even though it was much less avoidable than the ads printed this week - considering that it fell out of every paper that was picked up. It did not discuss all the options; it did not weigh both sides and educate women about their right to choose. But it was most definitely "thrown in everyone's face - whether we like it or not."

Sheila Bapat

political science junior

UA not protecting parking customers

I am writing in reference to the article on the parking citations. I drive to school in the morning, use my permit to get in and, at the end of my day, some freeloaders and I (without my consent) leave the garage with my permit.

The first time someone followed me out of the garage, I thought that I might have been seeing things, naively thinking that people don't do things like that. However, when it happened a second time, I called Parking and Transportation to let them know what was going on. They told me that all they could do was recommend that I do a "swipe and roll" so the gate would come down on the freeloader's car.

When the incident happened for a third time, I stopped my car and looked right at the jerk. He just smiled at me. So I called Parking and Transportation again. They gave me the same advice. It happened to me yesterday.

After I called Parking and Transportation (for a third time) I looked across to the entrance/exit to the garage and I saw the same incident was happening to someone else. Today, and every day since the first time, I have tried to prevent this from happening. I am writing this because I am angry at the fact that I had to pay $400 to have the privilege to park in a garage and those jerks are getting free parking.

I am also writing this because when I complained the first time, Parking and Transportation already knew about the problem, because it has been happening in other garages. If they knew, then why are they not fixing the problem? It just makes me upset to read that Ms. Childers said, "We're protecting our paying customers," when they obviously are not.

Theresa Sauls

political science senior

Anthrax hoax saddening, disturbing

I am deeply saddened by the report of an anthrax hoax carried out against the Islamic Center of Tucson on Monday afternoon. Omar Shahin, Imam and director of the Center, received an envelope with a return address in Phoenix containing a white, powdery substance clearly intended to strike fear in the hearts of the center's religious leaders and the children who were attending school in the building at the time. I'm shocked that a resident of Arizona would direct such a hateful action toward fellow citizens of this beautiful state.

Mr. Shahin has done nothing to deserve this frightening threat against him and his constituents. Tucson Muslims are not guilty of terrorism or supporting terrorists simply because of their faith. To the contrary, on Sept. 12, members of the Islamic Center held a parade to show their love and appreciation for the United States. Some carried signs reading, "Muslim community behind America." Mr. Shahin marched side-by-side with Tucson Rabbi Thomas Loucheim, who mourned and denounced the violent tragedies of the day before by saying, "No person who committed these acts is a member of either of our religions."

Mr. Shahin was quoted in the Arizona Daily Wildcat that same day as saying, "We are angry at this situation just like the other Americans · I don't know what kind of human could do this." I too could not imagine what kind of human would commit the bloody crimes in New York City, Washington and Pennsylvania. And now I am unable to imagine what kind of human could single out peaceful Mr. Shahin as the target of homegrown terror.

Monday's anthrax hoax wasted the resources of the Tucson Police and Fire departments. It was antithetical to the fundamental American value of religious freedom, and thus unpatriotic. I wish to raise my voice in defense of Omar Shahin, who on Sept. 12 said, "We should stand together against these terrorists. (The terrorists) just want to kill. Muslims do not kill."

All persons with respect for humanity and liberty should speak out against the unjust intimidation of Tucson Muslims before our community tears itself apart.

Mike Sanchez

Tucsonan

Pedestrians should pay attention

The other day, I was riding my bike on North Olive Street from my class in the Music building to my next class when I was flagged down and pulled over by a bike cop. He informed me that I had been riding in a no-riding zone that extended from the Music building through the underpass all the way to East Helen Street.

He also told me that he and his co-workers would be patrolling this area heavily now because they have had a multitude of complaints about bicyclists riding there. I courteously explained to him that I had just started riding at the Music building and he kindly let me go.

Later, however, the whole confrontation simply began to annoy me.

The mere fact that biking through the Olive Street underpass is illegal has always rubbed me the wrong way. But being the honest and noble citizen I am, I respect it about half the time. I do not ride carelessly through the underpass and I look out for the pedestrians I share it with. It, by no means, is the most congested area of campus to ride through (I find the path between Harshbarger and Yuma Dorm and the road between the union construction and Nugent to be much more petrifying). It seems that it should not be a problem.

However, my feelings changed a little when I began thinking of the actions of scores of pedestrians on campus. They are nothing short of oblivious. I have yet to hit anyone, but I have had close calls (although not in the Olive underpass). Pedestrians, I beg you, pay attention!

Jason Aillaud

elementary education junior