Oden story could be false

Nancy Oden's description of her experience at the Bangor airport is horrifying. Fortunately, it doesn't appear to be true.

A short description of the contradictory evidence is available at: http://www.snopes2.com/rumors/oden.htm. Her story is being criticized by other Green Party members and people with similar political affiliations at: www.indymedia.org. As we've seen so often in the past few months, when the facts don't fit the preconceptions, it's easier to ignore the facts that change the preconceptions.

Amy Yost

anthropology and computer science junior

Many starve outside of Afghanistan

Far be it for me to get into a shouting match in a newspaper over an issue that an international studies major would probably win, but Meredith Smith does bring out some good points in her argument, many I agree with. In fact, I believe I even wrote them back on Sept. 19 in the Wildcat.

But I think Ms. Smith would also agree with me that life in Afghanistan wasn't all cheeseburgers and happiness before the U.S.-led coalition began its bombing campaigns, much less during. I will go out on a limb and assume that many of Afghanistan's citizens were already starving, or at least not eating as well as they would like.

But wait! There are other countries that are starving because of Western influence/interference, and we didn't even drop bombs on them.

There are countries in Africa and in southeast Asia that have growth rates near 20 percent because some westerners gave them our ideologies: medicines that improve infant-mortality without reducing pregnancy rates, religions that preach against killing fetuses and weakened infants and governments that value the rights of the individual and not the rights of aristocracy.

What I'm saying is that there are lots of causes for starvation, not all of them bad, and there are lots of nations that are starving. Will people fast for them as well? Please do! And be sure to bring up the reasons for their starvation as well.

I guess my original revulsion to the fast on the Mall is the placement of blame on our government. It would be more prudent, and correct, to point fingers at the Taliban, who reportedly poisoned the food drops we sent. If anything, I think Afghanistan is getting the "good" deal. As the people of Mazar-e-Sharif dance to music in the street, and the women remove clothing that had repressed them for years, our country leads the ousting of a government that has little respect for human rights. But even after the bombs stop dropping and the aircraft carriers stand down, there will still be countries in this world that don't have enough food - and I don't see anyone fasting for them.

Seth Peck

computer science senior

Lee column addresses important subject

Wow! What a wonderful article by Jessica Lee in Wednesday's Wildcat - a beautiful depiction of the horrific events that have and will continue to take place as a result of the legislation recently passed. I, like you, am deeply enraged by the depravation of civil liberties and dehumanization of people as a result of this legislation. I hope someone with our type of passion for liberty brings this case or one like it to the attention of the Supreme Court so it can be rightfully overturned. Keep up the wonderful work on issues of such monumental importance!

Chad Wellins

political science freshman.

O'Rourke always caustic

I whole-heartedly agree with Laura Winsky's amazement at the statement made by P.J. O'Rourke on "The Daily Show." I was pretty much aghast. However, just as much as I am a fan of Jon Stewart, I am also (or at least was) a fan of O'Rourke's. You must keep in mind that he has always been rather caustic.

For example: A number of years ago he wrote a book, "Holidays in Hell." It's a very funny book, but it's also a pointed satire about the worst places in the world (Beirut, for one) to travel in. You might give it a read, just for kicks.

I must also confess that I specifically tuned in that night to see him and hear what he had to say. And just like the viewing New York City audience, I didn't think that comment was funny at all. It smacked of intolerance, though it also reminded me of the type of author P.J. O'Rourke is famous for being: a bit of a jerk, albeit tongue-in-cheek.

Stuart Allen Smith

religious studies junior

Kunnie should place blame where it belongs

Julian Kunnie's claim that U.S. and British bombing of Afghanistan is immoral and racist is distorted at best. Not only does he fail to mention why Afghanistan is being bombed, but he also uses his tired, beat-up, left-wing radical playbook, which says that the United States. is killing millions of people in other countries, and the United States is racist in its actions.

First of all, our war is not against Afghanistan, it is against terrorism. Osama bin Laden and numerous al-Qaida members have been given safe haven in Afghanistan by the Taliban. All of the terrorists who attacked America and killed thousands of innocent people had ties to al-Qaida. The Taliban have refused to turn over bin Laden and other al-Qaida leaders to the United States, so what other choice do we have? I have heard a number of people speak out against our bombing, but they do not offer alternative (feasible) ways of bringing foreign terrorists to justice.

Second, to say that our war on terrorism is racist is laughable at best, disgusting at worst. Saying that this war "features a group of mostly white and powerful, predominantly-Christian nations ganging up against a poor, underdeveloped Muslim country" is strikingly similar to what Malik Shabazz, of the overtly racist New Black Panther Party, said just days ago. This is the same tired rhetoric that Marxists have been preaching for years, and all it does is pit one group against another.

Third, to bring up U.S. involvement in other countries as an example of its "immorality" is the height of distortion. For example, millions of dollars' worth of food and medicine is sent to Iraq each year. In fact, U.N. sanctions on Iraq specifically exempt food and medicine. The reason so many people are dying of diseases and malnutrition in Iraq is because the Iraqi government confiscates most food and medical aid that comes into the country then sells much of it on the black market. Please place the blame where it belongs.

William Hockings

physics graduate student

Chavez holiday reflects his importance

Something monumental happened on Tuesday: the Pima County Board of Supervisors voted to create a paid holiday in honor of Cesar Chavez.

This holiday will be a priceless tool for organizing around issues of social justice. Most people probably don't know much about Cesar Chavez, so this holiday makes it much more likely that folks will learn about what Chavez did and what he stands for.

A native Arizonan, Chavez and Dolores Huerta founded the United Farm Workers to improve the lives of thousands of produce pickers, most of whom lived in abject poverty. He led a 340-mile march from Delano, Calif., to Sacramento to win the first genuine union contract between a grower and the UFW. Chavez's battles often included long fasts (the longest was 36 days), which probably resulted in his early death in 1993.

His words offer inspiration to all those who struggle for an improved world. He wrote these words:

"Show me the suffering of the most miserable;

So I will know my people's plight.

Free me to pray for others;

For you are present in every person."

Rachel Wilson

psychology graduate student

Workers deserve Chavez holiday

One day off from a Cesar Chavez holiday is not going to cause the debacle of the government's business. Remember the labor movement, the people who brought you the weekend!

Ellen Gruwell

history junior