Congrats, Wildcats; you'll make us proud in Sweet 16

First of all, I think I speak for at least 16,000 fans when I say congratulations to the men's basketball team on their stunning performance this past weekend against Gonzaga. And secondly, being a descendent from that famous sooth seer of Arthurian lore, Merlin, I would like to tell you of the things I have seen as to what is to occur against Notre Dame in this Sweet 16 game.

And for those non-believers out there, or for those of you who just have no idea what that is supposed to mean, I would like to let you know that the things I see are things that are sure to pass. To be honest, I feel sorry for Notre Dame, for as we watch, this is what we shall see:

Gardner will score 16 points a half. Salim will take 16 shots a half. Walton will have 16 assists. Frye will have 16 blocks. Anderson will have 16 rebounds. Adams will have 16 dunks, and boy will those be spectacular. Andre (because I can't spell the last name) will have 16 steals. Rogers will play 16 minutes? Maybe? Hopefully? Fox will congratulate his teammates 16 times. (Sit tight buddy, next year is only four games away.) Hell, Ranne and Torres will even get 16 seconds of playing time a piece. And through all this, Coach Olson and Coach Rosonborough will be enjoying the 16 remaining candy bars from the team's little escapade in Kansas. And let's not forget the fans, the 16,000-plus wonderful fans, all cheering for our team. Even the crazy guy with the cape will trip and fall 16 times as he runs blindly from one side of his room to the other cheering as the 'Cats run up the score.

And to top things off, there will be 16 members of the Notre Dame team with their heads hung low, because they just lost to the Cats by a mere 16 points. So I say once again, congrats, good luck ÷ and man, how sweet it is.

Scott Patterson
international relations sophomore

ÎFreedom' department should replace department of French

Many people have pointed out that there is a great un-American force centered on our own campus. It is shocking to think that a major university whose colors are red, white and blue could be home to such ideas. This axis of evil thought is said to be none other than the department of French. Recent events have shown that the French hate America and cannot be trusted. Even the news networks classify them not as friend but as foe. I have even heard it mentioned that perhaps our Focused Excellence plan should focus on being excellent patriots and cut the university's classes in "treason."

Being a moderate, I think that cutting the French program is too extreme. But as an American, I think something must be done. Therefore, I propose that the French department be renamed the "Freedom Department." This would help purge the department of undesirables. No democracy-hating terrorist would take a class in freedom! Also, a degree in "Freedom" or "The Language of Freedom" has a much better connotation than the forever-spoiled name "French."

If there are any French students who are not pro-terrorism, then they should be proud to have majored in Freedom.

Nicholas Ross
optical science and engineering freshman

ÎA' Mountain should display school colors, not be white

I am disgusted with the way Mayor Walkup has responded to the vandalism of the "A" on "A" Mountain. The letter was painted black with the word "peace" across its top in protest against Operation Iraqi Freedom. Instead of re-painting this symbol representing the University of Arizona in its usual fashion, our mayor has elected to paint the "A" white at an expense of $3,700.

Walkup claimed the reasoning behind painting the "A" white was to prevent the site from becoming "a political canvas." Exactly when did this sign of community pride and trademark of the University of Arizona become a political forum? I would suggest that it became a "political canvas" exactly at the time that the protesters painted it, not before. As such, it should be returned to its original state. Furthermore, if Walkup is concerned about the political message that "A" Mountain may convey, then red, white and blue, in my opinion, would be the right one to send.

Stefanie A. Reeves
pharmacy doctoral student

Acknowledge failure, remove teeter-totter from fountain

Hi, this is an open letter to whomever is responsible for the teeter-totter mess near the fountain. I will, free of charge, remove it. I have tools and a pickup truck. I've examined it and it can be easily dismantled. Please acknowledge the failure and allow me to take it away to a place of your choosing. I walk past it a couple of times each day, I'm embarrassed to be part of an institution that will not remove trash. We have been punished enough for one person's vandalism. Thank you.

Carl Morgan
electrical engineering senior

Peace movement's protests show respect for troops

I have heard the call to end the peace movement and am told that it is unpatriotic to protest the war now that American troops are in harms way. I am told that the Iraqis are ready to dance in the streets in an impromptu celebration of "God's gift of liberty," delivered via U.S. soldiers.

I refuse to disrespect American troops in my thoughts or words. In them I place the highest value, so much that I am willing to speak up when I feel they are being misused in an unjust war. Our loved ones did not sign up for an aggressive war that forces them to extinguish the lives of other human beings, an eventuality that is detrimental to the mental and spiritual well-being of any human. My love of my country and its inhabitants obligates me to oppose this conflict, which unfairly places servicemen and women into such a situation.

The question of liberated Iraqis welcoming the American military is particularly interesting. Consider, for a moment, that this is true and ignore the fierce resistance by some Iraqi forces and an inherent distrust of American intentions based on decades of betrayal. Should it not be expected that some degree of relief will be present among people who have endured a ruthless tyranny and also 12 years of brutal sanctions imposed by the United Nations? The extent of the suffering caused by these inhumane tactics directed at civilians is difficult for Americans to imagine. Suffice it to say, that relief from hardships generated by the United States is hardly a redemptive signal for war making.

I am told that since war has started, there is no longer a need to talk about peace. The absurdity of this statement is immeasurable. Past peace movements have been reactions to unpopular wars. This is a new phenomenon where opposition to a war has preceded the conflict. This is a positive development and to end it now is unrealistic.

When someone is grateful to you for removing your boot from their neck, you should not be so foolish as to think that they've forgotten what has transpired. The dangerous lesson that this administration is on the verge of learning, should the protests end, is that they can conduct wars with impunity because once the fighting begins, the opposition shuts up and the oppressed rejoice. To this I reply resolutely: absolutely not.

Paul Snodgrass
history senior

Mall protesters lack valid arguments; they just Îrant'

I am a firm believer in the freedoms of the U.S. Constitution, especially the right to protest. However, the protesters on the UA Mall today are merely ranting and raving rather then posing any legitimate arguments to oppose the war in Iraq. They sound more like angry lunatics than sensible political activists. Yesterday, they made a pretty good attempt to present some evidence on how many civilians have been killed so far in this war, but they also failed to acknowledge the hundreds of innocent Kurds that Saddam Hussein used chemical weapons on. The fact of the matter is, don't sit there and hand us one-sided propaganda, do some research. Remember you're a handful of people ranting on the Mall, and a vast part of this country is strongly in favor of this war. Bear in mind that you'll need more than the pathetic rhetoric that you're spouting off now to change their minds.

Andrew Benson
fine arts freshman

Shame on liberals for using kids to promote agendas

In regard to Kendrick Wilson's Tuesday column "Oil: the motivating force behind Bush's domestic and foreign policies," I do not have the time, nor is there the need for me to pick apart every false argument Mr. Wilson made. However, there is just one point which I must address because it is so appalling. In your final comment, you made reference to a 17-year-old pro-America demonstrator and made the statement "Ahh, the naivete of adolescence." Let's talk about the liberal view on exploiting young members of society for their sick purposes, Mr. Wilson. During the liberal "Books not Bombs" national protest just a few weeks ago, children were used as pawns in this propaganda war against President Bush and the American way. I observed, around Washington D.C. on that day, groups of school children, no older than fifth grade, outside chanting "no blood for oil." Do you think these young children have a clue about how foreign policy really works, Mr. Wilson? No, their liberal teachers feed them false information and then force them outside to demonstrate against something that is far beyond their comprehension.

In another example of liberal exploitation of children, pre-schoolers held an anti-war protest in, of all places, Berkeley, Calif. According to the California Patriot Magazine, when one of the "protesters" named Celia (age 6) was asked if she could name the Iraqi President, her response was "Is it a boy or a girl?" Shame on liberals for using children! Yet seeing that three out of four adults are for the president's actions, it is clear why liberals are forced to recruit children, too young to think for themselves, to do their dirty work.

Manny Espinoza
UA alumnus, class of 2002

Tucson must act quickly to save "A" from future attacks

As you know, our town was saddened last week by the loss of the white glimmer of our "A" on Sentinel Peak. It stood as a symbol of all that is Tucsonan until the dark day when it was vandalized. I don't think any of us will forget where we were when we heard the "A" had been painted black. But that is behind us now. We have targeted the group of vandals claiming responsibility for the attack. Their funds and black paint-buying privileges in the greater Tucson area have been revoked. In order to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening in our town again, we must strike potential vandals before they have the chance, or even the inclination to strike again.

I have received word that ASU is currently sheltering vandals who, come next fall, might possibly think about painting the "A" maroon and gold. It is with this evidence that I formulated a plan of action. First, an inter-barrio coalition of Tucsonans will travel to Tempe to search local hardware stores and private residences for weapons of mass vandalization. If they have said material, they clearly mean to use it. If we cannot find evidence, then clearly they are hiding it. In either case, we now invade Tempe and liberate the Sun Devils from Lucifer's influence.

Despite opposition from other West Coast schools such as UCLA, University of Southern California, Washington and the Pac-10 itself, we must proceed to secure the continuation of our vandal-free lifestyle. To ensure that we are justified, a coalition of schools in support of the intervention has been gathered. We will stand righteous with support from fellow schools such as Vail Elementary, Pima West and NAU.

Once coalition forces enter the campus, we can expect to be greeted with cheers. After all, we only come to bring them liberty. Soon after, privately contracted UA cheer squads will be deployed to restore their Arizona spirit.

The campus will be run by an interim administration as appointed by the Wildcats. Educational aid will be rushed to the ignorance-stricken campus. Once this has begun, Tempe's primary resource, tuition money, can be pumped into the coffers of Tucson businessmen. Our righteous goal is a simple: to preemptively strike would-be vandals and expel the devil from Tempe, while liberating ASU students, bringing them a better life while draining their resources for profit, and instilling UA values in the longtime rival school. What could be more clear-cut?

Nicholas Ross
optical sciences and engineering freshman

America isn't at war for the Iraqi people

As the illegal war in Iraq continues, I am sick of the notion that America is doing this for the Iraqi people. America is not the hero nor has it ever been ÷ especially when it comes to helping Muslims. The Shiite majority in Iraq would have Saddam done away with long ago if it was not for America's support and defense of Saddam during the Iran-Iraq war. The problem of Saddam is of America's own doing.

No one denies that Saddam is a problem that needs to be dealt with, but bombing the already devastated country of Iraq is not the way to do it. And America is definitely not the country that should be doing it. No one in the world truly believes that Bush is doing this for anyone else but himself ÷ not Britain, not Spain, not anyone. Just because America has convinced some Democratic leaders to ignore the voice of their people does not make those countries part of the "coalition of the willing." The "coalition of the bought and bullied" would be a more fitting name.

But why should anyone believe Bush? History has proven that the American government has not done a damn thing for Arab and Muslim people.

From the overthrowing of Mossadeq in Iran and replacing him with a dictator, to supporting Saddam in the 1980s, to supporting the Taliban, to providing Israel with the power to continue its oppression against the Palestinian people, it is no wonder Arabs and Muslims question America's sudden change of heart.

It is no wonder that this war will bring more hatred toward America. Let me state this clearly: America will not to be to blame. No, the Bush administration will be to blame. If President Bush suddenly decided that Arab and Muslim lives are worth something, perhaps he can start gaining Arab and Muslim trust.

You do not start by bombing an Arab country. He can start by taking some of that money that buys Israel F-16s and reallocate it to help the poverty-stricken Palestinian people.

Instead of writing checks to the dictators who rule the Arab countries as long they keep their people's mouths shut, perhaps America can take a second and listen to those people's concerns.

Perhaps then the Arab people and the rest of the world will believe that this war is for the Iraqi people.

Armand Navabi
computer science senior

Dixie Chicks have right to voice opinion

I do not respect the opinion of the Dixie Chicks, but I do respect their right to make asses of themselves. It is true, they have the right to voice whatever opinion they may hold. However, they must also understand that nothing is free ÷ since we still live under a somewhat capitalistic system.

Although it is a bastardized version that would most likely make Adam Smith vomit, the listeners have the right to voice THEIR opinion about the music they listen to.

If country music listeners take personal offense, as do I, to the actions of the Dixie Chicks, then they have every right to destroy Dixie Chicks' CDs, so long as they purchased them, and request that their music not be played. The radio station, wanting to keep listeners, will very likely comply with a large volume of requests. It is time that people realize that the exercising of personal rights means you must be willing to take personal responsibility.

Kara Karlson
veterinary science and journalism freshman

U.S. language about Iraq war inaccurate

Instead of using the words "shock and awe" to describe the U.S. military strategy, can we call it what it really is: death and destruction. Instead of calling it "Operation: Iraqi Freedom," let's call it "the U.S. invasion of Iraq." Finally, instead of calling it a "Coalition of the willing," let's call it a "coalition of those unwilling to work with the U.N." I think language is very important, and it is being used to mitigate the reality of the war.

David M. Mack
biochemistry and economics