Kunnie case an example of UAPD Îracial discrimination'

I find the blatant racism expressed in Monday's letter from Stefan Walz shocking. Whatever your opinions of Dr. Kunnie's past statements, I hope you are able to realize that the publication of any amount of potentially inflammatory material does not give law enforcement officials justification for holding him at gunpoint for a crime with which he had no connection. Had the suspect UAPD was looking for been "a white man with hair," would the first person they saw who fit this description immediately have had a gun drawn on him? And, Mr. Walz, would you suggest that Dr. Kunnie find a "township where the authorities would get off his back" if he were any other race? It is exactly the freedoms and laws Mr. Walz refers to ÷ freedom of speech, illegality of racial discrimination ÷ which are currently being systematically ignored and violated. And Dr. Kunnie's case is just one example of what is becoming a frighteningly frequent practice by those in power.

Just because this hasn't yet affected you does not give you an excuse to sit back and watch it happen. Look at this case for what it is: institutionalized racial discrimination by the UAPD.

Erica R. Watson
creative writing freshman

Injustices are on both sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict

I would like to take this opportunity to complain about the inclusion of Brian Wilson's Monday letter "Margolin letter Îenlightens' readers about Israel Conflict."

Mr. Wilson's letter in the April 7th Wildcat was nothing more than a personal attack on a member of the UA community who was sharing his opinion. Mr. Wilson insulted this person for two paragraphs before stating his baseless, fact-less brain-fart of an opinion. (Sorry to stoop, but I feel it is in order.)

He states "Ignoring United Nations resolutions, occupying land illegally and having apartheid ain't shit. In fact, after reading your letter, I think we should do all that stuff over here.

The principles of justice, equality and law were overrated anyway, let's do it Israeli style." Apartheid, for those of you who dislike obfuscation, is defined as "A policy or practice of separating or segregating groups." Given that Israel is a democracy, and has equal right for all its citizens, including Arabs, this claim is an obvious falsification.

As to Israel's "illegal occupation," Israel gained control of these disputed territories during an offensive started by the Palestinians (among others). Israel has often tried to give these back, but it must make sure its security will be upheld. The PLO has refused and abused all of Israel's attempts to solve this problem through peaceful and diplomatic methods.

The U.N. has, on a number of occasions, condemned Israel for its actions. However, can you guess how many times the Palestinians have been condemned for suicide attacks? Furthermore, the Palestinian Authority is constantly in violation of U.N. resolution 1373, the anti-terrorism resolution.

What Mr. Wilson fails to acknowledge, most likely due to his ignorance, is that there are grave injustices on both sides. There is no easy solution. It may take a generation before the hatred between Israeli and Palestinian people diminishes. Until this happens, I fear we are doomed to continue in this cycle of violence.

Reuben Goodman
interdisciplinary studies senior

More important things than how to paint ÎA' face Tucson

Many feel strongly that "A" Mountain is an appropriate political symbol.

I really don't care, so long as no crimes are abetted, or committed, by the authorities in pursuit of their pandering ways, and so long as the money for these follies comes from private sources. We should not tolerate lawlessness or government waste even in the name of patriotism. Nor should we waste so much valuable time and political capital on purely symbolic issues. We have more pressing needs to address.

Most puzzling, however, is that the "A" was repainted in American colors on order of the council on April 11, to be left that way until the war is over. Well, according to the Defense Department, the war for Iraq ended on April 9. I think that most would agree that the council should stick by their public pronouncements if they wish to retain their credibility.

Sadly, the next tempest in a teapot will likely be deciding when the war is over for the purposes of repainting the "A" yet again.

My warning is this: If the war's end is to be defined as when there are no more American troops in Iraq, our "A" may never be white again.

Michael Bryan
UA law student