Rather than criticizing others' religions, promote peace, love

It seems that lately, every day I open the opinion page of this paper there is a letter from someone attacking one religion or another. I don't know what I find more disturbing: the ignorant people who send in biased, inaccurate letters or those who obviously have researched the topic in order to make the attack more potent.

Now, I completely support everybody's right to freely express his or her opinions. I am also not writing this letter just because I am a Catholic who was especially angered by the unfair comments and misinterpretations in Thursday's letter, "Christianity defined by its rich history of violence, persecution." Although it did play a large part in my decision to write this letter, I will not argue about any of the author's arguments here, especially since her letter was not the only one I found distasteful. Rather, I choose to express my anger and sadness over the fact that, in a time when tolerance and understanding are needed more than ever, people choose to spend their time condemning each other's beliefs instead of trying to live together peacefully.

I truly do not understand why people are choosing to spend their time saying hurtful (and in most cases, untrue) things, when a year ago we had a graphic demonstration of the harm that can come about when people are intolerant of each other.

We all need to learn to be accepting of others and their beliefs, no matter how wrong they may seem to be. Instead of writing negative letters, we should all put that amount of time and effort into promoting peace among one another.

Julie Gerace
microbiology freshman

Islam continues to use force to spread and enforce its beliefs

I agree with both Matthew Montgomery and Diane Hain when they asserted that both Judaism and Christianity are violent religions. Nowhere in my Monday letter, "Islam is not a peaceful religion, but one of religious imperialism," did I assert otherwise. I merely pointed out that Islam is among them in the sense that it is violent as well. A major difference between the religion that I discussed and the other two is that only mainstream Islam currently promotes violence against others.

What Matt Montgomery (Thursday, "Islam is comparable to Judaism when viewed in a negative light") and Diane Hain (Thursday, "Christianity defined by its rich history of violence, persecution") fail to note is that neither Judaism nor its offspring Christianity have used violence in the modern times as a means to spread and enforce their beliefs, as Islam does.

Silas Montgomery
history freshman

Taking pot shots at the young as bad as stereotyping the old

In response to Liz Ronquillo's letter, "It's complaining, whining students, not middle aged women, who are annoying," I'd like to say that it seems that it is Ms. Ronquillo who is jealous, not Ms. Suarez (whom she addressed in her little rant). It seems to me that some (not all, may I stress) of these so-called non-traditional students seem to think themselves better than the "traditional" students in their classes. The reason that Ms. Suarez singled out the middle-aged women is because they single themselves out. I assume that since these women enter a class where they have very few peers, they decide to act like the other people do not matter. I can understand feeling that being 20 or 30 years older than most students in the class means you are better than those students, but that should not be the case. Once you enter that classroom, everyone in there is your peer whether you like it or not.

Jealousy, Ms. Ronquillo, is disliking the people who are taking college courses when people normally take college courses. I know not everyone has the luxury of spending their early 20s at a university. But you should not take that angst out on the lucky people who are able to take advantage of an early education.

Furthermore, it is easy to take potshots at a majority, singling out "complaining, whining students" from the huge pool of "traditional" students. Just because our peers sometimes complain does not mean all of us are the same way. You make the same stereotypical assumption that Ms. Suarez made.

Finally, I enjoy your politically correct term, "non-traditional students." I guess you want to further separate yourself from the rest of the student body. Here is an idea: How about we all become college students, regardless of age, and go about our business without trying to annoy everyone else?

Louis Nowaczyk II
general biology junior

Bell tower editorial inaccurate, disrespects craftsmen of union

Regarding your editorial of Monday, Sept. 9, "Bell tower not fit for the lives it must honor," by the Wildcat Opinions Board: There are several statements that are totally without merit and/or foundation. The opinion of the gentleman (Erik Flesch) who called me to talk about the bell tower, and the material that was used to build the wall in which the bell is housed is an opinion that he and everyone else is surely entitled to. The comment "nor worthy craftsmen" is a comment that categorically did not come from me nor the people that Flesch claims to have spoken with. The fact is the craftsmen that built the Canyon Wall are by far the very best in this state and, arguably, some of the best in this part of the country. The details of this type of work are far more complex and complicated than Flesch could possibly understand, yet due to his need to "show" his construction understanding, he makes up comments and/or words that were never said nor implied, just to create a misunderstanding rather than get all the information accurate.

The comment that I "admitted (Provost George) Davis' vision was lost on his masons" is so totally disrespectful and inaccurate that I can only feel sorrow and sadness for the gentleman I tried to accommodate and talk to at his request. I once again stand by the fact that the workmanship, the style, the vision by Provost Davis, MHTN Architects, UA Facilities, Design and Construction ÷ specifically Chris Kraft ÷ is not only fantastic in specifics but wonderful by the spirit and emotion that has gone into this project.

My pride and the passion that I have felt ÷ and that has been felt by all the subcontractors on this project ÷ is now, always has been and will always remain to a degree that is unmatched. The sad part is the fact that unfounded and totally inaccurate statements such as these distort the sweat and 14-hour days (7 days a week) that so many very hard working people have put in to try and bring to this university, the City of Tucson, the State of Arizona and certainly to the student body and faculty of the UA a spirit that is felt in the mind and heart, and will be felt every Sept. 11 and Dec. 7 from now on. I find it difficult to understand the lack of passion, pride or understanding this individual has for the spirit and emotion that this bell and tower stand for.

Bob Bertolini
senior superintendent
Swinerton Builders