Ad for Bunny Ranch inappropriate and distasteful

I am writing with regard to the advertisement in the Wildcat on Sept. 13 for the Bunny Ranch.

I found this ad to be very tasteless. When I contacted Mr. Mark Woodhams to express my dismay with the ad, he stated that the Wildcat is a student run newspaper, and is not representative of the UA. If this is so, it should be stated more clearly on the front banner, rather than on the inside of the front cover in a very small font. The banner headline clearly reads Arizona Daily Wildcat, and underneath reads "The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona."

Many visitors, as well as faculty, staff and students read the Wildcat. It reflects on the UA whether you intend it to or not. Does a half page color ad for a pornographic theater show the level of professionalism that you want the Wildcat to portray? Wouldn't this type of ad be more suited to another type of media, such as the Tucson Weekly?

In the past there have been ads for adult clubs and bars that have been much more discreet. These ads have not detracted from some of the more thought-provoking articles and commentary that have been in past issues of the Wildcat. I would like to urge the staff at the Wildcat to think of this in the future when selling advertising. Perhaps instead of sleazy porno ads that reduce the newspaper to the same level as those little flyers in boxes on street corners, other ads for such things as community service could be obtained.

Karen L. Gutierrez
administrative associate, University Learning Center

Current Afghan government not made of "Jihadi" terrorists

In reference to a letter to the editor in the Wildcat Sept. 12 titled, "To know what should be done about Iraq, look at how U.S. mishandled Afghanistan," Rachel Wilson states that the "Northern Alliance" is made up of "Jihadi terrorists." She also makes the false assumption that there is the same hatred of women under the current government of Afghanistan as there was under the Taliban, since "it comes from the same religio-fascistic ideological world outlook."

I am astonished and perplexed by this generalization and characterization of the new government and their treatment of women.

It is very inaccurate to label all government officials as members of the "Northern Alliance." The term is often used out of context by media and others. Afghanistan is not divided into a north and a south and there is no unified northern group. Afghanistan has multi-ethnic groups and for centuries these groups have lived and fought with one another. The West's creation of the term "Northern Alliance" is somewhat misleading and not known to the people of Afghanistan. I wish the media and others would drop this label and start talking more positively about how to rebuild and to assist this poor and ravaged country and to give the new government a chance to expand.

The government of Afghanistan is currently composed of many technocrats and well educated individuals who never were involved with the Mujahideen and the extremists. Many had left Afghanistan over 20 years ago and migrated to various countries of the world including the United States. Some have gone back and many are hoping to return to rebuild their tattered nation. It is totally unfair to call these committed people "jihadi terrorists" and "religio-fascistic ideologists."

I was in Afghanistan several months ago and I did not experience any hatred of women under the new government. To the contrary ÷ I was pleased to see women getting back to schools, universities and the workplaces with assistance from the United States and many other countries. The government officials are enthusiastic for women to get scholarships and pursue education and other activities. Several women have high government positions and many more are working with other sectors in the country. There are numerous and reliable primary sources in the UA Library, and I hope Ms. Wilson takes time to research further before she makes erroneous and condescending remarks about the current situation in Afghanistan.

Atifa Rawan
UA librarian

Christianity and Judaism guilty of present-day violence

Mr. Silas Montgomery once again shows a lack of a good grasp of world events when he stated in his letter printed in Friday's edition ("Islam continues to use force to spread and enforce its beliefs") that, "only mainstream Islam currently promotes violence against others." I just wish he would bother to get his facts straight, or to even get any facts at all before he goes making accusations of who is and is not violent at the present time. I also wish he would read letters thoroughly before he responds to them. Or even just read a newspaper with a good world news section ÷ try The New York Times.

As I stated in my prior letter titled, "Christianity defined by its rich history of violence, persecution," current-day Christians use violence to spread their right-to-life message. These Christians, often referred to as the religious right, are well known for violent demonstrations against Planned Parenthood and other abortion clinics. Doctors and other personnel are threatened with death, clinics have been bombed, there have even been cases of doctors being murdered. The most recent case of anti-abortion killing I could find was in 1998 when Dr. Barnett A. Slepian was murdered in his family home in Amherst, N.Y.

James Kopp was charged with the murder and arrested in France in March 2001. Two other persons, including White Rose Banquet leader Dennis Malvasi, were arrested as accomplices. The White Rose Banquet is part of a well-known Christian group famous for their violent stance against abortion called The Army of God.

But enough of Christianity. Let's talk Judaism. If you believe the Bible, you believe that God told the Jews to fight to take the Promised Land, guaranteeing their victories because they believed in Him. Just read the books of Numbers, Deuteronomy and especially Joshua for the historical evidence.

And they are still fighting to regain that land today ÷ read any world newspaper for daily accounts of Israeli violence. Take the time to find out the real whos, hows and whys of aggression in the Middle East.

My real point is that preaching peace but practicing violence is the truth of every major organized religion. But please don't expect me to prove it for all the others.

You need to learn to do your own research and I haven't got time for any more of this; I have my real studies to work on.

Diane Hain
animal science junior