America is great because it rejects Europe's philosophy

Caitlin Hall has it all wrong about Europe being "Green." Europe, with the exception of France ÷ who finally wised up and started voting conservative ÷ has moved so far left that it is more of a rosy, Bolshevik red.

I love to read editorials in which liberals label fellow conservatives like myself the problem in society. Seems to me that the left wing is the real societal contaminator. Their political correctness, slave reparations, international governmental organizations, anti-God attitude drives me nuts. We have PETA fighting for chickens and rats to have rights, environmental groups burning homes and businesses down, anti-globalization demonstrations that cause damage to property and cause death, and Amnesty International making sure that war criminals responsible for American deaths last fall are being treated humanely. So to hear Ms. Hall go off on conservatives quite frankly makes me sick.

Then Ms. Hall insinuates that the United States must join the International Criminal Court. Joining such a group strips Americans of our sovereignty and hands it over to a bunch of liberal simpletons who want to put the United States on a choke chain. Joining such a group puts our leaders in danger of being arrested when they are overseas if the court doesn't like what the United States does. Obviously the United States will not be joining that sham of an organization as Democrats and Republicans alike have stressed.

Then Ms. Hall attacks the death penalty. Because Europe doesn't practice capital punishment, that makes them more humane. Instead of making sure monsters like Timothy McVeigh and, recently, David Westerfield, do not have a chance to kill again, liberals would rather put them behind bars where they have the chance to break out and commit more murders. Liberals would have us believe society, not the individual, is to blame for criminals' behavior. Ridiculous!

Finally, if Caitlin thinks Europeans are so wonderful, why doesn't she ask them who drew up the borders in the Middle East ÷ the same borders that have lead to all the turmoil that the region has experienced? Last time I checked, it was Great Britain and France. It's a pity she didn't consider that.

Ms. Hall may want us to be as liberal as Europe, but as for me, I like living in a country where you can be an individual and where I don't have a socialist regime controlling my life from birth to death.

Charles A. Peterson
history junior

Learn the facts rather than discuss religions ignorantly

This is in response to Kendrick Wilson's column Thursday, "Salmon weaving tangled web of hatred." I agree with Wilson that religion should not be a topic in the political forum. More importantly, both politicians and writers should educate themselves on world religions before commenting on them.

I can confidently assert that few people understand the deep and logical Adwaita philosophy that is the foundation for educated Hindus. Wilson should read at least one book on a religion before commenting on it. He stated that, "If I were Buddhist, Hindi, Sikh, or even a Hare Krishna, does that make me less of a productive, law abiding citizen?"

Hindi is a language. Hinduism is a religion. One who practices Hinduism is a Hindu. Many Hindus speak languages other than Hindi (Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telagu, etc.). Many non-Hindus speak Hindi (Christians, Sikhs, Zorastrians, Jains and Muslims). It might be useful for Wilson to know that a Hare Krishna is a Bhakti Yogi ÷ a Hindu who worships the God Krishna, and is therefore a sect of Hinduism.

I suggest that writers in the Wildcat refrain from commenting on religions until they educate themselves. However, it is good that Wilson recognized how ignorant and non-Christian Matt Salmon's comments were.

Vijay R. Pottathil
biology senior

PC history fails to teach that USS Arizona didn't sink itself

I was pleased to read Ms. Williamson's Thursday article ÷ all those years have passed and the truth is finally revealed.

Early one Sunday morning, the USS Arizona just took it in mind to sink! Child, that ship was sent to the bottom by the bombs and torpedos of the Imperial Japanese Navy in a sneak attack that crippled the U.S. fleet, precipitated our entry into a World War, and changed both the course of history and the entire political structure of the world.

Beyond the obvious moral cowardice of a "politically correct" (albeit historically inaccurate) article, you have demonstrated an ignorance of and contempt for history, completely disregarding the fact that the USS Arizona ÷ and the United States ÷ was attacked by the same "civilized" nation that graced the world with the Rape of Nanking and the Bataan Death March. The disservice you do to the men who died defending her is beneath contempt, and the bowdlerization in the attempt to exculpate the perpetrators of this war crime reeks of the colossal ignorance of history.

The fact that college students in general know as much of the war that preserved democracy as they do of the Peloponnesian War, and, in fact, consider them equally ancient, is sad commentary on our educational system. Sadder still is the fact that an institute of allegedly higher learning could allow such obviously flawed and defective pap, carefully crafted to upset neither the sheeple nor the perpetrators of this atrocity.

J.D. "Duke" Schechter
Marines sergeant

Fraternity culture changes from within its house walls

I applaud Mr. Cucher's insight into the process of organizational change as expressed in his commentary "Go greek but don't go stupid" in Tuesday's edition of the Wildcat. He made two very important points related to an organization's ability to effectively change its values and culture. The first point is that the organization must see the need for change and identify what must be changed: "There are better ways to bond with people than sharing in humiliating initiations." The second point is the process by which values and culture are changed: "No one needs to take action against clubs that haze besides the student's themselves."

Delta Chi members themselves have taken action against its culture of hazing. In doing so they have enlisted the support and involvement of alumni, parents and the national organization in taking on the challenge of changing the values and structures underlying the culture of bonding through hazing. Some of the changes were noted in Monday's Wildcat article "Dean pulls Delta Chi recognition" and in Mr. Woolbright's letter to the editor Tuesday.

The plans for change, as well as a progress report, were entered into evidence during the proceedings of the University Hearing Board to consider Delta Chi's appeal on April 18, and again on May 1. In its wisdom, the board considered the apparent dedication of current active Delta Chi members to change the culture of the organization and questioned the effectiveness of a five-year loss of recognition in reducing hazing activities on campus. They thus recommended loss of recognition for one year after which Delta Chi Fraternity may apply for reinstatement contingent on meeting conditions set forth by UHB.

The conditions included parent involvement and support, meeting conditions set forth in a corrective action and upon reinstatement, four years of closely supervised probation. The recommendations and conditions set forth by the UHB, although congruent with accepted principles of organizational change, were not adopted by the vice president of student affairs. Presumably in keeping with the "tried"÷ but to date not successful ÷ university policy to "crack down on hazing."

Change occurs from within the organization. The hope that abuse-free bonding, initiation rituals free of hazing, will somehow happen once the organization ceases to exist long enough for an untainted generation of young men ÷ the full cycle of membership according to (Associate Dean of Students Veda) Kowalski is 5 years ÷ to rebuild the organization is a false hope. Stamping out hazing activities by stamping out the organization is a prescription for recreating the culture of hazing.

The untainted generation will model its culture and values on the culture and values of similar organizations in the Greek community, the silent culture of hazing. Fortunately there is hope that Delta Chi, because it is in the unique position of owning its own house, can remain on campus ÷ albeit not recognized ÷ to continue the worthy pursuit of organizational change and to prove that sustained change occurs when the students take action themselves. Change comes from within.

Linda Metzner
Delta Chi
Parent Advisory Board

Wildcat displays unfair, blatant pro-greek bias

I am disappointed to see the unfair coverage of the Delta Chi hazing incident in Tuesday's Wildcat. You printed a letter written by a fraternity member defending Delta Chi titled "Two Sides to Every Story," but you neglected to print an opinion representing the other side of the story, i.e. an opinion that is not blatantly pro-greek. I, and I am certain others, submitted opinions about Delta Chi and the greek organizations on campus, and our voices were omitted.

I can only guess that, as always, this newspaper is neither impartial nor professional. The paper's pro-greek history stems far back in the school's history and is now reflected in the decision by the editor not to portray accurately the range of opinions on campus relating to the Delta Chi hazing incidents that resulted in their non-recognition.

If you are a fledgling newspaper committed to helping train fine journalists, you might consider one of the basic tenets of good journalism: balanced and impartial coverage of events.

Kathleen Powers
non-degree seeking graduate student, staff member,
Women's Studies

Voters should not pick Clean Elections tickets

Kudos to Joe Ellison for shedding the light on the Clean Elections within our state.

If Republican voters in this state wanted to take a stand against candidates who run under this campaign finance reform system, they should not vote for anyone who opts to use public financing.

Therefore, they would not be casting a vote for Secretary of State, at least two seats on the Corporation Commission, Treasurer or State Mine Inspector for the upcoming election.

Tracey Clymer
history senior

Happy hour can still be happy without alcohol

As a season ticket holder I was reading the Arizona Daily Wildcat Online to catch up on some ĪCats football news, when I came across a letter sent by Alexandra Clinton. I had to investigate the origin of her complaints ÷ and that led me to the editorial written by Jessica Lee. Being a football fan and an occasional bar fly who enjoys happy hour, I felt obligated to reply to both. (Don't take things so literally, I'm not really a fly.) I went to happy hour at TGI Fridays the other week and I met a friend of mine and his wife.

After a long week, happy hour was just what I needed. I was "so hungry I could eat a horse" ÷ and what better than half price potato skins, nachos, cheese sticks, quesadillas and wings? After consuming so many "happy" calories and bargains I had worked up an enormous thirst and needed something to drink. There was nothing better to wash it down with than a tall glass of ice water · with a lemon slice. My buddy had the same and his wife had an ice tea/lemonade mix, aka an Arnold Palmer.

If Alexandra is so knowledgeable and reference-oriented, maybe she can look in the dictionary for the words water, tea and lemonade and tell me which one of these beverages contains alcohol. I spent almost two hours in this happy hour environment and didn't consume one drop of alcohol. I feel sorry for Alexandra for assuming happy hour always means drinking alcohol, when in actuality it provides an environment where if one chooses to drink, he or she can at reduced prices. Maybe Alexandra has a drinking problem and can't control herself in happy hour environments. I just feel it is ludicrous to imply that going to happy hour means one is consuming alcohol.

As far as the football games are concerned, I don't know if alcohol consumption is a problem. I don't think it is anymore of a problem than going to a sorority or a fraternity party where alcohol may or may not be present. Now, if a few individuals choose to drink too much and can't handle it, then that is an entirely new problem; but just because there might be isolated incidents does not mean the whole game, party or happy hour should be condemned.

It is also ironic that Jessica Lee brought this "problem" to our attention, when at the same time the paper she works for has advertisements for numerous nightclubs promoting cheap drinks, happy hours and two-for-one specials ÷ not to mention strip club ads. How can Jessica talk so negatively about a university organization's advertisements when the university organization she works for advertises much worse. I think we have all heard of the term, calling the kettle black.

The words "Happy Hour" do not always imply drinking. Use your common sense!

Craig Mayhew
alumnus