Discussions of Columbia crash should omit politics

On Feb. 4, Yanev Gerowitz wrote rightfully, "Very quickly could this journey of scientific discovery have became a politically charged situation." In fact his letter titled "Columbia crew members deserve moment of silence" is a testimony to his previous statement.

Mr. Yanev, the Israeli-American, as he refers to himself, quickly seized the tragedy as an opportunity to blast Islam and Muslims. In his letter referring to the shuttle Columbia's explosion he states, "Sadly the first idea that popped into my head was that this was an act of hatred from an extremist Islamic group."

Moreover, Israeli Mr. Yanev speculates that "the dead or alive bin Laden" according to him, could have possibly coordinated this act with "one of the various extremist groups."

Mr. Yanev, who does not seem to know what American really stands for, is using such a tragic and catastrophic incident to be his staging ground to spread hatred, violence, and anti-Semitism against Islam, the seven million Americans who happen to be Muslims, and the 1.2 billion Muslims around the world. He actually sounded Israeli-spirited and un-American.

Hussam Amaridi
Tucson resident

Unfair to compare deaths of astronauts to bombers

It is absolutely sick that Caitlin Hall used the deaths of heroes, compared them to the deaths of terrorists, and hoped that she would gain some political legitimization out of it. And then to put the victims of AIDS on the witness stand for her own whimsy.

Death in itself cannot be prioritized, but death of itself does offer some hierarchy of importance, relative to the social proximity and depth of the population around the deceased. We do mourn those who are socially close to us who have died of AIDS. The astronauts have a high degree of social proximity to every American, therefore we mourn them. And the Palestinian suicide bombers will need more study.

I don't know if they want to die, or if they feel that their deaths are justified, or if there is some other existential psychology behind it; regardless of the causality, suicide bombing is not condoned in our society and it is only natural to be indifferent about those deaths.

It is interesting, though, to consider her cases: the AIDS victims die because they are dying, the Palestinians die because they choose to, and nobody knows why the astronauts died ÷ no death is unthinkable, only inevitable and untimely.

Christopher Marcum
sociology junior,
minor in death and dying

Shuttle crew more brave than Palestinian bombers

This letter is in response to the liberal poison repeatedly coming from the words of the Arizona Daily Wildcat, and one columnist in particular, Caitlin Hall. If I had as much money as she has asinine views, I'd be the richest man in the world.

Trying to stay calm, in Ms. Hall's Thursday column, "What went wrong after the shuttle went down," how the hell can she fathom saying, "The crew of the Columbia demonstrated no more bravery than a Palestinian suicide bomber"?

She just spit on the memory and real bravery of men and women who cared to make a difference through peaceful means, rather than a savage strapping a bomb to his chest and running into a cafe for the reason of, as she put it, "defense of their homeland."

It is more courageous to face the unknown in the name of peace, rather than face the certain in the name of what? Defense, as she called it? Do you know what they found in the wreckage one of the last suicide bombings? Sandwiches wrapped in plastic and destroyed packaging of juice boxes; and can you guess who that valiant, courageous suicide bomber took out in his fight for his homeland? Kids going to school!

Ms. Hall is one of the most adamant anti-war protesters on this campus because she abhors the thought of innocents dying, yet she just called the acts of those who take lives of innocents brave.

She also said, "The implicit claim that it (death) is only sometimes meaningful is shallow and callous." If this is true, then I am a shallow and callous man.

For it would not bother me to see all those brave would-be suicide bombers systematically exterminated; I would get bored of hearing about it before I had any remorse for their savagery.

The deaths of those who die in the name of good will always weigh heavy in my heart; and the deaths of those who die in the name of her so called "defense" will be nothing more than words in the next column of which she will praise their actions.

Ms. Hall is a hypocrite and a poor excuse for an American; and I hope the seven brave souls who died aboard the Columbia are waiting for her at the pearly gates to let her know what they think of her as well.

Shaun Donovan
criminal justice administration junior

Column ignores plight of other oppressed groups

Ms. Caitlin Hall's commentary about the media's reaction toward the destruction of the Columbia was, for the most part, poignant and insightful. It is truly a shame that seven deaths are treated with the utmost importance while each day there are thousands of people around the world whose deaths escape our notice. Ms. Hall's column was tainted however, by her justification of terrorism and violence. Claiming that the bravery of Palestinian homicide bombers is equal, or greater than the bravery of the Columbia astronauts is egregious.

While the Palestinian terrorists may very well be brave, it is possible that Ms. Hall fails, or is unwilling, to recognize the numerous other oppressed peoples in the world. The Kurds, Tibetans, Lebanese and Sudanese Christians live in a constant state of fear and oppression, yet they manage to live their lives without blowing up themselves and the innocent people around them. Just as Ms. Hall suggests we should adopt a more globalized view of tragedy, we should lose the tunnel vision that forces us to see only the despair of the Palestinians.

Kenneth Porter
mathematics sophomore

Honor shuttle deaths over those of suicide bombers

In response to Caitlin Hall's Thursday article "What went wrong after the shuttle went down," I would like to say this to you Ms. Hall: Get a grip.

First, how dare you equate suicide bombing in the Middle East with the men and women who dedicate their lives to the furthering of science. Your argument to rationalize such actions is flawed in the face of the fact that a bomber chooses to kill, to forfeit his life in the taking of innocent others. I find your comparison to be repugnant and without merit. Should we honor a person for killing a bus full of people because of religious and political differences, over those who would die in the pursuit of science?

Secondly, you ask why is it more important that we publicize the death of seven in the face of countless others? I will provide you with an answer.

People grieve every day for those who lose their lives to AIDS, heart disease, etc. As you say, a tragedy · yes. I have suffered such personal losses, however the answer I provide is abrupt and succinct: the priorities of the news media and those of the American people do not run parallel to yours. Too bad, deal with it. I choose to honor these people for their sacrifice to science and to their countries.

I respect your apparent belief that a Palestinian suicide bomber is as brave as the men and women who died aboard the shuttle, but I will never agree with it.

Josiah White
linguistics junior

Letters and complaints need a new perspective

Letter-writer Mike Rosenthal's got a good idea in asking for Fast Facts to return. I'm not opposed to "On the spot." Sometimes it's actually funny, but Fast Facts kicked ass.

The recent complaints about the comics in the Wildcat are silly. Yes, they are often derogatory and rude, but many jokes are. Anyone who takes them seriously and becomes offended needs to lighten up and learn to take a joke. Remember, it's always funny until someone gets hurt · then it's friggin' hilarious!

And the shuttle disaster should be put in perspective. As a U.S. citizen, you lost $7.58 when the shuttle exploded. Clearly that's not enough to get too upset about. Seven people represents 2.5E-6 percent of the U.S. population. On the way home from a hockey game in Phoenix last Friday (go Icecats!) I passed several nasty vehicle collisions that probably resulted in more than seven deaths. In our country 822 people die every day as a result of using tobacco, 274 people due to alcohol use.

Clearly death is not an uncommon event. I'm not saying that the shuttle burning to pieces isn't sad, but it seems ridiculous that people who couldn't care less about our space program are suddenly weeping their hearts out over this one failure.

The construction of the International Space Station represents an enormous achievement for humanity, yet before last Saturday how many people knew there even was one?

It's disheartening to know that it took seven deaths and the loss of a multi-billion dollar craft to get the necessary funding to continue our exploration of space.

Kris Brown
electrical engineering senior

Buildings should not be a Îpornographic experience'

I'm beginning to notice a pattern of public masturbators/exposers being reported on campus (particularly in the library) each time I read the Police Beat column. To me, this is totally disgusting and unacceptable. I also feel like nothing is being done with these sickos. These people are mentally disturbed, and if they have the balls (no pun intended) to masturbate in public, they could easily become perpetrators of other more serious sex crimes. Police need to step up and start patrolling more closely since public masturbating has become a regular occurrence. Going to buildings on campus shouldn't be a pornographic experience.

Kate Schoenwald-Oberbeck
psychology freshman