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FLAI protestors
knew rule, chose actions
To The Editor:
In response to “Our Perspective…” in the September 25th
edition of The Appalachian, I would like to suggest that possibly the
people holding up banners and passing out informational papers on Sanford
Mall did know that they were supposed to ask permission to do so, but
they chose not to because they deemed the rule ridiculous. The group
members started their action at 11:45 AM and ended it at 12:30 PM, as
they had planned all along. University officials and the ASU Police
did not convince or force them to end it.
Considering the context and legislative intent of NC Statute 14-12.8,
I do not think that the protestors were involved in any illegal activity.
Their wearing of bandannas on their faces was a solidarity-building
gesture for most who are familiar with the Zapatista movement in Mexico.
In response to the letter to the editor: “FLAI protest: why not
sooner?” I would answer Mr. Setzer by telling him that the group
was formed just subsequent to their protest and therefore they could
not have raised awareness on campus five years ago.
To learn about the real “opportunism”, I would like to tell
you about some of the under-reported news articles that I have read.
Starbucks charged ambulance personnel for water needed to treat injured
victims.
Rescue workers in New York City were caught looting the rubble. I would
also point him to the Reuter’s article entitled “Companies
Wave Flag in Patriotic Ad Blitz.”
Nathan Winkler
Junior
ASU Box 18564
Nw32225@appstate.edu
Commitment,
strength will bring unity
To the Editor:
The events of [Sept. 11] have been a test of the emotions of each individual
person and of our campus as a whole. None of us were prepared for the
tragedy that occurred, but one thing that we have to prepare ourselves
is a plan to stay a united campus full of rational level headed people.
We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t know problem-solving skills.
It’s hard for people to know what to do with the emotions that
are running high within us, but we’ve got to find a way not to
turn on one another.
This past week we’ve seen a unity of our nation and reassurance
that it has a strong foundation, but here on campus we’ve had some
events that cannot be ignored or tolerated. There’s been harassment
because of stereotyping and arousal of unneeded anger. The harassment
came in the form of emotional responses by students because [others]
happened to have the same religious background as terrorists who have
attacked us.
How can we judge an entire religion based on the actions of a few of
its believers?
We don’t judge all Christians to be murderers when we see fanatics
bombing an abortion clinic so we have got to take the time and find
another way of harnessing our anger other than attacking innocent people.
We have got to show our strength and commit ourselves to peace and unity
on our campus. Justice needs to be found, but please take the time to
consider the impact of your emotions before judging others.
Carin E. Zawadzki
curlycarin@hotmail.com
Vol.
76 No. 12September
27, 2001
SGA
offers greetings to students
To The Editor:
Fellow students, greetings from SGA! First of all, let me say that this
year’s freshmen class is doing an astonishing job of living up the
expectation of being the best and the brightest. It has been a pleasure
meeting many of our newcomers over the past couple of months.
With senate training under our belts, I am very impressed with the quality
of leadership in this year’s student senate. Please get out and meet
your representatives if you haven’t already!
All students are invited and encouraged to attend our weekly Senate meeting
which take place on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in the Grandfather Mountain
Ballroom of the Plemmons Student Union.
One issue that seems to be at the top of the list of concerns with students
is the status of our textbook rental system. Rachel Bowling, director
of academic affairs, along with a number of our new senators have been
working very hard in continuing the students’ fight to keep our current
system.
We are expecting legislation to surface on this issue in the next couple
of meetings. If you have any input, please let us know.
Just as a reminder, Homecoming will be on Oct. 27. All clubs and organizations
participating in the festivities MUST turn in all forms by Oct. 3.
If you have any questions, please contact Marsha Moore, director of external
affairs. Also, we are in search of convertibles for the parade. If anyone
has a convertible or knows of someone who has one and would not mind lending
it, please let us know.
As always, the SGA office door is open. Please do not hesitate to stop
by and visit.
Sincerely,
Xan Harrington
Student Body President
DeBetta’s
attempt lacks imperative points
To the Editor:
Before anyone is even going to begin to take seriously Anthony DeBetta’s
ill-advised attempt to equate economic sanctions against Iraq with “Nazi-esque
genocide,” he’s going to have to address a few points inconvenient
to his central thesis.
First, he’s going to have to at least mention the major precipitating
event—the unprovoked attempted destruction of Kuwait.
Next, since he’s chosen this unfortunate Nazis and genocide theme,
he’s going to have to explain why it isn’t Saddam Hussein who
is more like Hitler in his racial and ethnic policies. Perhaps he can
start by differentiating between Hussein’s repeated use of poison
gas against the Kurdish minority in Iraq and Hitler’s gassing of
the Jews.
Third, he needs to demonstrate enough intellectual honesty to state plainly
that the sanctions were imposed by the world community through the United
Nations and not the United States acting alone.
Lastly, he needs to expand his explanation of the complicity of the vast
majority of Iraqis to address not just why they continue to support Hussein,
but why they did so well before the sanctions were imposed.
Then we can begin to discuss whether American foreign policy in the Middle
East is “clearly another Holocaust.”
Dr. Paul Gates
Assistant Professor,
Department of Communication
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