I am a Jewish student here and I do not support Benjamin Netanyahu's decisions in any way. Rather, I believe that this maneuver was a deliberate and malicious power play and was intended to contribute to the erosion of the peace process that has been underway since he took office. I find the current practices of the Israeli government reprehensible at best.
In the future, I would appreciate it if you did not generalize about "Jewish students" on this campus.
While I cannot speak for anyone else, I can say that, as a Jewish student and as a human being, I am committed to the peace process in the Middle East, I support Palestinians in their struggles for autonomy and justice, and I do not support the practices of the Israeli government.
Karen Miller
Rackham
It seems as though many of your writers have found that dedicating entire columns to the depiction of the GOP as a bastion of bigotry and hatred has become a fascinating pastime. Although it is evident that their illogical criticisms possess no real journalistic value, I will refrain from attacking the integrity of The Michigan Daily and focus on vindicating the Republican Party as the party of the "big tent."
As a recent immigrant to the United States, I realized that I shared many of the values and ideals endorsed by the Republican platform. The conservative principles of laissez-faire capitalism, individual enterprise, patriotism and high regard for family and morals, transcend international boundaries and find refuge in a diverse array of cultures. I am a Venezuelan-American, and a proud bearer of my motherland's ethnic heritage and traditions. Nevertheless, I hold the utmost reverence for the historical legacies of this great country.
With this in mind, the College Republicans have been a friendly and supportive group that have always welcomed my participation, and have respected my opinions, even when divergent.
Furthermore, they have corroborated my belief that there is nothing embarrassing or "old-fashioned" about having personal initiative, discipline and respect for traditional family values - that it is all right to work hard and enjoy the fruits of arduous labor. They have made clear that it is honorable to strive for success and reach for the American Dream.
I am proud to belong to a group of individuals that puts emphasis on the principles that made America an illustrious nation, who are concerned with a person's willingness to uphold these principles, making no exception on the basis of color, national origin, religion or social status.
David E. Chacin
LSA sophomore
All students did hope for peace in the Middle East, but at that time there was no peace treaty between Israel and any of its neighbors, nor was one in sight.
Peace is a wonderful thing and the events of the last few weeks must be taken in perspective.
Things change, but wishes of people of good intention are to be blessed. Dialogue between students is far more preferable than bullets, rock, mortars and the like.
Unfortunately, suspicion between Arabs and Jews of the Middle East will not go away easily.
We can only hope that through honest negotiations, a fruitful solution for all will evolve. The Diag in Ann Arbor is always well used when dialogue among students and faculty occur in a peaceful manner.
I was happy to read this article to see that the Diag in Ann Arbor can still be put to good use.
Jeffrey Jarrett
University alum
Among other unsupported statements, the letter portrayed U.S. Rep. Lynn Rivers (D-Ann Arbor) as not supportive of education in this country.
I decided to see if Cox was correct, so I conducted a quick online search of the Congressional Record from the 104th Congress.
I searched on "education" and "Rivers," and here's what popped up from Rivers' own mouth during debate on the budget from May 17, 1995 (C.R. Section H5124):
"My husband and I got married the day after high school. I was 18; he was 17. At the time we were married we had few skills, little money, and a rough row to hoe.
"By the time we were 21 we had our second child. Today, 20 years later, I have an undergraduate degree, I have a law degree, and I represent my community in the people's House, the Congress of the United States.
"What made the difference for me? What made the difference for me is what has made the difference for many, many Americans over the years, education, and an education was only available to me because there were student loans, because I could borrow money, because I could get a helping hand. It made all the difference. It still took me 15 years to get 7 years of education, but I would have been shut out had I not been able to ask for help.
"And yet now we see a Republican plan that retreats from that position, that makes it harder to go to school, that makes it harder to get ahead."
Does this sound like a person who doesn't care about education?
Please. One can only pray for a day when Congress as a whole is as dedicated to education as Rivers.
We need to send Rivers back to Congress to continue her positive and heart-felt fight for the future of education in this country.
Joel Parriott
Rackham
Right down to the "die-hards, many of which chose to bleat out 'I love you, Tori' at various inappropriate moments," which got on my nerves and those of the people I was with.
Shahaf Abileach
Engineering sophomore