To the Daily:
I must say I was very impressed with the front page coverage of the Islam Awareness Week events ("Muslim Women Address Myths," 11/12/97).
With all the negative media about Islam and Muslims it's refreshing and something to be commended when the truth about Islam and Muslims is addressed in a very straightforward manner - that is, that Islam and Muslims are not predominantly terrorists.
I think I speak on behalf of all conscious Muslims on campus when I say thanks for your positive acknowledgment of a very informative lecture that truly did unveil the myths about Muslim women.
Sairah Saeed
LSA sophomore
To the Daily:
Once again our twice yearly case of indigestion has arrived on the campus, namely the elections for our various student governments.
What vexes me is not the inane issues that are presented year after year, the regular daily reports on the elections speaking to a mass of very disinterested students, or even the pollsters calling out to you to vote as hundreds of students pass by the polls with complete disinterest.
No, the real annoyance is the actual campaign signs and hoopla that goes on each election, all the glaring signs, posters screaming for attention and election day the candidates doing everything possible to get your vote.
A particular example of this was found last year, where the Michigan Party had a gentleman outside the fishbowl dressed like a large can of beer, calling out "A vote for Michigan is a vote for beer." Cute, irritating enough to almost make a voter go in and cast a ballot just to get rid of annoyance, but I digress. As you walk through Angell Hall, or the MLB, or to a lesser degree any other campus building, you will see the clutter of the campaign everywhere.
Everyone, it's time for us to take a stand and tell the MSA and LSA student government to pass stricter regulations against this clutter. Impose limitations on the number of signs you can post, stricter penalties and fines, whatever method works, just cut the number of campaign signs to a minimum.
Make the candidates actually stand in front of a crowd and speak their piece rather then hide behind posters that scream for them. Hopefully next election we can actually walk through Angell Hall without being visually bombarded every time we look anywhere but at our shoes.
Edward Chusid
LSA junior
To the Daily:
I would like to say that the unparalleled ignorance of Joe Sexauer in his Nov. 12 letter ("U.S. military actions are 'imperialistic'") to the Daily absolutely astounded me. In his absurd letter he paints a portrait of our military picking on other nations. Whether I feel that the United States is imperialistic is irrelevant. What is relevant is that in Sexauer's desperate need for a scapegoat, he obviously failed to realize that the U.S. military takes its orders from the Commander in Chief, a.k.a. the president.
That's right, the person elected by we, the people. But Sexauer would rather blame the courageous men and women who by law have to follow the orders given to them by their Commander in Chief! This is sheer lunacy! If Sexauer weren't showing such cowardice then he would take the blame upon himself for electing the president who orders those so-called "imperialistic" military actions.
In light of what our military has done for us, I ask you all to honor our veterans and all those within the U.S. military, for they have taken an oath to defend each and every one of us, including the ingrates like Sexauer. Take pride in your country and your military. Hell, the next time you see a man or woman ever so proudly wearing a U.S. military uniform thank them, or just give a friendly smile. Let them know they are appreciated.
And to those who believe as Sexauer does, try getting a clue next time before you dishonor the courageous men and women who protect your freedom. It's amazing to think that our military would fight and die to defend such arrogant and thankless people like yourselves. But that just once again demonstrates how wonderful the United States of America and its military really are, and how lucky we are to be Americans!
Thank you U.S. Armed Forces, past and present!
Ryan Ismirle
LSA sophomore
To the Daily:
Starting to read Chad Bailey's letter ("Students must vote," 11/11/97), I thought that he would be commenting on the sorry voter turnout among the University community. I agree that the percentage of eligible voters at the University who actually exercise their rights is far too low. That, however, is the extent of my agreement with Mr. Bailey.
As I read further, I found little more than incoherent thoughts that completely destroy any semblance of a solid argument. He writes, "I can forgive the Ann Arbor residents. It's the students that I cannot."
Why can one segment of the population be culpable for a lack of civic responsibility and not another? If you are going to indict one, indict both! The Ann Arbor residents bear an equal, if not greater, responsibility. Why? How many University students are going to be paying increased property taxes out of pocket because of the passage of Proposal A, a property tax increase for park maintenance? That's right! None.
Reading further still, I see that he shifts focus completely from the evils of low voter turnout to those of Republicans in general. While he attempts to make a respectable argument on this front, he falls short in two respects: 1) he resorts to stereotyping and overgeneralization and 2) he has obviously failed to do his homework.
To start, Bailey refers to "the racist (yet newly elected) State Sen. David Jaye ... ." First of all, while Jaye's rhetoric (like that of most others) may seem extreme, labeling him as a racist is in poor taste. Contrary to popular belief, not all conservatives are racist. Second, and more important, Jaye was never elected to the State Senate, as Bailey states. He won the Republican primary, but is still representing his constituency in Monroe as its state representative.
Moreover, "evil tyrants like Newt Gingrich and the House Republicans" could not escape unscathed either. They were blamed for a whole litany of government shortcomings.
True, the lack of voter turnout in off-year elections is sad. But perhaps the uninformed voter can be equally dangerous. While it's important to get involved, it's equally important to be aware.
Steve Couch
LSA first-year student
To the Daily:
On Friday, Nov. 14, the Daily wrote as a cutline to a picture on the front page: "Paul Piatti ... speaks about banning land mines on the Diag yesterday."
Are there any land mines on the Diag? Or do you mean that Mr. Piatti "spoke yesterday about banning land mines"?
I found it cute.
Astrid Billat
Rackham
11-18-97
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