To the Daily:
Why is it that people are willing to give up civil rights to preserve the quiet? The Daily recommended in its Football Saturday issue that the city of Ann Arbor work to discourage the KKK from holding rallies here ("After the trials," 11/6/99). I'm sorry, as far as I was aware all citizens had the right to assemble, whether or not their views were popular. That's one of the complications with the constitution; we have to accept other people's opinions.
The editorial stated that the KKK created problems because they incited the crowd. Gee that makes sense, for people certainly can't be held responsible for their own actions. I would like to hear Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi's opinion on this subject, since they and those that worked with them faced much greater assaults than just words shouted from steps, and yet they worked without violence. The fact is that those that started the riot were not members of the KKK, but they were the audience.
The editorial also applauds the efforts of other cities that succeeded in preventing the KKK from holding rallies. Gee, I wasn't aware the Daily favored the discrimination against individuals because of their beliefs.
So who in these cities, with their grand wisdom, decides who gets to assemble and who doesn't? Who actually gets those civil rights guaranteed by the constitution and who doesn't? These cities use bullshit laws to keep people from assembling; forgive me, this seems remarkably similar to when southern states enacted laws making it nearly impossible for black citizens to vote, such as requiring a literacy test (which most white constituents couldn't pass).
So we draw the line at groups whose ideals are opposed to that of most of America - does that mean the whole McCarthy era was justified, since most Americans hated communists at that time?
Before I get tons of hate mail by those who feel that I am a KKK sympathizer, I am not. I despise everything for which they stand.
However, I do not believer that any person or any form of government has the right to take away any person or group's civil rights because they do not agree with the beliefs expressed. We cannot persecute anyone for their beliefs; we can only prosecute them for their criminal actions.
Which means we prosecute those who throw bottles at police officers, or any one else. The moment you set the precedent that a person's rights can be taken away for any beliefs that go against the social norm, then you open the door to a society where freedom of speech and expression is lost. We must fight to defend the rights of all people, not just pick and choose.
Pete Donahoo
Rackham student
To the Daily:
On the night of Nov. 4, there were two candlelight vigils held on the Diag. Both commemorated senseless deaths and remembered tragedies. The assassination four years ago of Israeli prime minister Yitzak Rabin robbed the world of a great leader, and slowed a peace process which is still not complete.
The second vigil remembered the passengers of EgyptAir Flight 990. As a group of people from many nations and diverse backgrounds, this is an occasion for all people to grieve for this loss.
Why, then, is the Rabin vigil described in a full front page article while the EgyptAir flight is merely a picture caption? As a Jewish student, with family in Israel, I understand the importance of remembering the legacy of Yitzak Rabin. But as a human being I know the absolute necessity of honoring the 217 victims of Flight 990.
The one aspect of the EgyptAir vigil mentioned by the Daily is the prayer performed by some of the Muslim students, but there was much more to the vigil than that. It is a shame that the Daily did not honor this tragedy.
Tony Goodman
SNRE sophomore
To the Daily:
I enjoyed reading the Oct. 28 "Weekend, Etc." magazine entitled "Meet the World: A Focus on Study Abroad." The articles offered a good deal of valuable information about many of the options for study abroad available to University students.
However, students should be aware that study abroad is only one of several ways to get a valuable international experience. For many, work abroad is also a viable option. Although one of the articles mentioned that information on international internships can be found in the Overseas Opportunities Office, not enough attention was given to the subject. International work experience is becoming more and more valuable in today's global market.
There are several student organizations on campus devoted solely to aiding students in the work abroad experience. The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience is a good example. IAESTE provides paid internships abroad, available in engineering, computer science, mathematics, natural and physical sciences, architecture and agricultural science. This is not just for students who speak a foreign language, either. For many of the internships in both English and non-English speaking countries, English is the only language required. IAESTE is an active organization at the University - 20 University students worked abroad last year through IAESTE. More information about IAESTE is available at www.umich.edu/~iaeste.
Paid internships abroad for students in areas of study not covered by IAESTE are available through other programs. ICE and AIESEC are two of the better known programs and both have been active in sending University students abroad in recent years. Information on programs such as ICE and AIESEC can be found on the International Center's website at www.umich.edu/~icenter.
Studying abroad can be a great experience for many people, as can working abroad. Students should be aware of the various opportunities available for both.
Chris Leja
Engineering senior
To the Daily:
I am writing in regard to the article that appeared in last Thursday's Daily about a new support group for single mothers ("Single moms find support in new group," 11/4/99). Anyone interested in this group can receive more information by e-mailing smis@umich.edu.
The next meeting will take place on Dec. 1. Childcare will be available. The topic will be about Christmas finances and there will be an expert on hand to give advice. For more information about this meeting or the group in general please e-mail us.
Aimee Bingham
LSA senior
To the Daily:
As I was looking at Friday's paper, I must say that I was hurt and offended that the only coverage about the Egypt Air vigil was a picture captioned "Muslim students say a prayer for the victims of EgyptAir flight 990 at a vigil held last night on the Diag" ("Remembering EgyptAir flight 990," 11/5/99). For your information, there was a group of Christian students praying also. This just reiterates the stereotype that all Arabs are Muslims.
As an Egyptian Christian, (yes that is possible!) who was at the vigil praying for my fellow brothers and sisters who had passed, I am hurt that the Christian Arab voice on this campus was once again ignored. There were many Christians there, so please watch what you display in the paper because many people on this campus already link Islam with being from the Middle East. I believe that the Daily owes the Christians who were at this vigil an apology.
Sherry Guirguis
LSA junior
11-09-99
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