Letters to the Editor (Editorial Policies)
Posted on September 25, 2006

At least Canada has attempted to right torture wrong

The House Editorial on the extradition and torture of Canadian citizen Mahar Arar from Thursday’s issue of The Breeze leaves the reader with some misconceptions about the issue. While it is certain that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police sent the U.S. police incorrect information on Arar, there is no indication that any Canadian was involved in his extradition to Syria, other than to try to prevent that from occurring. The Canadian government does not extradite people to countries where they will be subject to torture or the death sentence (which includes the United States). While the Canadian government is expressing its regrets and preparing to pay compensation, the United States is still in denial, with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales claiming that it was just an ordinary deportation.

Peter Calvert, info tech staff member

Comparing the swastika to the Confederate  flag is like comparing apples to oranges

As an unknown author once said, “analogy is the lowest form of reason.” In last Thursday’s letter to the editor, the Rev. Dr. Imani provides compelling reasons to vilify the Confederate battle flag. Unfortunately, arguments without relevant facts do not stand up under scrutiny. Hitler and the Nazis hijacked the swastika from ancient religions and misapplied it as a symbol of the Holocaust. As we mentioned previously, the Confederate battle flag is a symbol of Southern military valor and honor. Like the Nazis with the swastika, white supremacist groups have caused the flag to falsely be associated with hate. As Imani points out, neither symbol was originally intended to represent hate toward any group. But here lies the flaw in this comparison: these ancient religions that once used the swastika are not being accused of ethnic cleansing.  Confederate soldiers, however, are constantly accused of being racist because their flag was adopted against their will and its meaning perverted by the Ku Klux Klan. Furthermore, the degree to which the Nazi party contaminated the meaning of the swastika and the actions that followed dwarfs that of the KKK and the Confederate battle flag.

The KKK is a repugnant group of misguided individuals, but they have not murdered nearly 6 million people. To compare the two falsely vilifies Confederate soldiers and, more importantly, is insulting to Holocaust victims and their descendants. Being offended by this misuse of the Confederate battle flag is understandable, but please do not project your anger on the innocent.

Nathaniel Clarkson and Anderson Braswell, senior economics/geography & accounting majors

Differentiating between Fannie and Sallie

I would like to point out some inaccuracies in Patrick Callahan’s opinion editorial, “Academic Year Brings Cause for Rejoice, Reflection,” from the Aug. 31 issue of The Breeze. 

Mr. Callahan asks how many people missed out on money for college due to accounting inconsistencies at Fannie Mae. Mr. Callahan appears to be confusing his companies. Fannie Mae provides financial products and services for home ownership. Fannie Mae does not issue student loans.

Sallie Mae is the nation’s leading saving and paying for college company. We are a private company, no longer chartered by the federal government. Sallie Mae originates student loans that are guaranteed by the government, yet as a private company we offer significant discounts on the rates and terms set by the government. Our company is consistently ranked as one of America’s most admired companies by numerous media and national organizations.

We agree with Mr. Callahan that the Budget Reconciliation Act passed by Congress cut a disproportionate amount from the student loan program. We also would like to see more grant aid for students. However, Mr. Callahan fails to mention that the new fixed interest rate of 6.8 percent on student loans was enacted in 2002 with broad support from both political parties and student groups. 

Since 1973, Sallie Mae has helped more than 21 million Americans achieve a college education. In addition, over the past five years The Sallie Mae Fund has distributed nearly $90 million in philanthropic giving. We are proud of that record.

Tom Joyce, Vice President of Corporate Communications, Sallie Mae, Reston, Va.