Letters to the Editor (Editorial Policies)
Posted on November 9, 2006

Differentiate between ‘anti-Semitism’ and ‘anti-Zionism’

I wanted to put on the record my objection to the characterization in public relations of the lecture by Ilka Schroeder, formerly of the European Parliament. The university’s promotion of the address suggests that she would be speaking on ”Anti-Semitism.” Yet, when I read further in the press release, she stated her topic as “anti-Zionism” and other policies related to the state of Israel. Zionism, and opposition to that ideology, does not make one “anti-Semitic” as implicitly suggested; nor does opposition to the domestic or foreign political policies of the state of Israel. I am opposed to both Zionist philosophy and to some of the state conduct of Israel. I have no problem with either the people of Israel (who are Jewish and non-Jewish) or Judaism itself. What concerns me is both the basic academic matter of accuracy, as well as the not-so-subtle intellectual implications of equating opposition to the state of Israel (the political entity) or to Zionist philosophy as anti-Semitism. This is analogous to the fallacious idea that critiquing the U.S. government makes you existentially “anti-American.” At an educational institution, I expect much better than such reductionism.

The Rev. Dr. Nikitah Okembe-RA Imani, associate professor of sociology and Africana studies

Radical revolutionaries or absolute idiots?

Although I agree with Craig Finkelstein’s point that Che Guevara T-shirt wearers are completely ignorant, his dogmatic argument faces the inevitable flaw of being totally unconvincing, and in the end his “uh-mur-ica first” approach only serves to embolden Guevara lovers. Rather than pick at the holes of Mr. Finkelstein’s piece, however, I would like to focus on the point that a somewhat more imaginative person might have noticed: the irony factor of turning a communist figure’s image into a mass-produced pop-culture T-shirt for the consumption of “revolutionary” bourgeois kids is through the roof! Che Guevara T-shirt wearers: your ignorance of Marxist thought has been duly noted. Please do us all a favor and stop immediately. You may have pissed off your parents, maybe even received attention from a conservative principal when you were in high school. It might even be the case that you caught the eye of a cute girl who thought you were edgy and rebellious, yet somehow a total romantic at the same time. But you don’t fool me. I know you bought that shirt for $15 at the mall and then stopped for a Starbucks coffee or Chipotle burrito (prepared by some guy without a GED who’s only working there because he can’t afford not to) before heading home. Your Marxist cred is like zero, dude!

Greg Haugan, junior international affairs major

Don’t limit the rhetoric war to T-shirts

I have to agree with Craig Finkelstein’s letter in the Nov. 2 issue of The Breeze. I think he must be right; anyone wearing a Che Guevara shirt hates America and clearly wants to commit jihad. He says Guevara is a tyrannical lunatic who committed ruthless acts that involved torture, executions and carnage all in the name of a political cause. Sounds like someone else I know, maybe you have heard of him? Only he did all of this for “freedom.” He ran prisons where individuals were tortured without just cause and sentenced victims without any trial, they are called Abu Ghraib and Guantánamo Bay. I wonder how anyone can wear a shirt with this man’s face on it? Yet no one gets hassled when they do, because they are patriotic. I wonder what Finkelstein sees when he looks around campus and sees students driving SUVs? Terrorists increasing our need for foreign oil? I doubt it. Don’t get me wrong, I love America, the only reason I tell you this is because I’m sure I would be seen as a hippie-liberal terrorist if I don’t. Really, how many Guevara shirts have you seen on this campus? Sounds to me like someone just wanted to write and have their name published. Maybe these people wearing Guevara shirts read “Motorcycle Diaries” and happen to like it, so please don’t question someone’s morals or say they hate America because of what they wear. And I wonder why someone who is so patriotic isn’t off fighting for freedom for the greatest nation in the world? But its OK, I’m sure he has a yellow ribbon on the back of his car.

Nick Walthall, junior leisure studies major

MS Sleepout thanks community for support

I am writing on behalf of Phi Sigma Pi, an honors fraternity at JMU. I am the philanthropy chairperson, and I would like to take the time to thank everyone who helped contribute to our annual MS Sleepout, which was recently held from Oct. 26 to 27. During this time, we stayed on the commons for 24 hours and raised money for Multiple Sclerosis, a disease that affects the central nervous system. Without the help of our sponsors, donors and the groups who performed on the commons to generate a crowd, we would not have had one of our most successful MS Sleepouts!

Thanks to sponsors like Outback Steakhouse, Ham’s, University Outpost, IHOP and Texas Roadhouse, we were able to raffle off some amazing prizes and encourage even higher donations. We also were very grateful to Exit 245, Low Key, Madison Project, Madison Dance, The BluesTones, and Breakdance Club for their wonderful performances and enthusiasm in helping our cause.

I would especially like to thank Breakdance Club for a very generous donation that they gave toward the National MS Society. They were so enthusiastic about raising money for MS, and because of them, we are able to donate more money than ever toward our cause. Their support and the participation of everyone else were outstanding, and I wanted to let the JMU community know how grateful we are.

Jessi Groover, senior English major

Halloween should be a holiday of mystery, not misogyny

In the past month I am sure everyone has seen plenty of horrifying sights. No, I don’t mean the dramatic “Laguna Beach” girls or scary movies; I am talking about the large majority of people who feel the need to dress up like they’re Pamela Anderson on Halloween. Honestly, is it really necessary to completely reveal those 20-year-old perky parts? Maybe for some, but those “Pamelas” should expect a lot of comments being tossed in their direction from time to time, and not necessarily flattering ones. A very close friend of mine put it well, stating that “people have to leave something to the imagination.” She couldn’t be more right.

Then there are always those girls who think they have the body of Pamela but really don’t. This is the one truly horrifying sight. The others are now considered allowed to bare themselves just so long as these girls understand that it’s not fun to have people make fun of you with no glimmer of envy tossed in with the disgust. This situation is just straight out of a fat card from Spencers, which may be funny to some, but why put yourself through such hell?

There is such a thing as tasteful exposure, and I think that more of such exposure should be practiced during the Halloween season. Enough showing too much of your treats, girls. Baring a little cleavage is always fun for the guys, and showing some leg never hurt anyone. But as my friend would put it, “leave a little to the imagination.” And please, calm down on the impersonation of Julia Roberts in “Pretty Woman.”

Sarah Mead, sophomore communications major

Time to re-evaluate ESL programs in public schools

Children born in the United States should speak English, even if their home environment does not. The children of immigrants should have the same opportunity to succeed in our schools by having the proper exposure to English through the school systems, or the ESL program.

Money is wasted if these students have to repeat the grade because they did not understand the language the first time around. The taxpayers could use this money for other needs. There are several Web sites devoted to teacher aids and ESL information through the Internet, such as a4esl.org, esl-lab.com, esl.about.com, and nabe.org. By redirecting funds into the ESL program, there will be less crowding in the schools, because students progress. If the language barrier holds the ESL students, when the local school boards evaluate the projected population growth, these students who are repeating are recounted. The districts may be overestimating their needed growth plans.

The people who are not involved with ESL will protest against helping this program over other school programs, but this will also improve SOL scores, and could be the difference of a school passing or failing. We should ask any helpful organizations that are looking for community service to help better the schools by donating computers or printer cartridges to these classes. We should come together as a country and become unified through the schools.   

Jennifer Matherne, senior English major