Scientology hotbed I
In "Is Scientology a reason to resurrect Hitler," (The Firing Line, Feb. 12) Yena Yoo misunderstands the attacks on Scientology. Regardless of the sign wording, the protests were against the Church, not its beliefs (which are only one facet of a religion). Yena assumes the religiosity of Scientology, which is still hotly debated. Many countries refuse religious status to Scientology, and Germany has declared it a dangerous cult.
Separate from its beliefs, Scientology mandates that members cut off contact with their non-believing family members. Eleven leaders of Scientology were indicted with wire-tapping and stealing documents from the IRS and engaging in medical fraud using E-Meters to cure sickness. Other members, defended by the church of Scientology, directly caused the death of Lisa McPherson. It's shameful when religiosity gives an organization free reign to violate human rights while opposition is automatically labeled as bigotry. Information about the controversy of Scientology is everywhere; Yoo's summary of the situation can almost be considered ignorance by choice. Yoo's application of the term "Nazis" is therefore deliberately misrepresentative of the protesters' goals.
Mike Hinter UT alum Article Reference Link
Scientology hotbed II
As one of the anonymous anti-Scientology protestors from Feb. 10 and the president of the UT German Club, I would like the chance to respond in print to Yena Yoo's inaccurate Firing Line comparison of the protests to the Nazi persecution of Jews.
We were not there to protest against religious beliefs. People were protesting the Church of Scientology's illegal activities and human rights abuses. Scientology lost its status as a religion in America for 25 years, and in many countries today (such as Germany), it is not recognized as a religion and is monitored by the government as a dangerous cult and business.
Scientology copies many of the tactics used by Nazi Germany. Germans were given tests with questions such as, "Is Hitler infallible?" If they responded "No," they were sent to re-education/concentration camps for being "mentally ill." Likewise, the Church of Scientology labels anyone who disagrees with them a mentally-ill/anti-social "S.P." The Nazis justified crimes like the Holocaust by saying that anyone who was not a part of their Aryan "Volk" was sub-human anyway. "The Creation of Human Ability," by founder L. Ron Hubbard, authorizes the use of "Auditing Process RZ-45" on non-Scientologists/critics. This is widely documented as meaning murder. Nazi brown-shirts beat and stalked dissidents, just as critics of Scientology today find themselves sued, stalked, harassed and worse. Please Google "Operation Freakout," "Operation Snow White" and Xenu.net for more information.
Nick Wenker German, liberal arts and humanities junior Article Reference Link
Enticing race relations
David Steil is completely wrong about Ward Connerly ("YCT reinforcing its own stereotype," The Firing Line, Feb. 13). It seems obvious to me, but I guess I'll say it anyway - just because Connerly disagrees with "affirmative action" does not mean he is a racist. In fact, I'd say that his disagreement with this flawed policy makes his message about race relations even more enticing. He understands that race-based admissions standards attempt to make up for flaws in our education system by granting a free pass to people most likely to be disadvantaged by the system. It fails, however, because by defining people as unequal, affirmative action reinforces biases while doing nothing to fix the underlying problems that perpetuate discrimination.
For the most part, Connerly's speech will not focus on race-based admissions standards. His speech is titled "America's Promise Realized: Getting Beyond Race" and will discuss how the left lives in a hyphenated America (African-Americans, Asian-Americans, etc.) and how this self-segregation actually harms the civil rights movement. While the left substantiates segregation, the conservative approach is to become colorblind. Connerly understands this, and YCT hopes to spread this message.
I encourage UT students and faculty to attend Ward Connerly's speech, which will be held next Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. in Mezes 1.306.
Liz Young YCT chair Government senior
Get real about segregation
Jillian, get real ("Black History Month: government-sanctioned racism," Feb 13). No doubt there are reasonable arguments against Black History Month. Your argument, however, is not one of them. And here's why. Most central to your argument is the following ungrounded (and offensive, and rather silly) claim: "The segregation of history is as harmful as the segregation of people." My guess is that even you do not believe this is true. For how could an abstract phrase you've just created ("the segregation of history") - an abstraction in support of which you provide no evidence of measurable harm - equate with the actual segregation of people, a historical reality the harmful of effects of which (and whose existence, mind you) linger still (yes, today)? Also, other than asserting that "these divisive months" are racist and sexist, you have provided no evidence that "the divisive months do more harm than good." You haven't even proven that they are, in fact, racist and sexist. Until you do provide such evidence - and until enough people think your evidence measures up - it makes perfect sense that we (and not just "the government") continue to "dice history up into little pieces," especially if this so-called dicing up ensures that we continue to confront the ways in which our government (and others) encouraged (and encourages still) very real and very harmful forms of racism and sexism (and other forms of discrimination, including that based on class and sexuality) - one form of which was (and is) the actual segregation of people.
Zachary Dobbins English graduate student
Political frugality
Let's go over the idiocy that is Daniel Earnest's Feb. 13 editorial "A Lesson in Bushonomics." Let's ignore how Bush's polices are nothing like Reagan's (for better or worse?). Let's look instead at how Daniel decides to falsely praise the elitist, treasonous pig that is Ronald Reagan. True, there was a recession when Reagan gained the presidency, and his trickle-down economics did form a short-term solution that boosted the economy for, at most, five years. Then, another recession came at the end of his presidency. I can hear many of you misled YCT members asking, "Why?" Because the money never trickled down. Tax breaks for the rich put the tax burden on the poor and more money into upper-class pockets so they could buy more worthless luxury crap and give their worthless kids (read: Paris Hilton) a bigger inheritance that they don't deserve any more than a random person on the street does.
Earnest infers that by cutting needed programs like welfare (that were proven to help the economy in the long term during Clinton's presidency) and keeping our money in blunders like Iraq, that we would not only help the economy, we would keep ourselves safe. Did he not read the many reports on not only Iraq but also Afghanistan? All our wars in the Middle East have not only failed to stop the terrorist that planned Sept. 11, but also spawned thousands more and boosted terrorist personnel, funding and area of control. We have made it worse.
So Daniel, while you spend money on such idiotic plans as a real-life "Star Wars" (don't forget that in Reagan's legacy), most of us in the real world will actually help the poor by taxing the rich to provide programs and save money by not endangering our country further in ridiculous wars.
Charles Allen Government sophomore
Recycling rage
It is preposterous that Joel Fagin suggests to "not buy into RecycleMania" ("Don't buy into RecycleMania," The Firing Line, Feb. 13). Recycling is one of the key components of ensuring a cleaner tomorrow. Fagin suggests that it is better environmentally to produce and cut down trees rather than recycle. Every time a tree is cut down and dies, it releases formerly stored CO2. Fagin's concept that landfills are abundant is ludicrous. I bet if everyone on campus used his lawn as a landfill, or home, for that matter, he would be singing to a different tune. The evidence that recycling is effective is insurmountable. I guarantee that every mainstream science professor on this campus would agree. Fagin is allowed to believe what he wants about his ability to waste reusable material, but not to spread recycling skepticism and anti-environmental mania around this campus. Fagin is likely also against the recycling of aluminum and plastics. We must recycle in order to preserve our land's quality and environment's health for our children. Not only does recycling help to re-use products that are not fit to be thrown away, but it also teaches an important lesson about the concept of conservation: Recycling helps to promote the idea that sources are limited and are therefore worth the time to re-use and use less to begin with. At UT, we're proud to recycle, conserve and pass on a cleaner world to the next generation. I encourage everyone reading this paper to ensure that it is recycled, not only for yourself, but for your children
Garrett Mize Government sophomore
Recycling rage II
I am disappointed, horrified and shocked that a university publication such as The Daily Texan has so little integrity as to publish the statement of lies contained within Joel Fagin's letter today. I am disappointed because it is more than easy to fact-check statements of opinion online in a matter of minutes and determine whether or not they hold up. I am horrified because your publication is helping to perpetuate an ignorant, ill-informed opinion, which is of no value to the University or Austin community. His opinions are, in fact, untrue. I am shocked that a publication based in an institution of learning resorts to such base tactics as shock value, opinion (as opposed to established fact) and lies to fill a page rather than truth, honesty and integrity. If you ever feel compelled to publish the truth, I would be happy to write an article to educate your readers.
Michele Hallahan Environmental specialist and sustainability facilitator UT Environmental Health and Safety
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