Green line bottom line
The March 6 shooting at a Jerusalem yeshiva is a wake-up call for us all. The idea that murdering eight people who are studying religion and trying to make the world a better place is the way to bring about liberation is absurd and disgusting. It is a reminder that the Jewish people are at war. Many American Jews try to separate themselves from the conflict, but the terrorists see no such distinction. In my recent studies of Islam and the concept of Jihad I have found nothing in Islamic texts that supports such actions. It will take an awakening from people on all ends of the spectrum to defeat this enemy. Even if you are against the "occupation" and feel Israel should return to the green line borders, you must realize that any enemy willing to commit these atrocities does not just want sovereignty and a normal life. If we are to ever create a Palestinian state that is behind the green line (which I will always be firmly against), the terrorists must be defeated. We must require whoever is to be in charge of the Palestinians to cooperate in destroying Islamo-fascists. In academia, I'm surrounded by moral ambiguity and "cultural relativism." No matter who you are and what culture you come from, there is no justification for this brutality.
As we head into an election year, let us remember that we are in a critical time in world history. We can not afford leaders who are too willing to compromise with evil. Let us all pray for peace and justice.
Samuel J. Ellison Middle Eastern studies junior
Give Andy O'Connor a break
Well, it looks like once again people are trying to find a scapegoat for their own entertainment ("Ignorance on Facebook," The Firing Line, March 5). Slap a race card or a sexy scandal onto a person or an organization and you have instant fuel for an undying thirst for amusement. This is exactly what has befallen against our fellow student Andy O'Connor. Instead of judging a journalist by his work, now we log on to Facebook to make assumptions about his character based on a silly picture?
Andy is a student just like all of us. And just like all of us at some time, he happened to refer to a bad joke. The people that are accusing Mr. O'Connor of racism should be ashamed about drawing attention to such a frivolous issue such as a Photoshopped picture on the Internet (which he probably did not even make). His accusers talk as if this is some righteous crusade for equality, but what they are really doing is crucifying a student for an attempt at humor in a way that is excessive and immoral. All this to make a point about intolerance - ironic.
Rhett Rhodes Political communications and government senior
Bitten by the social work dog
Larry Dechant's recent article about liberal bias at the UT School of Social Work had a certain "dog bites man" quality to it ("UT denies showing ideological preference," March 7). As a recent conservative graduate of the social work program, I can state with confidence that, while the philanthropic and helping components of the social work curriculum are of some value, the "social justice" component is defined by little more than liberal clichés and warmed-over Marxism. Pro-lifers and proponents of non-liberal solutions to social problems need not apply. Of course, the social work curriculum is ideologically slanted in a leftward direction - so is most of the rest of American higher education. It would be a newsworthy story, indeed, if schools of social work had somehow managed to escape this liberal bias.
Michael A. Costanzo UT alum
Finding meaning in art
I recently viewed The Blanton Museum's exhibition entitled "The Virgin, Saints and Angels: South American Paintings 1600-1825." Most of the painters sought to make their work as European as possible, which included the portrait tradition of portraying military heroes and kings. Imperialistic countries like Spain used European-style paintings to convert the surviving indigenous peoples to Catholicism. The exhibit displayed several cult images of Mary, including one of immaculate conception filled with divine grace and one of the blessed Virgin Mary. All the saints, angels and cherubs were white, and the images of Jesus and Mary emitted a soft white glow that was surrounded by white doves and clouds. These mystical paintings only revealed small traces of indigenous influence or culture. In one, there's a white Noah leading animals and a native couple onto the mythical Ark with an armadillo and turkey in the background. Some paintings depicted Turks and Moors as hordes of cowering brown soldiers. The most disturbing of these proselytizing images is entitled "The Last Judgment." Within the horrific visions of monsters and a fiery hell are dark-skinned devils. These paintings (along with all the silver and gold) ended up in Catholic churches, convents and monasteries and in the elegant mansions of the new elite.
Backed by scholarly disciplines such as archeology, anthropology, history and linguistics, the stories in the Old Testament were found to be fictitious. By using its social-scientific methodology, sociology provides further knowledge to these findings. To simply appreciate art is one thing, but if one tries to understand its meaning and purpose, the result will be a more profound experience. For those who haven't seen them yet, the paintings will be at Blanton for a few more days. As mature college students, you will no doubt view the exhibit through intelligent and humanistic eyes.
Anita Quintanilla UT alum
Prostitution or sexual opportunism?
This letter is in response to the articles covering the scandal involving former New York Governor Elliot Spitzer and a call-girl service. As a result of the scandal, the issue of prostitution is once again being discussed and debated.
Referred to as the world's oldest "profession," prostitution is defined as the act or practice of selling oneself for sexual purposes. It is also defined as an unworthy use of a talent, quality or the like, especially for personal gain. What's interesting is that the former is illegal in all states except Nevada, while the latter has been morally and culturally accepted since the beginning of time. This begs the question: Is there any difference between a street walker or escort and a person who uses his or her physical beauty to attain a lifestyle that others labor very hard to attain? Too often in our society we see evidence of the "trophy spouse," a reward received by those who achieve success in business or entertainment. The marriage consists of a person who sees a beautiful spouse as something to obtain and a person who deliberately shops lifestyles by any sexual means necessary.
Some would argue that prostitution should be made legal so that (just as with drugs) it can be regulated by the state and become a source of revenue enhancement. Furthermore, sex between strangers would be safer since the government (as in Nevada) would require regular medical examinations to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. The problem facing this country is that we haven't reconciled these two definitions thus creating the existence of a double standard. We are quick to arrest and condemn the street walker/escort but would never think to shun a sexual opportunist. In many ways, prostitution already is legal in our society. People pay to watch two people have sex with each other, but yet cannot pay each other for sex. I recall two people comparing their lifestyles while waiting in line at the airport. One person told the other, "The difference between you and me is that you pay for your sex with cash and I pay for it with dinners, clothing and jewelry." The problem with this country today is not that we are a nation of laws but rather a nation that continually contradicts itself when it comes to morality.
Joe Bialek Cleveland, OH
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