Yellow journalism Right underneath the title of each Daily Aztec edition, you will find the words proclaiming itself to be the school's "independent student newspaper." On April 21, however, just below this proclamation, the article's cover headline was "Students march for education." After reading this article, it is obvious that The Daily Aztec is far from independent and has subjected us to yellow press.
Let me offer a title that might have been more appropriate: "Students march for money." "Marching for education" means going to your next class, not taking an all-expenses paid four-day vacation to Sacramento so you can yell, carry signs, wear mock prisoner outfits and walk in front of some steps for a couple of hours.
After considering the lack of principle in the matter, let us also consider the illogic of this money march. Wouldn't it make sense to offset some of the proposed budget cuts with, say, the money these student groups are collecting from the student bodies they claim to represent? Ever wonder what organizing rallies like this one cost you and me? How many dollars went to those lame shirts and travel arrangements? Tell me what it feels like having social causes added to your tuition cost, people!
Furthermore, consider this overall struggle against the governor - is this really about "education" or the education industry? Keep in mind that public education is a closed union shop. Wasn't it fairly recent that the teacher's associations were out in bright orange shirts as well?
Don't try to feed me that bull crap that organized labor unions care about their industry constituents. We already know that unions only care about one thing: more money. They are big corporations with special laws for themselves. Watch as they seek to control more job markets to inundate with more union workers and thus collect more dues. They maintain popularity by distributing expensive benefits to their members. They use group strikes as a threatening procedure. Can you now see what the teacher's unions are really fighting for when they demand that the proposed education budget cuts be nixed?
I wonder why teachers and students allow portions of their wages or tuition to go toward social causes, thus costing them more on an individual basis. Do they really think they are the ones benefiting in the long run? Watch them march to keep all that taxpayer and tuition money rolling in for what amounts to blatant and expensive socialism. It is clear that these lobbyists represent a much larger union establishment and don't really give a darn about education. This is all about them, and they are using our money for their corporate labor union causes.
Anyway, I bring up another side to this story because The Daily Aztec is clearly lock step with these labor unions and student associations. I ask The Daily Aztec, "Are you yella?"
The only truthful answer would be, "Yes."
-Kevin R. Haughn, religious studies graduate student
Ruthie fan This letter is way overdue but I really wanted to send it, so better late than never! After reading the articles by Ruthie Kelly leading up to the March 20 issue, "A 'de-convert' battle: the myths debunked," I felt compelled to write to The Daily Aztec. Please let Ruthie know that I really appreciate her voice on this issue. Never mind how much courage it takes to print an atheist opinion; above all I admire the level of professionalism and maturity that she exuded. It is with exactly that tone that this type of issue needs to be addressed. As a fellow atheist, I feel compelled to thank her for her insight. In an academic arena, Ruthie is head and shoulders above her counterparts. Thanks Ruthie!
-Jason Keckley, President, SDSU Pre-Dental Organization cellular and molecular biology senior
White culture Ms. Kelly,
I appreciated your article ("White: the absence of culture," April 17, 2008) in The Daily Aztec. My students and I have talked about it in our class, Introduction to Multicultural Education. Thank you so much for your courage and for sharing yourself with us.
-A. J. Branch, André J. Branch, Ph.D. associate professor of education
Aquaplex blues I'm looking forward to graduation in one month. I am writing to you about the pool closure during the weekend of the 24th. The odd thing was, this weekend, the whole pool was closed and it was nearly the hottest weekend of the year. All for some water polo tournament. Yet the Aztec Aquaplex has three pools, along with one Jacuzzi. I can understand how the main pool should be closed for this tournament, but the extra two pools and Jacuzzi? I think not. I am writing this e-mail the nicest way I can, but as of right now, I'm not too happy the pool area was closed on nearly the hottest weekend of the year. This pool is for San Diego State students and surrounding community members, yet this weekend it could not be used by either. This is not right, and I hope my fellow Aztecs have written many letters of discontent to anyone and everyone they can find who have anything to do with the ARC or the Aquaplex, along with letters to The Daily Aztec. I pay my monthly dues every month on time, and I can't use the pool on nearly the hottest weekend of the month? That just plain sucks. I hope all this is taken into consideration the next time the Aquaplex hosts a water polo tournament, because closing other parts of the pool that students and community members can be using just isn't right.
Not in a good mood.
-Drew McClintock, media studies senior
Genocide? I am writing this e-mail as a response to an article by Jeff Leieritz in the May 1 issue of The Daily Aztec. First of all, I would like to state that the unfortunate events that took place during and after World War I between the Armenian people and the Ottoman Empire were not one-sided; both sides suffered casualties. This is the first reason why this event does not deserve to be called a "genocide." Second of all, since the beginnings of the Ottoman Empire in the 11th century, Ottoman Turks and the Armenians have always lived together in harmony, and there were many Armenians who occupied high positions in the Ottoman government. So, it would only make sense from the perspective of the Ottoman Empire to relocate Armenians during World War I for purposes of national security in a time of war and uncertainty.
Finally, in the past couple of years, Turkish government proposed to open its old archives to investigate the matter in more depth and to debate openly about what happened at that time with the Armenians; however, the Armenian government outright refused this proposal. If a "genocide" of such magnitude had occurred, then the claimers of this "genocide" should easily be able to prove their claim beyond any doubt. So, it does not make sense for the Armenian government to refuse to debate openly about the matter. I mean, after all, this is what we learn in English 100, right? Back up your claims with concrete evidence.
-Seyhan Gunes, aerospace engineering sophomore
Too many inmates I'm writing about Holly Wells' "USA: Land of the imprisoned" that printed on May 1.
Imagine if the United States was once again the "Land of the Free" instead of the most incarcerated nation in the history of human civilization. Imagine if the American people could feel safe and secure in their own homes and on the streets of our cities throughout America. Imagine if we had no "drug-related crime." Imagine if our overall crime rate was a small fraction of our current crime rate.
We once had such a situation here in the United States. Prior to the passage of the Harrison Narcotic Act of 1914, the term "drug-related crime" didn't exist. And drug lords, drug cartels or even drug dealers as we know them today, didn't exist either.
Back then, all types of recreational drugs were legally sold to anybody, with no questions asked, for pennies per dose in grocery stores and pharmacies. Back then, the United States was actually a free country. Back then, adult citizens could decide for themselves what substances went into their own bodies in the privacy of their own homes.
For the sake of our children, can we re-legalize our now illegal drugs and sell them in licensed business establishments? This would put the drug dealers and drug lords out of business overnight.
And the term "Land of the Free" would actually mean what it says.
If tough-on-drugs policies worked, the idealistic goal of a drug-free America would have been reached a long time ago.
And if tolerant marijuana policies caused more hard drug use and crime, the Czech Republic would have much higher rates of hard drug use and crime.
They do not.
The Czech Republic is the only country in the world where adult citizens can legally use, purchase, possess and grow small quantities of marijuana. (In the Netherlands, marijuana is quasi-legal - not officially legal.)
The Czech overall drug arrest rate is 1 per 100,000 population. The United States' overall drug arrest rate is 585 per 100,000 population. The Czech robbery rate is 2 per 100,000 population. The United States' robbery rate is 160.2 per 100,000 population, according to our FBI.
According to our drug war cheerleaders, tolerant marijuana laws cause people to use other, much more dangerous drugs, such as meth and heroin.
Obviously, this doesn't happen in the Czech Republic. Why not?
Could it be that when people can legally obtain marijuana at an affordable price, they tend not to use or desire any other recreational drugs? Could it be that marijuana legalization actually creates a roadblock to hard drug use - not a gateway? Could it be that the vast majority our so-called "drug-related crime" is caused by our marijuana prohibition policies?
-Kirk Muse, Mesa, AZ resident
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