Terrorists should not be thought of as Arab
I am deeply offended by David Keyes’ column “Western
education does not prevent terrorism,” (March 9). It is
appalling how the word “terrorist” has come to define
people who come from an Arab or Islamic background.
While Keyes makes a valid point that terrorists do not
exclusively belong to a certain class, he proceeds to rattle off a
long list of “role models” that just happen to be
Middle Eastern or Muslim. Has he forgotten that the category of
terrorist ““ someone who employs terror as a political weapon
““ can be used to label individuals from all religions,
cultures and social ranks?
Here are just some examples that Keyes forgot to add to his list
of educated people with political hang-ups:
Ted Kaczynski, the brilliant Harvard-educated mathematician
whose anti-technology sentiments propelled him to hide bombs in the
mailboxes of scientists and technology professionals.
Dr. William Pierce, the white-supremacist Nazi sympathizer
(founder of National Alliance), who held a doctorate in physics and
was allegedly the inspiration behind Timothy McVeigh’s
actions.
Dr. Robert Goldstein, head of a terror cell in Florida, who was
caught with a cache of over 40 weapons and plans to blow up 50
Islamic centers in that state.
David Duke, a graduate of Louisiana State University and a
Louisiana State representative, was leader of the Ku Klux Klan and
promoted anti-black and anti-Semitic views.
Keyes smugly states that the cure for terrorism is
“liberalism, freedom and democracy.” In reality,
however, it’s not that simple.
While the media’s soup of the day happens to be serving up
a good portion of Middle Eastern and Muslim terrorist stories, we
must not forget that hate does not know one particular religion or
culture, but rather attracts people of all shapes and sizes.
Sondos Kholaki UCLA alumna
Majority of students want Taco Bell back
Now that the Coalition of Immokalee Workers has won its
“victory,” a one-cent surcharge that will only be
passed on to consumers, I have one question ““ can Taco Bell
come back now?
I’m glad the Associated Students of UCLA Interim Executive
Director Bob Williams has already anticipated this question. But
while many students ask when Taco Bell will come back to campus,
Williams is more concerned with seeking approval from the Social
Justice Alliance student group.
When did a small special-interest group begin to carry more
clout than the majority of the Enchirito-starved campus?
That’s right: when it got Taco Bell removed in the first
place. ASUCLA needs to represent the opinions of a majority of
students, not the vocal, radical minority.
If necessary, the Undergraduate Students Association Council
should intervene in this matter on behalf of its constituency.
Listen to what the majority of Bruins have to say, Williams ““
“Yo quiero Taco Bell.”
Jeff Travis First-year, pre-political
science