ferris wheel

Monday, April 15, 1996Reality check

Editor:

Did I read that right? Did Name Withheld really claim that the
Jewish civil rights group, the Anti-Defamation League, is an
Israeli intelligence agency? Surely, I must have read it wrong.

Unfortunately, The Bruin did print this grossly untrue, but
almost funny claim, followed by an unsigned viewpoint in the April
10 issue of The Bruin.

As a former civil rights intern at the league in San Francisco,
I would like to correct a number of the mistakes in this
error-filled viewpoint.

First, the league is not, and has never been, a branch of the
Israeli Intelligence. Israel’s intelligence group is the Mossad,
not an American civil rights group. Additionally, the article
accused the league of spying on various organizations, such as
MEChA and the Muslim Student Association. First, these accusations
were not attributed. Where did the unknown author find this tidbit
of information?

The league DOES track extremist groups, including white
supremacist groups, like White Aryan Resistance (WAR). They do not,
however, spy. They track these organizations by receiving their
newsletters or calling their hotlines.

The groups make this quite easy. For example, one of WAR’s
hotlines, done by the infamous racist Tom Metzger, gives an address
where interested people can write for more information, in addition
to a toll free number. He also states his theory that developing
nations’ "wretched refuse bombard you with disease." He calls this
germ warfare.

The unknown author accuses the league of being racist. This
would mean, by the twisted logic throughout the article, that the
people the league fights against are not. WAR is not a racist
group?

I am not going to refute every idiotic comment that Name
Withheld chose to make. That would take far too long. I will,
however, shed some light on the organization’s true nature. The
league’s mission is to defend the civil rights of Jews by defending
the rights OF ALL PEOPLE. Their philosophy states that if the
rights of one group are threatened, then all groups are in danger.
During my internship, I worked on cases with both Jews and
non-Jews; race and religion made no difference.

In addition to this case work, the league puts out various
publications. One is an audit of the reported anti-Semitic
incidents for the year. In 1994, 2,066 incidents were reported by
victims to the league. Of these, 134 were on college campuses,
including UC Irvine, San Diego State University and San Francisco
State.

I question why this story ran on a major Jewish holiday, when
most Jews would not have been on campus to see it. Was it to avoid
further criticism from the Jewish community?

Finally, I would like to address the author’s reason for
withholding his/her name. He or she was afraid of repercussions?
With more than 2,000 anti-Semitic incidents, the rise of militias
and increasing racism throughout the world, I think the league has
more important things to worry about.

Rachel Miller

Second-year

Political Science

Mardi Gras blues

Editor:

I was eating lunch with my friends at the Bombshelter the other
day, and somehow we got to the topic of whether or not we will go
to Mardi Gras this year in May. Then my friend struck me with the
news: "Mardi Gras isn’t going to be held this year … it’s
cancelled because they lost money last year."

I was terrified! Mardi Gras has been a tradition of UCLA for so
long that the committee that plans these types of events every year
should not even think of cancelling something this big. Let me
explain a little why I am so mad about this decision.

There is a confession that I must make: Ever since my freshman
year, I have never been to Mardi Gras. Then, why am I making such a
big fuss over it? Well, I have reasons. My first year, I couldn’t
go because my parents wanted me to be home on weekends.

My second year, I couldn’t go because I had a five-week
intensive Emergency Medical Technician course that took up all my
weekends in the month of May.

But now, in my third year, when I finally have a chance to see
what Mardi Gras is all about, they cancel it! At this rate, I may
never see what it is like to be part of a tradition, especially for
such an event. I am also pretty sure that other UCLA students may
share my sentiments about the cancellation of Mardi Gras.

I believe it is in the interest of the university, and students
like me, to have Mardi Gras this year. We certainly can’t let a
loss of money deter us from celebrating a tradition that has been
with us for so long!

Te-ie Lee

Third-year

Biochemistry

Left to right

Editor:

Once again, pointedly left-wing journalism has appeared in the
Daily Cat Box Liner ­ that is, the Daily Bruin. Although this
article ("Abortion law reinforces parental consent," April 9) does
attempt to give the opinions of both sides, it is clearly written
from the perspective of the left.

Journalists Karen Duryea and Patrick Marantal focused on the
effects of the Supreme Court’s ruling on women’s and minors’
rights, and on minors who want to terminate their pregnancies. So
absorbed in the liberal mind-set of American journalism, these two
writers make no mention of the victory this ruling represents for
the life and liberty of Unborn Americans. (Have I coined a
term?)

The writers obsess over the medical risks which teenage mothers
will face as the fetus GROWS! What about the medical risks to the
life of the FETUS?!

The most obvious liberal stamp on this article is the labeling
of this ruling as a backlash against so-called reproductive rights.
This is NOT objective journalism. It is sad that these people are
more concerned about the convenience of 30,000 unmarried, underage
teenagers than they are about the half million babies aborted each
year.

Michael C. MacNeil

Second-year

Political science/history

Action first

Editor:

I would like to remind York Chang, John Du and other members of
the Undergraduate Students Association Council (USAC) that the
words "USAC" and "Students First!" are not interchangeable.

I have seen repeated attempts through advertisement and
publicity to imbed the campaign slate name of the progressive party
on campus into what is our student government. Simply because one
group won a majority vote on the council one year ago does not mean
that they define the meaning of what student government is
today.

The book-lending program is supported by association-derived
fees. The advocacy done by student leaders is done in the name of
the association. It strikes me as pathetic that current student
leaders must reiterate their latest slate name over and over in
order to bring attention to it.

Remember, only a little more than a year ago, this group called
themselves "FOCOS." Before that, "Student Power." I have no trouble
with political party names under most circumstances ­ only
when they are abused to sustain power.

"Other" groups do not have the luxury to spend OUR COLLECTIVE
moneys to essentially advertise for elections so soon in the
season. I advise undergraduate association leaders to remember that
they are servants of the people, not the other way around.

The Undergraduate Students Association Council is, and will
continue to be, the student government of ALL students, not just
those who adhere to the philosophy of the Students First! crowd.
Once we are able to see that collective work which includes all
ideologies of the campus is more effective, UCLA’s student
government will truly become empowered.

Until then, we will continue to see how supposed "leaders" will
use their positions to divide and conquer our Bruin family. This
isn’t about "empowerment" ­ this is about unity.

Todd Sargent

Fourth-year

Political science

Former USAC two-term member

Will the wheel in the sky keep on turning?