Letters

Friday, October 25, 1996Protest: poor way to educate others

I hold no opinion concerning Proposition 209, but the behavior I
saw on Wednesday, Oct. 23 makes me sick. Proposition 209 is a
controversial measure. Such legislation deserves time for debate
and discussions before the people vote. I can accept
demonstrations. On the other hand, civil disobedience is simply a
cheap shot at media attention. No matter how emotional a group of
people feels about an issue, emotion is no justification for
disrupting traffic in the busiest intersection in the country. It’s
not as if anyone’s lives are at stake here although I am sure that
is even being argued at this point.

There were many motorists there simply trying to get to their
various destinations. I have to believe that the writers of
Proposition 209 were somewhere

else that day. So why make a few thousand commuters suffer? Find
another way to get your opinions in the public eye.

This demonstration was sponsored by our student government. Do a
majority of the students approve of their Associated Students
registration fee contribution ($18 a quarter) funding such
activities? It also makes me embarrassed that USAC officers, our
student body representatives, sponsor and initiate this civil
disobedience and risk arrest. Some are proud when arrested for
their cause. I am not proud that my student body officers start
trouble with the law.

True equality is only possible when all cultures stop prejudging
the other ones. Racial tension will end only when racists of all
races do not exist. Until then, we should at least condemn the
actions of such people and their supporters. Also, we will make
more progress toward understanding the implications of such
controversial issues as Proposition 209 through debate and
discussion, such as the debate sponsored by the Pre Law Society on
Thursday, Oct. 24. Discussion heightens everyone’s understanding.
Protests only heighten tensions.

Brian E. Ewing

Fourth-year

Atmospheric sciences