Letters

Israeli Defense Force does not constitute an
army In recent news reports, a common misnomer is the
phrase “Israeli Army.” Israel, though considered to be
one of the most militarily advanced countries in the world, does
not have an army. That which is referred to as the Israeli Army is
in fact the Israeli Defense Force. It says so on every uniform of
every member. The IDF does not simply invade and occupy Palestinian
territories and cities such as Ramallah and Jenin. It does not lay
siege on the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem. It tries to do
exactly what its name suggests ““ defend its country. When the
Israeli Defense Force enters a city or town, it does not do so with
the intentions of an aggressor. Its soldiers attempt to search for
terrorists who are planning attacks on its Israeli citizens. Yes,
there are civilian lives being lost, and the pain felt by the
Palestinian community is real. Such losses are unfortunate and
upsetting for both sides. However, the intention of the Israeli
Defense Force is not the death of Palestinian civilians. Its only
desire is to stop terrorists from bombing their friends and
neighbors. Much like the American invasion of Afghanistan in order
to thwart those responsible for Sept. 11, the IDF is striving to
prevent further terrorism within its own country’s
boundaries. The recent terrorist incidents have been aimed to make
Israelis fearful for their lives at every moment. On Sept. 11, the
center of American financial activity was attacked, and every
American felt unsafe. Israeli hotels, restaurants, supermarkets,
nightclubs and shopping malls, however, have all been targets for
many months. The message sent to Israeli citizens is they should be
afraid of an attack at any time. The average Israeli cannot go out
to pick up a dozen eggs without considering the risk that he might
never return. When the IDF responds to such violence, it is
defending Israeli citizens’ rights to pursue their daily
lives. It is defending the nation’s right to exist.

Tami Reiss

Daily Bruin highly offensive in its endorsement of
marijuana use It was with utter dismay that I read your
Friday editorial (“Send
trouble up in smoke on Saturday,” Viewpoint, April 19).
Not only do you promote the use of a controlled substance in
violation of Title 18, U.S. Code, as well as the California Penal
Code, but you encourage students to consume a substance which has
been deemed harmful by the majority of medical and government
organizations in this nation and around the world. Your editorial
makes the broad claim that marijuana can cure anything from
glaucoma and cancer to cramps. You are wrong, however, on all
counts. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the
following organizations oppose the use of marijuana on the grounds
that it is either bereft of benefits to the user or is in fact
harmful: the American Medical Association, the American Cancer
Society, National Sclerosis Association, the American Glaucoma
Association, American Academy of Ophthalmology, National Eye
Institute and the National Cancer Institute. In reality, marijuana
is recognized by the medical community as a dangerous product.
Marijuana contains carcinogens; chemicals which cause cancer, not
prevent it. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, marijuana
use causes HIV positive individuals to progress into full blown
AIDS twice as quickly as non-smokers. Furthermore, the scientific
community has determined that marijuana is completely ineffective
in preventing blindness associated with glaucoma. Most alarmingly,
marijuana has been linked with depression and psychoses, (contrary
to) the claims in your editorial. It was entirely irresponsible of
the Daily Bruin to come out with a editorial in favor of the
illicit use of marijuana without first checking the facts. Had the
Editorial Board first looked at any of the thousands of scientific
studies available from the United States government, private
organizations, or even the legislation in so-called drug paradises
such as the Netherlands’ “New Opium Act,” it
would become obvious that endorsing the use of marijuana makes
absolutely no sense. I only hope that this remains obvious to the
student body.

Howard I. Chernin Third-year Spanish
linguistics

Comparison between Iraq and Israel insulting
Publishing a submission that says Sadaam Hussein and Ariel
Sharon are no different is laughable (“U.S.
foreign policy unfairly holds Iraq, Israel to different standards,
policies,” Viewpoint, April 15). It was a tragic
reflection of the fact that your university publication is stooping
to outright anti-Jewish propaganda. Shame! You owe your
readers and your alumni an apology.

Sherwin Goodman Cleveland, Ohio