Letters to the editor

Hovannisian wrong about Moore

Garin Hovannisian’s column on Michael Moore, “Lauded
filmmaker spreads lies, deceit” (May 25), was so silly I
almost forgot to be offended by the blatant insults and name
calling he was shouting out. This column is yet another example of
the way progressives are demonized by those who wish to distort
their message.

Hovannisian claims Moore “hates corporations”
because he demands corporate responsibility, “hates
America” because he wants to make it better, and is against
firearms because he wants to limit their destructive output on
human lives.

Hovannisian apparently brands any person fighting for social
change a “socialist” in the order of oppressive
dictatorships such as the Stalinist Soviet Union. This immature
name calling and ignorance has no place in the Daily Bruin, nor the
UCLA campus at large. Let’s focus on the issues, not
polarizing the sides.

Chris Stein Second-year, psychology

Palestinian people, leaders separate

The article “Former terrorist speaks” (News, May
25), about Wallid Shoebat included a quotation from someone who
said Shoebat is “giving people hearsay evidence to propagate
hate” against Palestinians.

Quite the contrary, Shoebat’s speech did not propagate
hate toward Muslims or Palestinians ““ but toward their
leaders.

Many times, I think people have a hard time distinguishing
between the Arab leaders and the people, which are really two
separate entities. Shoebat’s testimony is not a hate against
a people, but a hate against a government and leaders that promote
and sponsor hateful ideas of anti-Semitism.

Listening to Shoebat made me empathize with the Fundamental
Palestinians who seemingly have no choice but to be fed
anti-Semitism like milk and are indoctrinated with the idea of
death in the name of religion. Shoebat shows these Palestinians do
have a choice ““ they can break free. If anything,
Shoebat shows human intellect can win over fanatic governments and
people can know the difference between right and wrong, regardless
of what they have previously been taught.

Rona Ram Third-year, communication studies