To the editor:
You know, we progressives have withstood quite a few accusations that we don't have lives. Well, maybe there is something to that criticism. After all, how ungrateful must we be not to have lives when so many have given up theirs so we could have our own lives.
Martin Luther King, Jr. gave up his life so that we could have the dream. Instead of stirring up trouble, we could be having our share of that big fat capitalistic pie; fully loaded with a white picket fence, white neighbors and whited-out history. By golly, we could be getting drunk, getting laid, or simply watching "Friends."
But, I'm afraid we just misunderstood. We thought we were supposed to be inspired by their sacrifices. We thought that we could give up our lives, too. You see, we think there are still people who don't have the choice of whether to have a life or not. We thought there were good reasons to give up our lives so that some people wouldn't have to go on being undereducated, underemployed, underfed, and under the influence of a colonized mind.
So please forgive us for not being satisfied with our slice of apathy pie. We confess, but we're still unrepentant.
Name withheld by request
To the editor:
In response to Malou Lasquites views on terrorism, I have a couple things to say. First, I hope that she realizes that very few of her views actually work in the real world. While they sure sound wonderful, and it would be really great if we could all hold hands, give the world a Coke, and live in harmony, face it, it's not going to happen.
Should Fujimori have acceded to the terrorists demands and released prisoners? Should he have let the government be pushed around by a bunch of gun-toting Marxists with a grievance? No. The only way to effectively combat terror is with violence. If terrorists cannot live by the rules of civilization, how will positive vibes solve problems?
The reason why disadvantaged people turn to terrorism is because often, it works - faster than legislation, faster than court cases, faster than reaching out to the people. The reason the Tupac Amaru turned to violence is because they only have 200 members, and were trying to get themselves noticed. They couldn't get themselves voted in anymore, so why not shoot a couple people?
Another case: Iran. With evidence coming out that shows their involvement in the Dharan barracks bombing in Saudi Arabia, and the recent assassination of Kurdish dissidents in Germany, and a whole slew of other uncivilized actions, it should be realized that Iran cannot be dealt with in a civilized way.
Recent news reports have told about 12-year-olds signing up to be suicide bombers. I'm sure that giving them a pat on the head and sitting down to a heart-to-heart chat will be very effective. State-sponsored terrorism of the type that Iran supports and encourages will be solved only if the Iranian government learns of the folly of its actions.
When it comes down to it, all the flowery language and good feelings in the world are not going to stop a few hundred unsatisfied, bloodthirsty people. And the moment you make any concessions to any group, their actions will be validated. Other terrorist groups pop up, seeing the opportunity to have things done their way, and then what do we have?
Anarchy. Wonderful idea.
Alex Pavloff
sophomore, computer science major
To the editor:
As a recent newcomer to Houston and this university, I have been discouraged by the apparent lack of involvement in environmental issues among our student body. For instance, last Tuesday's Earth Day lecture series at the UC hosted by the Houston Greens was poorly attended despite having been well publicized throughout campus and in this newspaper. In fact, had an alien dropped out of a spaceship on Tuesday, they hardly would have known Earth Day even existed, if it wasn't for the small crowd who came to listen to the informative lectures.
Some of our student body (and should I say faculty?) may not be aware of the impending problems and challenges facing our city. Take the air we breathe, for instance. Thanks to having 50 percent of the world's oil refineries in and around our megalopolis, coupled with more cars than Detroit could ever shake a stick at, Houston's air quality is among the worst in the nation, exceeded only by Los Angeles.
Further, Houston's burgeoning urban sprawl has engulfed whole towns, like Katy, once a country refuge for city dwellers. Today it's open space is being paved left and right, displacing wildlife common to Southeast Texas, and quickly covering one of our state's natural treasures, the Katy Prairie. And how about Galveston Bay and the Port of Houston, the third busiest in the world? Fortunately, its wetlands are slowly being reclaimed in some areas and its water quality has improved in the last decade.
Nonetheless, much work still remains to be done. And finally, how about issues here at our university? Its recycling program, which is meant to curtail some of the waste that goes into our city's ever-expanding landfills, seems to hardly be making an impact compared to some of the efforts of other state universities. One only needs to witness Texas A&M's recycling efforts, which has recycling bins in every building on campus, a model UH should emulate.
Environmental quality affects everyone and everything which in turn, affects our quality of life: our economic, physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being. Lest we mention such ecological horror stories as Mexico City and Monterrey, Mexico, our close neighbors to the south.
Both are plagued with problems ranging from overcrowding to deforestation while rural Mexicans rush to their centers in search of work and hopes of a better life. Will Houston follow down the same paths as our population as well, sky rockets?
I am grateful for the many groups on this campus who have shed light and opened our eyes to the many human rights issues facing our global community. However controversial and provocative some of their issues may seem to some, their efforts to educate our university are exemplary and add value to a community which is devoted to intellectual growth, diversity and debate. It is this same effort and tenacity for a cause which should fuel a concern for the environment on this campus.
Check out the Houston Greens or the Houston Chapter of the Sierra Club, or create a committee within your academic department to enhance recycling and encourage energy conservation. We should be proud of our university's greenspace and the many parks which dot our city, all of which add to our quality of life. Yet it is hardly enough to sit complacent, in hopes that what we have will remain forever, in perpetuity.
Apathy breeds like weeds if it's not monitored. Let's take responsibility to improve our environment and the issues which plague Houston so that future Earth Days on campus will look more like Mardi Gras than a lip synching Milli Vanilli reunion concert.
R. Lee Frazer
post-baccalaureate, teacher certification
To the editor:
Although they appeared in edited form, after Earth Day had come and gone (April 22), I was glad to see my comments on "Enron Earth Day" run in The Daily Cougar on April 24.
However, I must correct two serious mistakes:
1.) I wrote that the energy plant being built by Enron in India is a $2 billion project, but when my letter was edited, what I presume to be a typo, this figure was altered to read $12 billion (a significant difference).
2.) The Houston Press (April 24-30, 1997) reported that no recycling bins were available at the celebration, so I was mistaken in writing that those in attendance had the option to "recycle Bud Light beer cans." I just wanted to clear up these two points, as I would not want to contribute to misinformation.
On a related topic, congratulations to the "seven outstanding UHS professors" who were reported in The Daily Cougar (April 23) as being recipients of the Enron Teaching Excellence Awards.
Christopher Lenz
junior, philosophy major