Denial of appalling acts against Israel does no service
Regarding 'The fakes that made a hundred martyrs' (Thursday, Oct. 26, 2006):
On Princeton's campus there are many students who fervently support Israel and many who just as passionately do not. Supporting a cause, though, does not mean that one need be blind to the atrocities committed for its sake. Horrible acts are perpetrated in the name of security and resistance. The death of 12-year-old Muhammad al-Durrah was one of these terrible events. On Oct. 3, 2000, the Israeli Defense Forces chief of operations Giora Eiland admitted, "The shots [that killed al-Durrah] were apparently fired by Israeli soldiers from the outpost at Netzarim."
In addition, those who accused the camera crew of faking the incident were found guilty of libel in France last month. Instead of trying to deny that appalling acts occur or rationalizing their necessity in an imperfect world, we should learn from them and try to ensure that they no longer happen in the future. Barry Caro '09 does Israel no service with his article.
Rob Jacobs GS Deptartment of Near Eastern Studies
U. ought to pressure manufacturer of Princeton clothing
Regarding 'The victims of sweatshops: Invisible' (Thursday, Oct. 26, 2006):
I couldn't agree with this column more. But some may respond dismissively, "How can we know that Princeton clothes are made under such horrifying conditions?" The fact is that right now, we can't. That is exactly why Princeton must join the Workers' Rights Consortium, a truly independent monitoring group. When egregious abuse of workers is so common in all the countries where Princeton apparel is produced, the only morally acceptable response to ignorance is to press hard for information.
Currently, the University puts no pressure on the companies that make Princeton clothes to reveal what conditions are like in their factories. To the administration we say: Join the WRC. With general conditions being in third-world apparel factories what they are, to presume corporate innocence is to be complicit in the terrifying cycle of abuse, cover-up and concealment.
Tim Hambourger '07
Rhetoric depicts the truth as much as abortion photos do
Regarding 'Discarded teeth and formless tissue' (Thursday, Oct. 26, 2006):
While I admire Tom Haine '08's condemnation of Repent America's protest, I find many of his comments as disturbing as the pictures. The pictures at Washington Road and Prospect Avenue were not disturbing for their gruesome content alone but also because they misrepresent reality.
Contrary to Haine's view, abortions do not result in "aborted children" or "dismembered babies," for then, the procedure would be called infanticide. I would expect Haine to know that an abortion kills an embryo (usually early in development) or, in very rare cases, a fetus. Haine is concerned that the protest may have caused "distress" for "women who were emotionally torn about their own abortions" and may have caused harm to Princeton Pro-Life's mission to hold discussions achieving "honesty, intellectual integrity and charity."
I ask him to consider the effect of his rhetoric equating abortion with infanticide on these two concerns.
Haine is quick to claim, without any evidence, that these photos, (likely doctored, staged and perhaps not even taken of actual aborted material), "depict the truth." His rhetoric depicts the truth as much as the photos do.
Sara Viola '08
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It’s time to step it up on diversity and inclusion
Christofer RoblesOver the last five years, Princeton never achieved parity in diversity and inclusion for Black students. Now, the University faces a conservative culture and federal government hostile to anti-racism. Now, more than ever, Princeton cannot abandon its students.
Over the last five years, Princeton never achieved parity in diversity and inclusion for Black students. Now, the University faces a conservative culture and federal government hostile to anti-racism. Now, more than ever, Princeton cannot abandon its students.
Class of 2029: Reject selective views of free speech
Charlie Yale and Siyeon Lee"Let us make an appeal to the entire Class of 2029: You can care about viewpoint diversity and free expression even if you don’t read the Tory. As liberals and progressives, you can understand that free speech is an issue that affects everyone."
"Let us make an appeal to the entire Class of 2029: You can care about viewpoint diversity and free expression even if you don’t read the Tory. As liberals and progressives, you can understand that free speech is an issue that affects everyone."
For a more effective USG, train newly elected members on the bureaucracy
Luqmaan BambaFor student representatives to make the change we can through the systems we have, we need a more onboarding process that prepares us to navigate these byzantine processes.
For student representatives to make the change we can through the systems we have, we need a more onboarding process that prepares us to navigate these byzantine processes.