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OPINION
| UPDATED April 23
Letters
Alumnus considers comments made by Yudof
a ‘slap in the face’
I heard about this issue while in San Antonio, and I must say I
find it unsettling. As a recent graduate of UTA, I cannot comprehend
why Chancellor Mark Yudof would make a comment that could, in my
opinion, be viewed as duplicitous.
Yudof seems to forget the history of UTA and the fact that it is
a leading regional research institution known throughout the United
States. Not to slight UT-Dallas, but I believe this issue is a portent
that must be taken seriously by UTA and the Arlington community.
Let us not forget that UT-Dallas joined the UT System in 1969 and
is located about 30 miles from Arlington. Therein lies the problem.
Given the location of UT-Dallas in Richardson, the Silicon Prairie,
I would speculate this is the reason Yudof made his comment about
making UT-Dallas the premier research institution in The Dallas
Morning News. I personally view this as a slap in the face. One
other thing: It’s hard to compete for UT and state funding
when our chancellor makes biased comments.
— Ron Day, 2002 alumnus Americans should not feel guilty
over actions taken to free others
RE: “In The Way,” April 18
Americans are not the only ones to blame when collateral damage
is taken into account.
Look at the vast numbers of civilian deaths attributed to communism.
Two million dead in Cambodia after Pol Pot had his way when the
terrible Americans finally pulled out of the quagmire of Vietnam.
Look at the Palestinian use of suicide bombers to kill innocent
Jews. The suicide bombers target civilian Jews to kill as many as
possible in a senseless act of terror and violence.
Look at the repression of women the Taliban imposed under its horrific
rule, not to mention the destruction of two Buddhist statues that
had historical and cultural value.
The liberation of Iraq was a surgical operation. The U.S. military
has taken immense amount of restraint in the action of this war.
We have avoided the schools, holy sites and hospitals that the Hussein
regime has used to house troops, weapons and military targets. The
loss of any civilian life is a terrible occurrence, but we cannot
let our vision become muddy with the liberal guilt complex.
Do not forget that Saddam Hussein held Iraq under a totalitarian
regime where civilians were tortured, killed and imprisoned for
nothing more than opening their mouths. Do not attempt to cloud
the judgment of the American people with an extreme case concerning
a small boy who unfortunately fell victim in this liberation. They
call it war for a reason.
Leave it to a liberal to take an extreme case of collateral damage
and paint the entire landscape with the colors of guilt, second-guessing
and unfortunate circumstance.
I am tired of the most powerful country being terrified of what
might happen in response to our actions, taken in defense (remember
9/11) and for international crimes against humanity. Why should
the most powerful country in the world fear actions taken by a vast
minority of these Islamic fundamentalists?
Why should we be afraid of what they might do? I am tired of being
told I should be afraid of their retaliation. The tables have turned,
and now they should be afraid of the wrath of this great country.
— William Coleman Dowden III, communication junior
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