Letters to the Editor

Coming together

To the editor:

I am writing in regard to Dan Fishback's column on Monday ("Losing hope from a great distance," The Daily Pennsylvanian, 3/24/03). While I understand Fishback's opposition to the war, I believe his column has served as nothing more than a melodramatic rant as opposed to anything that provides a constructive purpose.

He concludes his column questioning how to rally people together; perhaps it is time to put aside differences of opinion over the president and instead, show some support for the men and women who make up the allied forces in the Gulf.

People across the country, regardless of their stance on this conflict, see the necessity of coming together during a time like this and have decided to support our troops. So instead of filling the pages of the DP with laments or justifications for war, perhaps it is better to use one's voice to show some encouragement for people who are our same age and putting their lives on the line for us regardless of political views.

These soldiers who could just as well have been students at this University are staring death in the face so that we may enjoy our freedom, which includes protesting. It is important that we on this campus appreciate their sacrifice.

This is something that does not require a vigil or demonstration; rather, an individual action by sending a donation to the USO or sending a message to deployed soldiers would be sufficient. By partaking in such an endeavor, you are not compromising your views. Instead, you are showing support to our peers who are facing the greatest challenge of their lives. After all, the falling bodies that Fishback cites could just as easily be American, British or Australian.

Jonathan Lieberman College '03

The shelter of college

To the editor:

Having graduated from Penn recently, I thought it would be interesting to see what students thought of this war. Not surprisingly, I found the majority of students against the war. However, being outside of the Penn bubble, I am not entirely convinced that students understand the entire situation. I mean no offense, and I am sure if I were still in school, I would be opposing the war as well, quietly reading dissident literature and chanting Chomsky on Locust Walk.

College is different from the outside world -- I remember feeling sheltered and invincible, and I now juxtapose that with feelings of uncertainty and wonder that I harbor now. After reading Iraq's history, Saddam Hussein comes off as a terrible man. Accounts of individuals who traveled through Iraq have descriptions of Iraqi subjects speaking out against their leader only in hushed tones.

Of course, one can argue both sides. The claims against war range from fighting a war without U.N. backing to describing the imminent death of Iraqi civilians. This ability to argue offers a beautiful dynamic to this country.

I'm not sure what Vinay Harpalani was referring to in his column ("Promoting mindless compliance," DP, 3/26/03). The largest riot and anti-war protest was here in San Francisco -- I saw a toppled car, protesters lighting trash cans on fire and other violent acts of protest. I hardly agree with Harpalani's position that this country is full of compliant individuals, and I believe that it should be self-evident from the events unfolding. There are two sides to all arguments -- one could even argue that protesters are just as mindless as patriots.

We have the ability to argue both sides. I believe that an Iraqi could benefit from something similar. Too long have they kept their minds shut under the watchful eye of a mustached, cigar-smoking dictator.

Vikram Ramakrishnan College and Engineering '02

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