The following are opinionated responses to some of the articles in this week’s editions of the Daily Cal.
FRONT PAGE: Bashing Political System, Nader Advocates Change
Presidential candidate Ralph Nader and running mate Pete Camejo graced Cal with another visit. Nader bashed both political parties, and is quoted to have said, “Corporations are not human beings…They do not vote. They do not breathe. Why are they allowed to organize and support candidates?” I might have an answer. Please refer to the first amendment of the United States Constitution.
For something so non-human, Corporations definitely do provide a lot of jobs for the rest of those who bleed and breathe. Indeed, corrupt companies like Enron and Global Crossing deserve our scorn, but not every single corporation should be classified as inorganic organizations of evil. Corporations have fueled the innovations of today, and have increased the standard of living for the United States. When the government can’t provide all of the things we want, the private sector certainly does. Think of the health care that people have through the corporations they work for, or the retirement plans they have from their employers.
Ralph Nader may be anti-business, but he is definitely a man of conviction. The consistency in his positions is a far cry from the long-winded voice of flip-flopping.
FRONT PAGE: State Department Denies Visas for Cuban Scholars
Two professors from the University of Havana who were to speak at a campus symposium, were denied entrance to the United States due to their direct affiliation with the communist regime of Cuba. Their sponsor, the center for Latin-America Studies at UC Berkeley, blamed the Bush administration for this, but “are hopeful that a change in the White House administration after the November election could make it possible for the Cuban academics to visit Berkeley…” If John Edwards promised that people like Christopher Reeve will walk again, I’m sure communists can easily be promised entrance to the US. When he was younger, Kerry spoke so articulately against US soldiers fighting Vietnamese communists, so it comes as no surprise that some can confide in him when it comes to allowing the communist voice to be heard.
Before you throw a fit after misinterpreting my purposely facetious comments, it is important that we should all respect John Kerry’s service in the Vietnam War. I also respect the right for professors from Cuba to speak to the UC Berkeley students. Their message won’t do any harm, considering these Communist Professors would merely be preaching to the choir.
FRONT PAGE: Alums Fund-Raise to Leave Gift of New Political Center
The class of 1968, veterans of the Free Speech Movement, are raising fund to give Berkeley a Center for Social and Political Civility. It is truly outstanding that such a thoughtful gift will be given to Cal Students, and the alums deserve our gratitude. Hopefully, this center will have all Political activity in mind.
Most likely, the center will reflect more of the same. An upcoming fundraiser for the center will feature former Democratic State Senator John Vasconcellos of San Jose, the most liberal Senator in California. He is the one who proposed lowering the voting age and giving young people a portion of a vote. If they are using a Liberal to raise money, then most likely the money will come from Liberal donors.
Its focus will be “ways to build a society based on civil liberties, fairness, and democratic participation...” These vague platitudes do not necessarily reveal the direction of the new political center. If the recent Bush-bashing, anti-conservative, anti-Republican FSM 40th Anniversary is any indication as to where the Political center is headed, then Berkeley Republicans have another challenge ahead of them.
OPINION: Solidarity Within the ASUC
ASUC senator Dori Perez complains about a gender bias in the senate. She mentions intimidation tactics being used by her colleagues. Were these intimidation tactics targeted at just her and the other seven female senators, or is it just a manifestation of her own notions of victimization? It is important to explore how alleged gender bias is translated into policy. Does the female student body at Cal feel like the male-dominated ASUC is enacting policies of repression against them? This question is important, for it is far too easy to play the gender card.
Sen. Perez also mentions racial issues, claiming, “…the importance of representing small minority groups is lost when others question the validity of their presence on campus.” And whose fault is that? Race-based admission tends to generate such unfortunate stereotypes and questions of eligibility, but she should be blaming the policy and not the perceptions.
Her grievance is also the lack of female representation in the ASUC Senate, mentioning that females make up 54 percent of the student body. Which elected male senator will she ask to resign for the sake of accurate representation? I’m sure those who voted for him will love that plan. If gender is the main criteria for representation, then we have got to fire either Barbara Boxer or Diane Feinstein. According to the California Census, about 50.8 percent of the state is male, and we’ve got two women senators. Help, the California male population is underrepresented in the US senate!
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