‘Eye for an eye’
blinds our society
It is sickening to hear a fellow University student state, “Civilians must die if our enemies are forced to surrender and American lives are to be saved” (“We must annihilate states that breed terrorists,” ODE, 11/1). Although I’ve heard sick ideas concerning the terrorist attacks lately, this is one of the worst.
Where do Americans get the idea revenge comes before intellectual thinking, that “an eye for an eye” is sound philosophy? Do Americans honestly believe mourners of the dead want payback for what’s happened to loved ones? Wouldn’t they prefer a nonviolent approach, so no more people would have to suffer?
Killing more innocent people in other countries won’t protect innocent American lives. It puts us in greater danger. Victims of American attacks will react by seeking payback, as our president and most Americans have. Besides, attacking civilians in another country is terrorism on our nation’s part and shouldn’t be justified as something better.
The Bible teaches us to love our enemies. Loving our enemies will make this world better. “For if you (only) love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that?” (Matthew 5:46-47).
To encourage peace, we must love those who love us already, but also those who hate us. Only by doing this, people change. The world becomes more peaceful, as opposed to a constant state of war.
Pat Mackey
freshman
Japanese, music
No more shady deals
It is clear to me that University students need to claim the political power at their fingertips. Ignorance will cause your rights to be gradually stripped away. If Linda Dievendorf is being terminated against the will of students, that must not stand. This is your campus.
Right now I am putting together a town hall meeting to address pressing energy issues. If students took the time to attend, they just might find I have orchestrated a venue where they could have their unfair energy tax repealed.
I’ve had enough of shady deals around here, and I’ve compiled the information to stop it. In politics, money helps, but facts are what ultimately move mountains. No more of the 112 homes owned by the University on Moss, Villard and Columbia will be destroyed, moved or sold for $1 each. The 10 homes that have been empty for years are going to be cared for by the historic preservation students who attempted to study them one year ago. Classic low-rent bungalows are worth the effort.
Also, Sprint, sorry about your cell tower at 1404 Villard. I told you last summer that site wasn’t going to work out.
Zachary Vishanoff
Eugene
Front page photo a bad decision
Poor choice!
On the same front page as an article covering the perceived slander of a religion (Wicca) by a TV station, the Emerald published a photo profaning what is sacred to another religious group (“She’s a ‘Virgin Virgin,’” ODE, 11/2). Is there anything more sacred to the world’s more than one billion Christians than Jesus Christ and his mother? You chose to publish a photo that should disappoint and disgust every Christian. I was certainly offended.
What was the purpose of this display? To show people having fun going to a movie? Is this an example of the current philosophy of America: nothing is sacred, anything for a laugh? I’m all for free speech and for the press’s freedom to publish whatever it chooses. I am not saying that the Emerald didn’t have the right to publish this photo. I am saying that it showed poor judgment and a lack of consideration, or purposefully chose to be offensive to many readers.
Steve Posegate
doctoral student
music education
