U.S. aids Colombian progress, not
corruption
After reading Matthew Kennard’s “Bush twists
democracy for own purposes (Jan. 28),” I began to wonder if
he actually knew anything about what he was writing. I researched
several of the topics he mentions, and it seems as if Kennard is
the one twisting the truth for his own purposes.
He slams President Bush for giving aid to the Colombians, but he
must have forgotten to include how Plan Colombia was actually
started by Bill Clinton, and was only extended by Bush. But
Colombia is a country run by drug lords and paramilitary forces.
Should we let the innocent Colombians continue to be caught in the
middle of a deadly war just because their government has made
mistakes?
Perhaps Kennard has also forgotten how the conditions for the
aid package included the prosecution of human rights violators and
severing ties with illegal paramilitary organizations, according to
Sen. Patrick Leahy. Actually, a former U.S. ambassador to Colombia
during the Clinton administration remarked last year that
“Colombians feel more secure and have hope. Continued U.S.
support will support economic growth, democracy and stability in
the entire Andean region.”
It must be so convenient to write newspaper columns and be able
to decide what you want to include and what facts you can leave
out. Kennard should not be using these people’s suffering as
a means of furthering his own liberal agenda.
Stephen Campbell First-year, undeclared
Anti-Semitism remains a problem in Europe
A few days ago, I came to the column “Civil rights orators
must inform, inspire (Jan. 25).” Despite the good quality of
your column and the necessity to remind each of us how civil rights
are an important pillar of our society, I have been utterly
disappointed and shocked by Matthew Kennard’s assertion that
“the battle against European anti-Semitism has been partly
won.”
I wish I could have agreed that the battle has been partly won,
but not only is this information wrong, it contradicts the news and
reports anyone can find and read on the topic.
Here in France, the government recently reported that there were
1,513 anti-Semitic incidents (both actions and threats) in 2004, as
compared to 593 for all of 2003.
In France, there have been so many attacks on Jews, that the
chief rabbi has urged Jews to wear baseball caps instead of
yarmulkes outside their homes.
Diana Pinto, a historian and author, claims that, “We live
since 2001 in an extremely dangerous world where a new type of
anti-Semitism among some Muslims has surfaced, whose tenets are
worthy of the worst Nazi propaganda, and whose hatred is no longer
aimed at Israeli “˜Zionists’ but at the entire Jewish
people.”
Synagogues have been fire-bombed, Jewish schools have been
attacked, and individuals have been cursed and harassed on the
street.
In January 2005, the U.S. State Department’s “Report
on Global Anti-Semitism” stated, “The increasing
frequency and severity of anti-Semitic incidents since the start of
the 21st century, particularly in Europe, has compelled the
international community to focus on anti-Semitism with renewed
vigor.”
Kennard, the battle against European anti-Semitism has not been
partly won ““ yet. Anti-Semitism still haunts Europe. As Cobi
Benatoff, president of the European Jewish Congress said,
“Anti-semitism should have been part of the history of old
Europe by now, but unfortunately it is very present and alive in
the Europe of today.”
Michael Herszbein UCLA alumnus