I’ve had enough! I wish to get a few words in here if I may. First, to all of you anti-209ers out there. Now listen, listen very closely. Proposition 209 states that the government will not discriminate on the basis of race or gender, period! I am so tired of hearing all of these crazy, Oliver Stone-like conspiracy theories about how it really means this or really means that, or how it will eliminate rape crisis hotlines. Please, give me a break!
What the voters of the state of California have said is that your method for fighting discrimination, which amounts to nothing more than “getting even” by instituting reverse (politically correct) discrimination is unjust! If it was wrong in the ’50s, it’s wrong now. Deal with it!
Question to the anti-209ers: Why isn’t it enough just to solve the problem? Why must you insist on retribution as well?
Now, with respect to flag burning yes, it constitutes free speech. However, do the people who engage in this repugnant act realize that they are destroying the very symbol of this freedom? Destroy this freedom, and what do you have? Communist China, the former Soviet Union? I’ll tell you what, burn either of those flags in those countries and I guarantee you, you won’t be seen or heard from for a long time, if ever again.
MEChA claims that Ramon Mu?oz wasn’t representing them when he burned the flag (Daily Aztec, 11/21/96). Yeah, right, whatever. When was the last time anyone from that organization said or wrote (in public anyway) anything positive about this nation? How would they like it if I were to burn a Mexican flag outside their next meeting? Let’s find out how “open to many views” they are.
Question for Ricardo Lara: Is Mu?oz representing MEChA when he refers to white people as “crackerjacks”? Had he been white using racially insensitive remarks as those, MEChA would be leading the fight to have this guy thrown off campus. Instead, they decided not to take action against him. I’m sure. A pat on the back was probably more like it.
And what’s up with this guy Scott Puckett? Is he for real? I could go on for an hour about his last article (Daily Aztec, 11/18/96), but I’ll simply say: Dude, do yourself and the rest of us a favor and stay off the drugs, especially before you sit down to write an article.
Ryan Griffith
astronomy graduate student