Bruin mis-quotes message
As a first-year student I have the distinct honor of being
quoted, excuse me, mis-quoted in the Daily Bruin, on at least four
separate occasions.
From others who have been quoted in the Daily Bruin, it seems
the sentiment is the same about the selective editing of quotes,
destroying the original message students are to portray.
In the article “Walk out has its own protesters,”
(News, Mar. 6) I was quoted as saying wanting “education not
devastation” was hypocritical and that, “when they walk
out of class it pisses me off.” By editing my quotes in
the way the Daily Bruin chose to do so, it made it seem as though
my anger was unfounded and would lead the reader to ask, “How
is “˜education not devastation’
hypocritical?” Let me clear up my statement in a way the
Daily Bruin would rather not have you hear.
What I had told the Daily Bruin reporter was if the protesters
claim they want “education not devastation,”
shouldn’t they be in class rather than protesting? It is
inherently hypocritical to claim to be a proponent of education yet
skip class yourself for a “peaceful” protest.
Furthermore, as I walked through the crowd (I myself did not
have class) I heard many students mutter, “I’m doing
this so I don’t have to go to class!” What pissed
me off was the inherent hypocrisy in their message “education
over devastation,” because if they truly felt education was
their primary concern, they would have gone to class.
As one can see, what I told the Daily Bruin reporter is quite
different from what was portrayed in the article. Perhaps it is
safe to suppose they do it to further their own agenda. I
remember hearing one of my classmates mention, after noting my
quote had been distorted, “I love reading the Daily
Bruin. It’s all opinion!”
Jon M. English
First-year, political science
Intellect absent from editorials
I have too long been incensed by the poorly reasoned,
narrow-minded, asinine comments of this editorial staff regarding
the potential war in Iraq.
The Daily Bruin editorial board, serving as ambassadors of
student opinion at UCLA to the rest of the country, ought to be
embarrassed by the ridiculous reasoning behind opinions such as
those suggested in the editorial “Walkout a step in the right
direction” (Mar. 6).
I am sick of all the spoiled liberal brats who live in one of
the most wealthy, free and beautiful places in the world shouting
frivolous, idiotic slogans and demanding that their
“education be prioritized over war.” How dare anyone
reduce issues of international politics and human life to an excuse
to get out of class and protest student fee increases. What world
do you people live in?
I happen to live in a world in which reasonable, seasoned
diplomats and U.N. officials engage in serious debate about the
disarmament of Iraq, an issue of paramount international concern
which is not unique to our war-mongering cowboy president.
Read interviews with Hans Blix or Mohamed ElBaradei, listen to
deliberations of the Security Council, and generally be informed
about the nature of world politics. Anyone sheltered and ignorant
enough to believe that yelling, disrupting classes, or only seeing
issues as they relate to his or her checking account does not
represent me nor my opinions.
I expect more from a student body with so much opportunity for
intellectual, reasonable study and protest. However, I continue to
be disappointed by small-minded student opinions about the Iraqi
issue, especially those represented here in the Daily Bruin.
Elizabeth Mealing
First-year, psychology
Protests are anti-American
There is a gross misrepresentation of democracy portrayed in the
editorial, “Walkout a step in right direction” (March
6).
I would like to say the protests seen recently worldwide are not
a representation of democracy, since their overall numbers make up
far less than five percent of the populations they claim to
represent. I will stand corrected if someone can show me how a five
percent opinion represents a democratic majority, but until such a
day when democracy is redefined that will never happen.
Democracy and free speech also do not give people the right to
silence others’ opinions as seen by the protesters’
actions on Wednesday. As a member of the counter protest, we were
constantly shouted down. At one point the “peace”
activists went so far as to tear down our banner being carried in
opposition. Never once did we make aggressive actions toward the
protesters.
This makes me believe they are nothing but anti-American
hypocrites who wish to see the downfall of democracy through
violent revolution.
Chris Riha
Third-year, business economics