Bruin bias distorts demonstration
I am one of an obvious minority of conservative students at UCLA. I’ve grown pretty accustomed to staying quiet instead of stirring the pot when it comes to voicing my views on campus, but today I felt compelled to speak out after reading Friday’s front-page article titled “Activists protest at temple” (News, Nov. 7).
This article, which should have been clearly marked “editorial” instead of highlighted as a front-page news story, was biased, misleading and symbolic of what I fear is a growing trend at UCLA.
Instead of simply reporting the protest, this article could just have easily have been posted on the No on Proposition 8 Web site. I saw firsthand the protests in front of the Mormon temple, and those who wrote this article clearly let agenda come before objectivity.
I watched as hundreds wearing “no on hate” shirts chanted “F*** you, Mormons!” as they shoved Proposition 8 signs into the fences surrounding the temple. I saw protestors running into the streets and surrounding cars, forcing them to stop as they passed. I saw foul things written on the pillars outside the building. I watched as a couple of brave Mormons ventured out to remove the signs littering the property and were surrounded by screaming and cursing protestors.
I believe in the right to peacefully protest, but to endorse this sort of crude behavior on an unfairly targeted church is the job of a left-wing commentator, not a school newspaper. I only ask for fair reporting.
The article said that “several media organizations have reported that the Mormon Church donated $20 million to Proposition 8.” Immediately after, it added that individual Mormon donors contributed $14 million. Without clarification or outside knowledge of the truth, the average reader would assume the first $20 million was donated by the church itself (a tax-exempt organization precluded from donations like this).
This is a shameful tactic for propagating a clear lie. The money donated was by individual members, not the Mormon Church. This has been corrected time and again, but those who wish to propagate the falsity do so by quoting others who perpetuate it (vaguely alluding to “several media organizations”).
I was likewise surprised that the author of this article failed to question why the Mormon Church was being singled out by protestors. We may have been heavy donors to the campaign, but the “Yes” side was still far outspent and out-advertised by its opponents.
Mormons make up less than 2 percent of the population of California. Why not target black voters, the vast majority of whom voted for Proposition 8? How about the Catholic Church? Could it be because the Mormons are easy targets?
That said, targeting either of those communities would be as wrong as attacking the Mormon community. These seem like obvious questions (and ones addressed by other news agencies covering this story), but the author chose to ignore altogether any line of questioning which could cast a more objective light on the event.
UCLA is known for its diversity. Our campus is filled with people from all races and walks of life, and this is one of the main reasons I chose to come here for law school. I have been saddened to find that, for some, conservatism is not a voice they tolerate as part of the symphony of discussion on campus. I am discouraged to hear people use foul words and inflammatory rhetoric to describe those who simply choose to take a political stand based on their values, regardless of how unpopular the position may be.
We should applaud the integrity and success of all those who have values and stand by them, regardless of whether we agree. In schools of higher learning, we should appreciate that it is wholly consistent to admire the efforts of our political opponents when they act with sincerity and mutual respect.
This is a divisive issue, but it doesn’t mean we have to be divided. Disagreement does not have to engender disrespect. I am a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I am in favor of Proposition 8. This is my political view on one issue, founded on several reasons ranging from First Amendment and freedom of religion rights to personal beliefs. Others will disagree with me for reasons which are just as fundamentally important to them. But neither they nor I should feel ashamed or afraid to let our opinions be heard in a mutually respectful discourse. I, for one, am tired of closing my mouth. I only wish the Daily Bruin listened.
Mac Reynolds
Third-year, law
Reports of violence belittle protest
As a participant in Thursday’s protest against Proposition 8, I was appalled to pick up Friday’s Daily Bruin and see that a large picture of an activist’s bloodied hand was chosen as the focal point of the front-page spread and that the story began with a list of arrests and fights. Yes, there apparently were a few altercations during the daylong demonstration, but the focus of the story and images should have been the 5,000 people who peacefully and successfully marched through Westwood, Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards to bring as much attention as possible to their cause.
Thousands more became involved as they cheered from apartment windows and honked and waved from their cars despite the fact that we were responsible for making their commutes home even longer. Our demonstration was powerful, peaceful and very effective.
By highlighting the few fights and arrests, the Daily Bruin undermines the true significance of Thursday’s events: Thousands of Angelenos realized that Proposition 8 is not the end of the fight for equality in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. No one should be deterred from joining the cause because of inflated reports of violence.
Jordan Avallone
Fourth-year, English