Article promotes talk on role of immigrants
I was glad to read Khadeeja Abdullah and Saira Lari’s
“Reaction to cartoons hypocritical” (Feb. 14) in the
Daily Bruin because they were able to encapsulate many of the
issues involved with the cartoon portrayal and the reaction to
it.
Another important issue is that the cartoon controversy points
to a greater problem regarding the place of, regard for,
marginalization of and mistreatment of immigrant populations in
Europe.
This is evident in the recent riots in France resulting from the
fact that many immigrants in France “have been marginalized
for years, living in poverty-stricken housing projects full of
unemployment and violent youth gangs” as noted in Justin
Deitchman’s column (“Listen up to avoid
violence,” Nov. 7, 2005). Countries like France and Denmark
are now in the position to discuss the role of immigrants in their
countries, and what exactly it means to be a citizen.
Hopefully they will start discussing these issues in an
enlightened way through open dialogue, and in that way, we’ll
be able to interact in ways that are beneficial and positive for
all parties involved.
Leyla Ozgur Graduate student, Arabic
literature
Windfall donations: reason to celebrate?
I got an e-mail from the chancellor Thursday morning that
gleefully described how UCLA has managed to raise $3 billion
““ more money than any other institution of higher education
ever!
That’s truly impressive, and from now on, I will hear
“$3 billion” every time I walk into the lobby of my
UCLA apartment building that looks like an abandoned
home-improvement project.
Every time I look at the holes in the drywall and the 1970s
renaissance carpeting, I’ll think about the $3 billion.
When I cautiously take the elevator up to my floor and notice
that the permit expired 14 months ago, I will wonder about those $3
billion. When I pay my $24,000 in student fees (which recently went
up another $1,500), the $3 billion will be on my mind. While
I’m pounding the pavement looking for a full-time job because
the mid-year tuition increase has left me without the ability to
pay my rent and bills this semester, I will reflect on the $3
billion.
But excuse me if I don’t pop open a bottle of champagne
and throw a party ““ I can’t afford it.
Shawna Rasul Graduate student, UCLA School of
Law