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News :: Miscellaneous |
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Very Scary Letter In Today's DI |
Current rating: 0 |
by Mike Lehman, Junoir LAS
(No verified email address) |
14 Sep 2001
Modified: 03:05:42 PM |
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I found this letter to be extremely disturbing. |
The letter linked below was on the Daily Illini's website. It makes a case for anti-globalization activists actively aiding and abetting terrorism. Besides being totally untrue, I wonder what brought the numerous signers of the letter together. Are they some far-right nut group? Ayn Rand no-nothings? Simply deranged?
Does anyone recognize any of these names so that we can get a better handle on this group and why they have such and axe to gring in the first place?
Ben Bayer
Rajshree Agarwal
Ben Bayer (twice?-same person?)
Andrew Dalton
Jane Erickson
Karl Goetze
Pari Haridim
Chyanne Husar
Drew Johnston
Jeff Kramer
Keith Lockitch
Jeff Mayhugh
Anish Paul,
Keith Schacht
Rebecca Stang
Ben Wilson
Matthew Woodruff
Nicole Presperin
Josh Auld
Kristina Janusz
Rommel Alvarez
(all claim to be) members of the University community (per signatures on DI letter) |
See also:
http://www.dailyillini.com/sep01/sep14/opinions/stories/letter14.shtml
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That's how it is. |
by Mort Brussel
brussel (nospam) uiuc.edu (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
14 Sep 2001
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The opinions expressed in this letter are not rare. Unfortunately, it would be easy to find students who would sign on to it. Better to keep plugging for what we think is right and respond to its misanthropic-chauvenistic-jingoistic nature in the columns. |
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Here's a response I sent to the DI: |
by Joe Futrelle
futrelle (nospam) shout.net (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
14 Sep 2001
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As a pacifist, I am deeply offended and genuinely frightened by the
letter from "members of the University community" linking
anti-capitalist demonstrators to this week's terrorist attacks.
These are serious allegations, backed by a threat of retaliation,
without a shred of proof.
Like many of the protestors implicated by the letter, I oppose many of
the policies of the U.S. government.
But I do not oppose the U.N. universal declaration of human rights, a
document the U.S. has signed, which provides for freedom of expression
and freedom from violence of all, regardless of nationality or
religion. That declaration represents values which all civilized
nations share.
I am opposed to all acts of military aggression, which I consider
violations of universal human rights. Thus I am opposed to the
horrendous attacks of this week and I will use my freedom of
expression to similarly oppose any military action the U.S. wishes to
take in the future.
It is a simple philosophy which was instilled in me by my grandfather,
a Presbyterian minister and conscientious objector who preached
tolerance and understanding between all peoples.
It is based on these values that I oppose policies of the United
States that would seek to subjugate peoples of the world in order to
serve its interests, just as I oppose policies of religious
fundamentalists of any stripe that advocate violent repression of
people with different beliefs.
This is not a war. It is a terrible act of mass murder, and its
perpetrators should be tried in an international tribunal. That is
the way civilized people deal with criminals. |
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Sounds like Objectivists to me |
by Paul R.
paul (nospam) mediageek.org (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
14 Sep 2001
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My first best guest was the campus Objectivists, which was confirmed when I went to their web site and saw the list of their officers (all who signed the letter):
President: Drew Johnston
Vice President: Ben Bayer
Treasurer: Jane Erickson
Secretary: Jeff Mayhugh
You can see their website at: http://www.uiuc.edu/ro/ioc/
I'm a bit surprised that they don't identifiy themselves in their letter, since the Ayn Rand Institute (ARI) works hard to get their name in the press and get their op-eds published.
This letter and its ideas and tone mirror press releases and op-eds that have been eminiating from the Ayn Rand Institute (WEFT got a few this week).
If you want to see for yourself, go to http://www.aynrand.org/medialink/ |
