4 4 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, January 21, 2004 OP/ED U~be ki~gm &z4W 420 MAYNARD STREET ANN ARBOR, MI 48109 letters@michigandaily.com opinion. michigandaily. com EDITED AND MANAGED BY STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN SINCE 1890 LouIE MEIZLISH Editor in Chief AUBREY HENRETTY ZAC PESKOWITZ Editorial Page Editors Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of the majority of the Daily's editorial board. All other articles, letters and cartoons do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Daily. NOTABLE QUOTABLE YAAAAAH- HHHHH!" - Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean, in a fiery speech given after finishing third in the Iowa Democratic primary, as reported yesterday by The Washington Post. SAM BUTLER THE SOAPBOX C \%Y\ko b cusen Y bx~se.be~ ,rcslt ',0e"cmbak OM- bcue.Da 4 4 I do HUSSAIN RAHIM NARCOLEPTIC INSOMNIA it's all in the details. Bush's omniscient domestic policy and stringent focus on the issues that matter to Americans, leaves many easy targets to focus on. I'd rather move away from the common cries of taxes, education and health care to the more exciting realms of marriage and the National Park Service because that where the most telling aspects lie. In a clear sign of the power that outside and even divine forces have over this administration, President Bush, who has been reluctant to pur- sue outright a constitutional ban on gay mar- riage, is shucking for the conservative voting base by promising the closest compromise he can muster, the affirmation of straight marriage. Having $1.5 billion with no apparent better use for it, the thought is to spend this money on the promotion of "healthy marriages," especially among poor couples as a kind of display of his commitment to Christian values and family. Nothing says "I love you" to a conservative, even the compassionate ones, like marrying off two poor people. Pragmatically, that $1.5 billion is nothing compared to the numerous and massive bud- getary hemorrhages that permeate this govern- ment, but it is rather symbolic of the secondary nature reality has to Bush and the danger of his obsequiousness to the evangelical agenda. The root of the problem does not lie in the lack of government-sponsored marriage counseling but in the very conditions that create the epi- demic of inner-city life. The men are often sub-par candidates for marriage due to poor education and a lack of job skills, which then leaves single mothers to wade around at'pover- ty level. Some Noah's-Arc style of "match- and-pair" is not the solution. Not to be Marxist, but Bush.should understand that it is the bottom line that plays a substantial role in marriage. If you're single in one of these target areas, the last thing you are worrying about is why you're not married. Maybe you're trying to figure out why the hell the end of the divi- dend tax means anything to you. A White House aide was quoted as say- ing, "The president loves to do that sort of thing in the inner city with black churches, and he's very good at it." Well aw gee, thanks now. Regardless of my opinion of the institution of marriage, statistically, it ensures a more financially secure home, and is better for children, but we all know where the faults in that lie. No one needs state-sponsored coercion to enter one of the most challenging life experiences. Despite a possible tax credit when you sign up for a 15-year marriage contract with a 10-year bonus or a new advertising campaign that makes marriage look cool, this is just a ploy to show that the straight folk still want to get married so we don't need to focus on the gays so much. Even this cannot prevent a decision that will have to be made on gay marriage. A further confusion of priorities is evident in the National Park Service, where in California, the threat was made to switch over land to a pri- vate group if a plaque with Biblical verses was not allowed to stand. This is part of a "faith- based parks" initiative that is gaining ground in conservative circles because, apparently nature is more effective when more religion is involved. Or something. And herein lies the subterfuge tactic of choice that has kept this administration leaving one smoke bomb after the next. Sell the niche as universal and be a populist, and if they are con- fused, they won't have time to hate you. "Tax cuts!" I didn't get much back. "No more dividend taxes!" What's a divi... "No more late term abortions!" But wait, those ... "Let's go to outer space!" Don't we need to finish in... "Then let's marry off the poor, more prayer in parks and send the gays to space!" What the fuck? I'm no political analyst but even I'm lost. This turns out to be an undeniably clear sign of the missing vision for this country but also the levels shameless politicking can reach as the election draws near. It really is a disgraceful attempt at pandering for attention right around the most wonderful time of the year. The old cool kid needs to show the class he's cooler than the incoming transfer student. So you move up the State of the Union and keep the smoke com- ing, thick and black. Rahim can be reached at hrahim@umich.edu. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Civil rights movement about more than equality, remains an unfinished work TO THE DAILY: What happened to the civil rights move- ment of the 1960s? For many this is a question discussed and pondered each year during Janu- ary. For me, though, this question has taken on new meaning and caused a desire to continue what was not finished. To understand why the civil rights movement is not finished a correct understanding of what it was needs to be redis- covered. There is no doubt that an element of the civil rights movement was the need for equal rights for all, but this was not the deeper message that Martin Luther King Jr. and others stood for. The message of the civil rights movement can be found in the story of Rosa Parks. Where on the surface it may seem that the Rosa Parks incident was only about equal rights, it was about much more than that. When Parks got on the bus she paid the same fair, rode the same bus as whites and it took her where she wanted to go. The issue was not that one had the right to ride the bus and another not - it was much deeper than that. She got on the bus tired from a long day, and at that moment in time she was the best one capable to make the decision on where to sit. She did not have the energy to drag herself to the back of the bus as the law mandated. She was more capable to make a decision about herself than the state was, or the people through the state. This incident was the embod- iment of the civil rights movement, which said each individual is more capable to make their own decisions when those decisions don't stop others from making their own decisions. The state, through democratic institutions and majority rule, made decisions for blacks because they might make the wrong decisions and sit in the front of the bus. The state also made decisions for those who were not minori- ties so they would also make the correct deci- sions, such as opening a restaurant and being forced to have segregated seating or separate bathrooms. Why have such laws? Because without these laws someone would do the wrong thing or they were doing these incorrect practices. Sogwhat happened tothe movement? Through democratic institutions and majority rule, the state continues to make decisions for others when they are the most capable of mak- ing those decisions. We can see this with mod- ern examples: mandatory seat belt laws, the city of Ann Arbor forbidding a church from decision from those most capable of making it. We must continue our struggle for civil rights against all laws that make decisions for us when we are more capable. Civil rights abuses get worse all the time. Democratic institutions and majority rule are never a justification for the state to make decisions for people who are more capable. Scorr WOJACK University staff Readers should view arguments for legalizing marijuana critically To THE DAILY: In response to Johnny Meyer's letter (Will Daily support the legalization of marijuana or take wait and see approach?, 01/15/04) about the legalization of marijuana, I will not "stand on the sidelines," but instead I will become an active player on the field. The purpose of my letter is not to agree or disagree with the legal- ization of marijuana, but to urge readers to be aware of tactics used by its advocates to per- suade the public. In his letter, Meyer states that "cannabis has no known overdose deaths reported and aspirin and bee stings alone kill more people than this plant." Think about that statement. Are there reliable statistics accom- panying that argument? Also, what other factors would cause bee stings and aspirin (notice also that in his citation the two are combined, and think about how much more frequently people get stung by bees or use aspirin, than use this illegal drug, in the overall population) to be causes of death? Per- haps it's widespread allergies, or another factor? Besides, though no known overdose deaths from cannabis have been reported, have there been other deaths due to the nature and effects of the drug? I am not trying to impose either opinion upon any reader, but simply to inform people of the dangers concerning the wording of persua- sive arguments. So, no matter what the issue you are faced with, I urge you to do your research, become informed and educated and decide for yourself. DARIA DIAKONOVA LSA sophomore Daily should give candidates' supporters equal space to write letters Few people would deny that Kucinich is a unique political candidate. On almost every issue, he has clearly established himself as the progressive in the field. His opposition to the war in Iraq is unparalleled, even by Howard Dean. His plan for universal health care (not just health insurance) is more sweeping than that of any other candidate. If you support Bush's war in Iraq, or you think that universal health care is for socialists, then Kucinich is probably not your candidate. However, if, like many Democrats, you're in favor of these and other progressive planks, consider supporting the candidate who best embraces those values. The clarity with which Kucinich confronts these and other issues cannot be distilled into bullet points. During a speech at our own Michi- gan League, Kucinich unequivocally declared that a system that ties one's ability to pay with one's ability to get an education is morally bankrupt. This is not just playing to a college audience; free college education is and always has been a major part of Kucinich's platform. Kucinich has raised more than $3.4 million and is eligible for matching funds. He has both the determination and the resources needed to continue his candidacy. JASON ROSELANDER Rackham LETTERS POLICY The Michigan Daily welcomes letters from all of its readers. Letters from University stu- dents, faculty, staff and administrators will be given priority over others. Letters should include the writer's name, college and school year or other University affiliation. The Daily will not print any letter containing statements that cannot be verified. Letters should be kept to approximately 300 words. The Michigan Daily reserves the right to edit for length, clarity and accuracy. Longer "viewpoints" may be arranged with an editor. Letters will be run according to order received and the amount of space available. Letters should be sent over e-mail to letters@michigandaily.com or mailed to the Daily at 420 Maynard St. Editors can be reached via e-mail at editpage.editors@umich.edu. Letters e- mailed to the Daily will be given priority over those dropped off in person or sent via the U.S. Postal Service. I ~ a.~ ,. eti '4 is rrrxr'2srccti x