4 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, March 31, 2006 OPINION DONN M. FRESARD Editor in Chief EMILY BEAM CHRISTOPHER ZBROZEK Editorial Page Editors ASHLEY DINGES Managing Editor EDITED AND MANAGED BY STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN SINCE 1890 420 MAYNARD STREET ANN ARBOR, MI 48109 tothedaily@michigandaily.com NOTABLE QUOTABLE I was treated well, but I don't know why I was kidnapped." - American reporter and Ann Arbor native Jill Caroll, speaking to a Baghdad televi- sion station following her release after nearly three months in captivity, as reported yesterday by The Associated Press. .. ; ; "' , . RYAN JABER JUST MAKES MUD Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily's editorial board. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their author. Serving America ANDREW BIELAK BURNING BRIDGES n the weeks Created in 1994 as an umbrella organization has been unable to reach its full potential. after the Sept. 11 for previous national service initiatives, Ameri- As he told me, they "thought it would be an attacks, President corps constitutes the most comprehensive effort excellent initiative that would build into a Bush stood as a poised, in recent history to increase service across the national movement, but I think at this point confident leader, shar- country. Involved with more than 3,000 non- it's an excellent initiative that's an excellent ing in the collective profits and public agencies, the organization initiative." Looking to the reasons behind grief of the nation and has attempted to build an unprecedented level this stagnation, Gordon suggests an inherent issuing stern threats to of direct action on issues of poverty, hous- contradiction between the idealistic rhetoric those who dared attack ing, education and the environment. Through of freedom and liberty put forth by current it. Calculated as his (somewhat) bipartisan support and funding, leaders and the actuality of their realization. speeches might have Americorps has drawn in more than 400,000 "Freedom isn't just something that govern- been, they carried an infectious air of hope, an participants since its inception, and demand for ment gives out - freedom is something that honest belief that Americans have the potential membership has remained high into 2006. Americans create through their service and to rise from the depth of tragedy and build a Unfortunately, Americorps's quiet success their commitments." better future. seems to be overshadowed by clear evidence With a majority of his political capital long For many of us, the prospects for reinvigo- of its limitations within the current political since evaporated, Bush now consistently finds rating ideals of service and citizenship seemed climate. President Bush repeatedly articulated himself occupying his time with half-hearted boundless. Rarely had so many Americans his support for the organization in the years attempts to justify the follies of his administra- seemed so devoted to helping others and after Sept. 11, 2001, praising it as evidence of tion. Having long held the notion of freedom improving the character of our country. Asked American's dedication improving our country to be a potential legacy of his time in office, how ordinary citizens could contribute, the and helping others in need. In his 2002 State he has been undone by a particular naivete and president outlined an initiative called "Com- of the Union address, he pledged to use an ini- overzealousness in the pursuit of this ideal. munities of Character," which would "spark a tiative called "USA Freedom Corps" to expand More than anything, however, the pres- rebirth of citizenship, character and service." and increase funding for Americorps and like- ident's greatest weakness in his attempt to For the true optimists among us, these words minded groups across the country. leave his mark at the White House has been suggested the possibility of a Kennedy-esque Discounting the political lip service, howev- the narrowness of his vision. Without encour- return to civic engagement with government er, the president's treatment of the organization aging the development of a civically-minded, and the expectation that Americans could suggests a fundamental unwillingness to fol- socially-involved ideal of citizenship, the actively partake in bettering the country. low through with an ideal he pledges to stand president has promoted a decidedly one-sided What fools we were. for. In recent years, he has only sparingly stood notion of freedom. The actions of this admin- Nearly five years later, the Communities up for the interests and growth of the organi- istration have suggested that disconnected in Character initiative lies dormant, the pres- zation, only allowing for the maintenance of complacency, rather than active engagement ident's approval ratings are at all-time lows, its current budget when he receives adequate and participatory service, is the emblematic and any notion that post-Sept. 11 engage- pressure to do so. Most tellingly, this year the trait of an ideal citizen. ment sparked a rebirth in American service administration proposed a $22-million cut It's been almost 50 years since President is simply laughable. Using the words "missed from Americorps's civilian program, adding Kennedy famously charged that we should not opportunity" to describe this lack of a plan for that in the long run, it hopes to shut down this ask what our country can do for us, but rather increased citizenship has become redundant. sector or the organization altogether. what we can do for our country. Rarely has 50 Perhaps the key to understanding the depth of Robert Gordon, a senior fellow at the Cen- years seemed so damn far away. this administration's failure is examining the ter for American Progress who helped draft organization that actively works to promote the original Americorps legislation, argues Bielak can be reached at service nationwide - Americorps. that despite its popularity, the organization anbielak@umich.edu Send all lttrstoth edio LETTERS TO THE EDITOJR tot hedal y ~michiganiy. on 0 S Immigration solution? SOWMYA KRISHNAMURTHY AUDI ALTERAM PARTEM ( G ive me more than 20 percent of unskilled or migrant your job positions. tired, Many of those immigrants actually add to your poor, your huddled the nation's fiscal growth because they can- masses yearning to not redeem any tax refunds associated with breathe free." Emma their wages. The New York Times wrote Lazarus's words, which that the Social Security system is supple- appear on a plaque at mented with as much as $7 billion a year the base of the Statue from illegal wages. of Liberty, have always If the illegal labor market is curbed, then signified America as a theoretically employers will have to raise sala- safe haven for all. Amidst the recent immigration ries to attract domestic talent. But after being debate dividing the country, however, America's conditioned to discard menial jobs to those on open-arms policy has been seriously placed into the periphery for so many years, will Ameri- question. cans bite the bait? The hotly debated legislation that has already Let's be honest: We as a nation are stingy and passed in the House and is now awaiting consid- are usually willing to risk social conscience for eration in the Senate would make it a felony to a buck saved - excepting the Coca-Cola con- enter the United States illegally. It would impose troversy at the University, of course. In 2003, stringent penalties on employers and others who Wal-Mart was caught with more than 300 ille- knowingly hire or provide succor to illegal immi- gal workers in 21 states, but that has not dimin- grants - as much as a $25,000 fine per violation. ished its position as the most successful retailer The bill also requires new investments in border in the world. Sure, every good liberal brags that security and technology, including a 700-mile she loathes the retail giant but makes an excep- wall between the U.S.-Mexico border. tion when she's on a budget. If Americans were Considered less extreme, the alternative willing to pay higher prices, employers would McCain-Kennedy bill differs most obviously in not resort to cruel and illegal labor and would that it offers illegal immigrants what some consid- only have outsourcing as a cost control. er amnesty and provides a measure toward perma- The solution to illegal immigration is difficult nent residence and citizenship. Known as a guest and imperfect at best. As a nation founded on worker program,this would enable undocumented and benefiting from centuries of immigration, workers to apply for temporary legal status after it is hypocritical and un-American to take down six years and eventually grant them citizenship the "vacancy" sign now. upon proving that they're employed in the United But it is simply not realistic, neither financially States. They also would have to pay a $2,000 fine, nor on a security basis, to welcome everyone. It is submit to background and security checks, learn one thing to work here honestly and add value to civics and English and pay back taxes. society, but quite another to freeload and expect Like any hot-button issue, it's unclear exactly social cohesion. Amnesty for those already here what the crux of the matter is. Are we really con- appears to be the most plausible solution, but cerned that illegal immigrants might suck up our rewarding illegal immigrants while numerous welfare dollars and expose the masses to tuber- legal immigrants wait in line at the mercy of a culosis, or is the white noise simply a politically government bureaucracy sends a dangerous mes- correct guise for xenophobia? sage of unfairness. As a legal immigrant myself, From an economic standpoint it makes sense it took 16 years - not six - before I officially that certain occupations - like restaurant became a citizen. cooks, domestic servants and migrant farmers Illegal immigration will only get worse if - are filled by low-skilled immigrant labor. unabated. Somehow lawmakers will have to This is because of the discrepancy between reconcile this and pacify the electorate, without foreign and domestic wages - roughly half of turning the country into a Wild Wild West of Mexico's population lives on less than $5 a day, minutemen or destroying the American Dream. whereas the national minimum wage in this -_____ country is $5.15 an hour. According to the Pew Krishnamurthy can be reached at Urine lays only minor role in hate on campus TO THE DAILY: If I were Nick Cheolas, author of Wednes- day's viewpoint Setting the record straight on the infamous 'hate crime' (03/29/2006), I would begin this response by personally attacking him and his campus affiliations, as he did to Stephanie Kao in his viewpoint. However, because I believe progress on issues such as racism stems from productive campus dia- logue rather than misinformed slander, I will restrain myself and focus on the actual issue at hand. Cheolas criticized campus groups for naming "nonexistent" racist events, arguing that groups who speak against hate crimes would like the campus to have a "harsh" and "contemptuous racial climate" and that "that is our real race problem." This outrageously implies that racism and hate crimes don't exist on this campus, and that "certain" campus groups (implying the United Asian American Organizations) fabricate such events to justify their existence. Let's be completely frank. Racism is not only a part of our country's - and, for that matter, our institution's past - but it is some- thing that has been built into the very structure of our society and is still an inescapable part of everyday life for many people. As a white woman, I can understand that Cheolas, as a white male, has probably never personally felt the negative effects of racism. The times I have felt them have been very few and far between, while my friends of color cannot avoid such things. The same applies to sexism - some- thing that my male friends usually don't even think about, yet, as a woman, I experience regularly. To spend an entire viewpoint debat- ing whether or not urine was involved when two students were harassed with racial slurs is missing the point: Hate is hate - urine or no urine. If, as a campus and as society as a whole, we want to eliminate racism, people of all races have to actively confront the ideolo- gies underlying hate crimes, not mock their victims. Lindsey Rogers LSA sophomore one burst a bag of gold nuggets all over the East Quad lawn? No. He was picking up trash. He continued jog- ging in front of me, picking up trash here and there - paper plates, wrappers, cups in a frat house hedge and all the other little bits of litter that make Ann Arbor look dingy. So, I want to give a big thank you to this stranger. Thanks for making our messes mys- teriously disappear. I'm sure some people will wonder where their trash went - thanks for keeping them clean. Dan Bertoni LSA junior A reality check for skybox stammers TO THE DAILY: In Letter to Regents slams skyboxes (03/28/2006), professor emeritus John Meyer remarks that when the University builds pri- vate skyboxes in Michigan Stadium, "the for- tunate will be above, and the masses - the great unwashed - will be sitting in the gen- eral seats." Meyer needs to be reminded that a single season ticket to the Big House cost $350 last year, not including a mandatory donation of up to $500 and a waiting list that costs $100 per year. The only thing the skyboxes will separate are the elite from-the elitest. Bridget Isaia LSA senior Regents must remember the Halo, students TO THE DAILY: I am sure that the University student body is overwhelmingly against skyboxes being tacked onto Michigan Stadium, but does any- one listen to students anymore at the Univer- sity? Regents, please remember the ghastly halo fiasco! Ken Massey Alum Daiks love affair with have to let us know every time two SOLE members come in contact. Just think how many more Sudokus would fit in the space you save! Pavel Malik LSA senior Calls for divestment from Israel misguided TO THE DAILY: I am writing to express my deep concern over yesterday's letter by David Skrbina and William Thomson (Consider divestment from Israel and Palestine, 03/30/2006). Many members of the University, including me, are deeply concerned with the Israel-Palestine conflict. However, the constant call from a minority of faculty and students for divestment from Israel has gone too far. Skrbina and Thomson are portraying a one-sided, distorted picture that doesn't cor- relate with current affairs in the region. Last Tuesday, two major events occurred in Israel and Palestine. In Israel, new elec- tions were held, resulting in a majority of parliament members calling to end the Israeli occupation in the West Bank. Furthermore, Ehud Olmert, the newly-elected prime minis- ter, stated that he will withdraw settlers from most of the West Bank. In Palestine, a new government was sworn into office, but it is controlled by Hamas - a terrorist organiza- tion according to the United States, European Union, Canada, Japan and many other coun- tries. This organization has been involved in the murder of hundreds of innocent people, targeting them in malls, discos, restaurants and coffee shops. Skrbina and Thomson, in their insightful let- ter, forgot to mention the new developments in the region. They did not recognize the refusal of the new Palestinian government to accept Israel's right to exist. Apparently, they forgot to state that rocket attacks against Israel from the unoccupied Gaza Strip are routine. Fur- thermore, they did not mention the fact that University President Mary Sue Coleman, the University Board of Regents and the Michigan Student Assembly have all stated their opposi- tion to divesting from Israel. M