0 4A - Monday, February 19, 2007 UPkNIO The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 43.untThis is the only issue in the history of mankind t', it E - 1 ?413 E. Huron St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104 that affects every single one of us." tothedaily@umich.edu KARL STAMPFL IMRAN SYED JEFFREY BLOOMER - Actress Cameron Diaz at a joint appearance with former Vice President Al Gore announcing "Live Earth" EDITOR IN CHIEF EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR concerts set for 07/07/07 to raise awareness about global warming, as reported Friday by CBS. Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily's editorial board. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solelythe views oftheir authors. ALEXANDER HONKALA The snow doesn't lie w/ Students deserve city services, must fight for them he first major snowstorm of the season last week brought more to Ann Arbor than just a reason to go sledding. The city's responsiveness in clearing the snow was lackluster at best: Even State Street wasn't plowed until hours after the snow began to pile up. Perhaps most damning is the fact that many stu- dent neighborhoods remained unplowed several days later, which ( reveals a marked lack of concern for student interests. All of Ann Arbor's residents -eventhose pesky, fly-by-night students -deserve timely services. However, problems like this will only be corrected if students can be convinced to play the part of informed citizen and assertively voice their concerns. 0 4 0 0 Unplowed roads create unnecessary hazards, even for good drivers. The Uni- versity never closes because of show, and students who rely on their cars to get to school are put at unnecessary risk because their neighborhood roads are not cleared of snow. Furthermore, the traffic delays and poor driving conditions that could be ameliorated by increased efforts to clear the streets often make punctual classroom attendance difficult for on-campus drivers and commuters alike. The concerns of students should always be considered the city's problem in a col- lege town. But the city cannot be held wholly responsible for these problems. Landlords who are required to clear snow from the walkways and driveways often do not make good on their promises. The city - but also the student tenants them- selves - have done little to redress this problem in an appropriate public forum. Complaints about the city's lax wintertime road maintenance and negligence by land- lords abound in student conversations, but few people do more than write a strongly- worded letter to the editor. Underneath the layers of compacted snow and ice, residential road maintenance is a civic problem, and it is another gnawing indicator of apathy within the studentbody. If the treacherous local roads are as much of a hazard or hassle as we make them out to be, we must take initiative and lobby for our needs. Students make up a significant portion of Ann Arbor's population, and we are capa- ble of demanding an improvement in Ann Arbor's public services through communi- cation with City Hall. Last year's improved housing ordinance has demonstrated that students can make a difference in local pol- itics and can force City Council to consider students' concerns - even if the ordinance is merely an initial step in solving student housing problems. If students can be con- vinced to unite in fielding their complaints directly to city, there is a good chance that the city's response to future snowstorms will be more timely and more thorough. Last week's snowstorm serves as a reminder of local politicians' lack of inter- est in student concerns, but moreover, it reveals that the roots of their apathy are fed by students themselves. we have to voice our concerns loudly, consistently and to the right parties. It is the job of good citizens to speak out so that elected officials can exe- cute the jobs that they may otherwise over- look. Local politicians will listen foremost to those residents who hold them account- able. It's time students start doing that. A ddressing the American Enterprise Institute on Thursday, President Bush announced that he plans to send more troops to Afghanistan, foster- ing the ire of many people across the country. This comes amid the fruit- less congressional debates on a non- binding resolution that would rebuke the impendingtroop surge in Iraq. It seems liberals, but also Ameri- cans in general, have become gun-shy about sending any f more troops A around the world. The under- standable lib- eral hesitation SAM to dispatch BUTLER troops to quell international crises is a reversal of the familiar adage that "Democrats want a small army and send it everywhere while Republicans want a large army and send it nowhere." Fans of "The West Wing" will recognize the saying from a 2003 episode, but the expres- sion actually emanated in one form or another from the foreign policy of the Clinton administration during the early 1990s. The Democratic one-time pen- chant for sending troops "every- where"wascenteredontheAmerican protocol of ending genocide around the world. With the dissolution ofthe Soviet Union, we solely held the title of superpower and therefore took on the responsibility of international policeman, walking a global beat to suppressinjustice. Itwas a role Amer- icans gladly adopted, harkening back to a self-image that has us savingthe day since the Second World War. We were the world's supercop, holster- ing the greatest army in history and flashing the badge of our own moral authority. The Clinton administrationcarried out this romantic ideal and commit- ted American forces to calm conflicts in Somalia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Kosovo and Haiti. This mantle of world pro- tector was even the reasoning behind the First Gulf War. We had to rescue defenseless Kuwait from the villain- ous Saddam Hussein, who unleashed genocide even against his own peo- ple. In 1991, we made it clear to the world that invading another country simply to enhance your stock of oil reserves was against the rules. Things have changed. Over the past six years, the neo- conservative agenda has reversed trends, and Republicans are now the ones calling for massive global troop deployment. However, we are no longer engaging in police actions but instead deliberately and unabashedly usingourmilitaryinfluencetopursue American international dominance. As the progenitors of The Project for a New American Century expressed in their 1997 statement of principles, Americashoulduse itsmilitary might "to shape a new century favorable to American principles and interests." Whether we choose to admit it or not, this is the current U.S. foreign policy doctrine. Although the altruism of our past military actions may always have been questioned, at least we had some semblance of principle behind them. Today, such ideological refuge is gone. So can we still be considered the world's policeman? When a cop uses his influence to pursue selfish inter- ests, he is no longer a servant of the greater good, but merely another thug on the street. We have lost our global moral authority, exposing a crack in our thin (red, white and) blue line. The United Nations considers our inva- sion of Iraq illegal. Thirteen CIA agents cannot set foot in Europe because they face indictmentby pros- ecutors for the kidnap and torture of a Lebanese-born German citizen. And just last Friday, an Italian judge ordered that 26 Americans, many of them CIA agents, stand trial for the seizure and alleged four-year torture of an Egyptian man. How can we police crimes world- wide when we're seen as criminals ourselves? The Bush administration has orchestrated the slippery transi- tion from global protector to global perpetrator so slowly that many of us haven't noticed. After Sept. 11, a strange mixture of vengeance and self-preservation fueled our inva- sion of Afghanistan. But in-addition, the invasion was palatable because the Taliban regime was described as murderous and genocidal, an affront to humankind. Can America lead the world if it is seen as criminal? The invasion of Iraq is markedly different because it was justified primarily out of self-defense - mak- ing our lack of concern toward more dangerous global threats seem all the more suspicious. Only after this rea- soning became tragically transpar- ent did the narrative about spreading democracy and freedom in Iraqenter the argument. I criticize not because I disagree with American ideals but because I feel they've been forgotten, and I am ashamed at how our international beacon has been doused. Sure Con- gress probably has better things to do with its time and, maybe a resolution will do little to restore our credibil- ity abroad. But I hope that we at least pay heed to the message. Otherwise they will simply be empty words, much like a corrupt cop pledging to serve and protect. Sam Butler can be reached atbutlers@umich.edu. 0 6 Editorial Board Members: Emily Beam, Kevin Bunkley, Amanda Burns, Sam Butler, Ben Caleca, Brian Flaherty, Mara Gay, Jared Goldberg, Emmarie Huetteman, Toby Mitchell, Rajiv Prabhakar, David Russell, Gavin Stern, John Stiglich, Jennifer Sussex, Neil Tambe, Radhika Upadhyaya, Rachel Wagner, Christopher Zbrozek JOHN OQUIST I HEY, SO THIS STUDENT AT CCSU WRITING ASTIRCALDIORIA IN WHICH HE DEFENDED RAPE. -EALY ll 11 1 - 1. -- . I- .,- - - - - - -, YLEH.IN TOE FPIEKCs ECALS WoE, AMON OTHER THINGS,C'ALSMAPCL EXPERIENCE THAT 6ENWEITS SOCIETY AS A WHOLE." +r WOW! IT'S LIKE HE TOOK SOMETHING B0D, 00 GWROTE AOUT IT LIKE THIS-MAN-IS-A ... GENIUS! YEAH, HES AREGULAR JONATHAN SWIFT. SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU Daily opinion unfairly tion by any coil is also not opti criticizes Church's intolerance lic adoption ag Church is in fav two-parent hom TO THE DAILY: However, we I found two different pieces printed in the Dai- experiment. WI ly's opinion section last week a little misleading. In could love a chi response to Emmarie Huetteman's viewpoint (The ried couple, an Church's silenced peacemaker, 02/15/2007), I would is determined b like to note that the Catholic League is not an offi- Were a straight cial arm of the Catholic Church, but rather simply home, where wt a lay organization. Also, the retirement age of bish- ships betweenr ops is set for a reason, and despite Bishop Thomas more points to t Gumbleton's claims of being forced out because of age anyone witt his social views, many bishops retire at that age to One could ea allow new shepherds to lord over the flock. We have couples and sin all heard Thomas Gumbleton's message, and we is wrong with will not forget it. Nothing is stopping him from con- we must simuli tinuing his campaign. A new bishop will only add to instances of a the dialogue, not take away from it. structure are nt Another piece I found even more disturbing is concerned w was Thursday's editorial about adoption (Adopting strive for perf equality, 02/15/2007). Of particular interest is the settle. following passage: "Not surprisingly, the voices of intolerance on the religious right, particularly the Daniel Phalen Michigan Catholic Conference, oppose (Rep. Paul) Rackham Condino's bill (to allow unmarried partners to jointly adopt children) because they claim unmar- o ried couples, especially same-sex ones, threaten 1omney the well-being of children by failingto provide 'tra- s ditional family structure.' These religious groups SOn fanj would rather have children run through the tur- bines of state-controlled foster care than live in a TO THE DAILY: loving, two-parent environment. And they claim Wednesday's to have the children's best interest at heart." Gov. Mitt Rom As one of those voices of intolerance, I would dential race wa like to defend myself. Catholics are typically not in seen ever seeni the business of choosing between the lesser of two launches bid for evils. One of Christianity's most famous cham- cle seemed to h pions, author C. S. Lewis would say that once we www.mittromne have done this, the devil has already won. Sure, critical perspec having a child in the state foster care is not an timely return. ideal situation. However, I would argue that adop- As a 22-year ective other than a married couple but wonder wl mal. I am sure that, as all Catho- has been all thi encies do, the Michigan Catholic the state's econ or of placing every child in a loving recent decades, se. Harvard and r e believe a child is not a social Massachusetts. hile no one doubts that a gay couple poverty, Mitt w, ild just as much as a straight/mar- the state was ru major part of a child's upbringing cuing the 2002, by the example set by the parents. While Michigan child to be raised in a gay couple's in hard times, A ould he learn about proper relation- sachusetts. Nov men and women? There are many "native son" - i his argument, and I would encour- because he nee( h questions to contact me. to give him mini asily point to all of the divorced The only pol ngle parents as examples of what state with any traditional marriage. However, tough years hav( taneously acknowledge that these reward our proc breakdown in traditional family looking for a ha ot acceptable. The Catholic Church ith ideals, and so we continually Andrew Smith ection. Problems arise when we LSA senior here our supposed "native son" s time. Here is a refresher: While omy has been steadily tanking in our boy Mitt was graduating from unning a consulting business in While many in this state sunk into as making millions out East. While nning a massive deficit he was res- winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. a was looking for strong leadership Mitt Romney was governing Mas- w Romney finally returns as our not because we need his help, but ds our votes. I, for one, don't plan e. liticians that have provided this strength and leadership in these e run blue and Iam notgoing red to digal son, who has finally returned ndout. school, I've suffered from consistently late regis- tration times. I've missed the chance to take class- es with talented professors because their lectures closed before I even had a chance to register. Unfortunately, the LSA-Student Government's projected reforms do not address this issue. They will only exacerbate the problem. The LSA-SG reforms will decrease the number of credit brack- ets to ensure that students with more credits get an earlier date than those who have fewer credits. In the old system, the bracket size was 15 credits, which means that students with 0-15 credits were lumped together and then assigned a time at ran- dom. A student with zero credits (no AP courses out of high school) could have had an earlier regis- tration time than a student with 15 credits (several AP courses). Now, the bracket will be smaller. In the new system, there's absolutely no chance that a student without any AP credits will register ahead of one who has some; such a student had a shot in the old system. Besides being a token ges- ture to upperclassmen, this change will only help privileged suburbanites and overachievers - not necessarily a bad thing, but certainly not a change. Assuredly, the only aspect of the registration over- haul that would help level the playing field for all students is the elimination of the "random loser phenomenon," a relic of the days of in-person paper registration. Murphy expresses such palpable excitement, remarking that LSA-SG deserved "tremendous credit for tackling this issue." Lest you think oth- erwise, LSA-SG is still working tirelessly to push for change - but only for peripheral issues. Credit brackets and putting median grades on the tran- script may occupy the bulk of LSA-SG's concerns, but its impact on the students at the University is minimal. I admit degree progress reports recently brought to Wolverine Access would have been a welcome change - if they were actually accurate, that is. Matthew Coakley LSA senior I 0 I tnworthy of native re in Michigan piece on former Massachusetts ney's decision to enter the presi- as one of the best fluff pieces I've in The Michigan Daily (Native son presidency, 02/14/2007). The arti- have been extracted directly from y.com. It completely lacked any tive on the presidential candidate's resident of Michigan, I can't help LSA-SG's registration date reform only exacerbates woes TO THE DAILY: In Matthew Murphy's letter to the editor on Tuesday (Registration bracket reform would level playing field, 12/13/2007), he expressed the belief that the "old system had the effect of creating a fast track into desirable classes for students who started college with a lot of Advanced Placement credit. Most such students are from wealthy sub- urbs. On the other hand, students from rural or urban schools that lack the resources to fund extensive AP programs end up at an academic dis- advantage from day one." That's excellently put. I too share Murphy's dis- taste for the registration date system. As a fourth year student who did not take AP courses in high