4 - Friday, April 10, 2009
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Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily's editorialboard. All other signed articles
and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors.
A photographic memory
Policy change shines light on the hidden cost of war
More than 5,000 soldiers have lost their lives in the
wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But for the last 18
years, the Pentagon has barred news outlets from
photographing the return of war dead. As a consequence of
this policy, the American people have been sheltered from
the fact that American men and women are dying. Thank-
fully, the Obama administration has decided to lift the ban
and allow photographs of the returning caskets, provided
that the family members of the deceased offer their consent.
This promising new policy treads the fine line between pro-
tecting military families and informing the public about the
true costs of war. Now it's up to the media to responsibly
report on the consequences of our foreign entanglements.
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During the first Gulf War in 1991, Presi-
dent George H.W. Bush banned news cov-
erage of returning war dead. This rule
remained until the Obama administration
lifted the ban in February. The new policy
permits journalists to photograph return-
ing war dead, but only with the consent of
the deceased soldiers' families. Last Sun-
day, the coffin of Air Force Staff Sgt. Phillip
Myers became the first to be photographed
under the new rules.
Although the old policy's stated purpose
was to shield military families from an
invasion of privacy during a time of grief, it
also shielded the American people from the
reality of our losses in foreign wars. Seeing
firsthand the caskets coming home helps
people to realize our presence in the Middle
East has consequences, and will hopefully
motivate voters to select the country's lead-
ership with these realities in mind. This
effect was certainly not lost on Bush when
he gave the order to prohibit such photo-
graphs in 1991. Since then, the lack of photos
in the news has helped to rev up support for
war and hide the very real cost of the wars
in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The most important effect of the new
policy is that it allows the media to more
accurately inform the public. The media
has a right and a responsibility to show the
American people the reality of the govern-
ment's actions. And a government policy
that prevents the media from fulfilling
this vital function is counter-intuitive in a
democracy supposedly based on open and
fair government.
But despite the importance of keeping the
public informed, it's understandable that
the administration's rules strive to protect
grieving families. These families have suf-
fered a tremendous loss, and they shouldn't
be forcibly subjected to additional hardship.
At the same time, the new policy is only an
improvement as long as requiring consent
doesn't become a form of de facto censor-
ship. If giving families a choice results in
another media ban, the policy would need
to be revisited. It's critical that the wars
in Iraq and Afghanistan be portrayed in a
comprehensive and accurate fashion.
Distorting reports to promote failed poli-
cies was a hallmark of both Bush adminis-
trations. But with a president in office who
seems to recognize the folly of America's
foreign policy and a populous motivated by
the visible cost of war, there is hope for a
quick end to these wars.
With City Council members
struggling to come to an
agreement on building
heights in down-
town Ann Arbor,
the split seems to
be between those
who feel that Ann
Arbor is plagued by
the threat of mono-
lithic skyscrapers
blotting out the
sun and those who BEN
feel that any oppo-
sition to develop- CALECA
ment projects is
economically unvi-
able. But city zoning projects such as
the Ann Arbor Discovering Down-
town (A2D2) proposal are more than
just about mixingpastoral livingwith
a vibrant downtown culture. The way
we design our cities has a massive
effect on cultural understanding and
on the health of both residents and
the environment.
Making urban growth viable for
smaller communities can be chal-
lenging, but the issues are anything
but new. In the 1916 New York build-
ing code, skyscrapers could only usea
certain percentage of their lot's space
as they climbed higher, and buildings
tapered inward to allow more light to
filter down to street level. Conserva-
tive solutions like that, along with
making sure buildings are spaced far
apart enough to allow light to filter
to the street, improve the pedestrian
quality of a downtown area. Beyond
that, investors shouldn't set up a gar-
gantuan tower in a small community
- having a local Tower of Babel isn't
going to win brownie points with the
local population.
Suburban sprawl in smaller com-
munities also promotes greater socio-
economic divide. Neighborhoods
that are driving distance away from
each other are prone to segregation
along socioeconomic, racial or cul-
tural lines. When inadequate hous-
ing is available near city centers, the
poorest people are often forced to
live farther toward the outskirts of a
community, facing longer and more
expensive commutes. Building up in
city centers creates more affordable
housing, gives people the opportu-
nity to be within sight of a variety of
different backgrounds and promotes
a culture of understanding and a
unique local culture. Those who long
for backyards and quiet can still have
those things - at the cost of direct
access to the downtown area. But it
becomes a choice, not a necessity.
Multi-story apartments of mod-
est size located close to most conve-
niences can significantly reduce the
car culture because they promote
biking and walking as primary means
of transportation. These might seem
like simple energy reduction argu-
ments, but they also affect the health
of residents. Encouraging walking
and biking around town improves
air quality and gives residents more
exercise than communities that
require car or bus travel. Physical
health improves with more exercise
and better air quality, which subse-
quently lowers healthcare and insur-
ance costs. More pedestrians also
reduce safety risks for those going
out alone at night.
In an urban community, green
design can enhance the well-being
of citizens by making indoor spaces
more livable. Better lighting and use
ofspace in residential andcommercial
buildings promotes greater produc-
tivity and mental health. Apartment
living with well-designed buildings
also cuts down on water, electrical
consumption, lighting and cooling
costs. Besides lower water consump-
tion from lawns, apartments with
more efficient climate control and
insulation save considerable energy. 0
By ensuring that there is ample green
space within walking distance of
urban areas, there is a quality of life
and sense of community.
The benefits
of building up
are limitless.
Ann Arbor and cities around the
country have struggled to strike a
balance between established commu-
nities and future downtown growth.
With concerns over quality of life
and environmental impact growing,
cities should be more accepting of
urban development. While ostenta-
tious skyscrapers are probably not
the answer for smaller cities, 18- and
20-story buildings are a modest addi-
tion to urban communities and pro-
mote closer communities.
A developer looking to build up
in the heart of cities like Ann Arbor
should work with the City Council to
determine what fits the population's.
demands the best. But limitations on
maximum height are a disservice to
the city as a whole. No one should
expect a downtown area to turn
into Manhattan overnight. Changes
generally take a lot of time - even
more so under economic conditions
like the ones we face right now. Ann
Arbor will only become a metropolis
if its population fights to create that
reality.
- Ben Caleca can be reached
at calecab@umich.edu.
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS:
Nina Amilineni, Emad Ansari, Emily Barton, Elise Baun, Harun Buljina, Ben Caleca,
Satyajeet Deshmukh, Brian Flaherty, Emmarie Huetteman, Emma Jeszke,
Sutha K Kanagasingam, Shannon Kellman, Jeremy Levy, Erika Mayer, Edward McPhee,
Matthew Shutler, Neil Tambe, Radhika Upadhyaya, Rachel Van Gilder, Laura Veith
SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU .
Patsy misrepresents issues Research on cannabis could
regarding radio and TV offer new cancer treatments
The Daily is looking for a diverse group of strong, informed writers to be columnists
during the spring and summer semesters. Columnists write 750 words
on a topic of their choice every other week.
E-MAIL RACHEL VAN GILDER AT RACHELVG@UMICH.EDU FOR MORE INFORMATION.
conversation about race
0
TO THE DAILY:
Vincent Patsy's latest column is another in
an increasingly long line of - frankly - garbage
(Switching thefrequency, 04/07/2009).
Of course I understand the importance of free
press and the practice thereof. In fact, I applaud
Patsy for using the tools available to him to
share his opinions. I simply wish he or someone
else would read those opinions before troubling
the general public with them.
The beauty of this particular column is that it
practically defeats itself. Patsy explicitly defines
the difference between land and capital, and
then proceeds to compare radio and television
waves to a copper mine. Even in the loosest
terms, broadcast waves are no more property as
part of land than an airplane is flying overhead.
As Patsy put it, "capital is the stuff put on to that
space." Radio and television waves are gener-
ated. They do not exist like natural resources.
The "strict" economic arguments fall through
by definition.
As for the argument that parents would make
better mediators than the federal government
- look around. Parents already can't moni-
tor everything their children are exposed to
in today's digital age - how many "To Catch a
Predator" specials do we need to see? How many
kids need to disappear after agreeing to meet
someone they met online? This is not the fault
of radio or television. But it certainly is not per-
fectly defended by parental supervision, either.
The idea of freeing the airwaves from gov-
ernment control is as old as the airwaves them-
selves. The arguments expressed by Patsy are
interesting, to say the least. ButI had hoped that
the right to free thought would have been exer-
cised as liberally as the right to free speech.
Michael Howley
LSA sophomore
TOTHE DAILY:
Jason Mahakian's latest comic is the height
of irony and exemplifies the smug but ignorant
mentality of many in the University community
(Thegreatergood, 04/06/2009).
In it, a "bright" young woman addresses an
archetypal stoner. "We're raising money for
cancer! What are you guys doing?" "Ummm...
smokin' weed, man," the Hash Bash-attending
burnout sheepishly answers. A question to the
reader is posed: "One day, one campus. Two great
causes?" The implication is that legalizingcanna-
bis is frivolous in comparison to fund-raising for
cancer. Nothingcould be further from the truth.
It has been known to science since at least the
early '70s that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is
an extraordinarily powerful anti-tumor agent.
Recent research has confirmed this by finding
that THC injected directly into rat brains shrinks
brain tumors. Anecdotal evidence suggests that
ingesting cannabis oil can reverse even advanced
cancer, as seen in the documentary "Run From
the Cure: The Rick Simpson Story."
Clearly, cannabis is among the most promising
cancer therapies in the world. Unless the Ameri-
can Cancer Society is workingto legalize medical
cannabis and educating people about the power
of THC to reduce tumors, they are probably pre-
venting patients from getting a highly effective,
non-toxic therapy.
Does the young lady in the comic become an
unwitting dupe of those who would suppress
natural cancer treatments? Does our stoner
friend unknowingly represent the vanguard of
the search for a cure? Wipe that smirk off your
face and stop rolling your eyes long enough to
research the science of cannabis as medicine and
find out for yourself.
Kyle Stupple
Staff
J 's not easy to write a col-
umn about race relations, as
they directly concern blacks
and whites, even
though the Uni-
versity audience
consists of mostly
white students.
Any ongoing, for-
ward-thinking
conversation about
racial taboos in -
society will uncov- MATTHEW
er squeamish
responses. HUNTER
How comfort-
able are we with
talking about race? How comfortable
are we with the word "reparations" -
let alone any real conversation about
reparation policy - and with the
word "slavery"? Would we honestly
account for our personal opinions
about race relations in a public space?
The answers to these questions pro-
vide insight into the role race plays
on the surface. But instead, racial
dialogue is often watered-down or
held in spaces where anonymity can
be guaranteed (i.e., online comment
forums).
I am certainlynotalways complete-
ly forward. I have strategically edited
out certain emotional responses or
"radical" suggestions for change.
Some might think, for example, that
a proposal for a $4 trillion stimu-
lus package for black community
rebuilding is a bit much, but often it
takes dramatic efforts to account for
dramatic disparities, like consistently
lower-quality education at predomi-
nately black schools. But rather than
trying to satisfy both sides - either
those who ignore race-talk or those
who, like me, bask in racial liberation
glory - it's more important that these
conversations thrive.
An active attempt must be made
to confront the challenges of speak-
ing about racial issues in public. For
the most part, it seems whites have
a harder time talking about race.
Whites are comparatively silent on
racial issues. Though many blacks
seem more vocal about race, there
are blacks that are quiet about race or
have deemed that racial barriers have
been overcome. If we compare these
groups in the context of life experi-
ence and privilege, some truths are
made apparent.
Many blacks live with oppressive
forces every day. Blacks sometimes
face concern when driving in seclud-
ed white rural areas of America or
fear racially motivated police brutal-
ity. And some blacks have to worry
if a noose will be hung for them in a
high school courtyard. It was fear
that motivated the group of black
teenagers called the Jena Six who
were charged with beating Justin
Baker. The Jena Six were angry after
Baker and his friends hung a noose
for black students after previous vio-
lent conflicts. In contrast to blacks,
many whites can go a longtime with-
out considering what it's like to be
oppressed. It's as if silence is a result
of privilege.
Perhaps this can be applied to
silent blacks as well. It seems there
are two "types" of blacks that pre-
dominate the silent scene. However
rare the population of ultra-conser-
vative blacks is, it remains a dominant
influence in politics and the media.
Clarence Thomas and Ward Conner-
ly appropriately represent a white-
endorsed force against progressive
racial dialogue in their consistent
opposition to affirmative action. But
the fact that they are black provides
them little support from blacks -
rather, they are used as leverage for
racial conservatives to cite "excep-
tional blacks".
There are also blacks that choose to
be silent in professional spaces. These
are spaces where the consequences of
speaking out on racial issues leads to
being made an outcast by white co-
workers who are less concerned with
one's racial struggles. When delving
only briefly into the history of blacks
that were or are racially outspoken,
it becomes apparent that they were
either killed off (like Martin Luther
King and Malcolm X) or they were
utterly discredited as racial radicals
(like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson).
Even President Barack Obama can't
actively speak out on these issues. He
was given space for one "race speech"
in response to growing racial con-
cerns and criticisms.
While the above arguments are
simple observations for me, I admit
that they may not be objective. But
one thing we can all see is that racial
barriers, still exist. And instead of
Forward-thinking
dialogue is needed
in a post-racial era.
confronting these issues, we often
turn the other cheek. This is not to
say that white people should suddenly
spew racial opinions loosely to a pre-
dominately black audience. There are
more practical solutions, but I under-
stand they may not be easy.
If black people do complain in pub-
lic space, begin by trying to under-
stand their frustration rather than
by discrediting them. Go to an edu-
cational forum on people of color and
domesticviolence or crime disparities
in the black community. Go talk to
an elderly black woman whose home
has been Detroit for 60 years. Learn
about a different racial perspective
than your own. Let us not be a part
of a post-racial era that has become
comfortable with racial silence but
rather an era that is fueled with con-
versations of greater racial under-
standing.
- Matthew Hunter can be
reached at majjam@umich.edu.
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