Monday, July 24, 2000 - The Michigan Daily - 5 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Criticism of *two parties warranted TO THE DAILY: In his July 17th column ("Voting with your heart ver- sus voting with your brain"), Peter CUnniffe makes at least *hree good points: that both the Republican and Democratic parties contain a spectrum of individuals and positions, that a single issue does not completely define most political parties and that the constitutionally estab- lished election framework tends to devolve into a two- party system. It's a shame that after making these reasonable statements that he chooses to use oversimplification to attempt to discredit criticism of the established two-party hegemony and to dissuade people from acting in a way which can inject new life into the political debate. Are thse Republican and Democrat parties identical on everything? Of course not. They are, however, frighten- ingly similar on a variety of issues and in the aggregate in their actions (while individual members may dissent). Trade policy. foreign relations, cor- porate subsidies, genuine campaign finance reform. and environmental protection are just a few. By progressive groups banding together with a third *political candidate, such as Ralph Nader, we're showing that these issues are important to us, and that we do not find the very similar recent track records of either party, in the aggregate. to provide an acceptable choice. KENNETH YOUNG STUDENT SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK Democrats wrong for activists TO THE DAILY: - Peter Cunniffe is wrong about what those involved in the leftward "resurgence of social activism" should con- sider when looking at the two major political parties. Certainly there are differences between the Democrats and Republicans but that doesn't mean that either party repre- sents what these activists want. In fact, the nearly eight years of Clinton have shown quite logically that the way for the left to get its ideas consid- ered is not by electing a pro- death penalty, pro-militariza- tion of the police, pro-war and sanctions president who val- ues the rights of capital over those of workers the world over and whose judicial appointees have a relatively conservative record. Rather it takes hard work and persistent activism which often means going up against liberals like Clinton, Gore and the UM administration. Furthermore, how is the left to gain support by tying itself to the liberal end of the Democratic Party? Ctnniffe himself points out and is sup- ported by a number of public opinion polls, that only a small percentage of the peo- ple in this country call them- selves liberals. This doesn't mean that the majority of peo- ple have rejected leftism, as there has been no significant "left" worthy of thaf ame for many years. What it does say is that that most people reject the inherently lukewarm nature of liberalism. None of this is to say that Ralph Nader is a perfect can- didate or even necessarily deserves the support of the left. But he is right that yout can't spoil what is already spoiled. MICAH HOLMQUIST LSA STUDENT Alumni 'M illionaire' not news TO THE DAILY: Last weeks lead story, headlined "Alum wins 51 mil. on TV game show," shows a sad entrenchment in phenom- enology. ABC - a division of Disney - has successfully turned a (somewhat degener- ate and abecedarian) televi- sion quiz show into one of the most reported news stories of the summer. The media has thus become a principal sub- ject of the media, at the expense of substantive news. The Daily's reinforcement of this marketing device shows an utter lack of respect for the readers, as well as par- ticularly imprudent decision making in terms of choosing what qualifies as news. The Daily should stick to doing what it can do best - reporting campus and local news. Goodmans alumni sta- tus is not enough tojustify the placement of this 'story' above all else, with a photo- graph of a television, no less, to remind us of what we are talking about. ANDREW LURIE LSA SENIOR Ending my love affair with Lady Nicotine I ve convinced myself that writ- the likes of Phillip Morris. Or I lighting t ing this column will be difficult. was the smoking man from The X- my concr Not because of time constraints or Files. I could nod nonchalantly and prefer, m3 brain failure (although, like Joan exhale a caustic cloud of smoke These Diddion, I sometimes sit down to instead of ing my p write and the words don't come, so offering some into conv I imagine that I've somehow suf- kind of friend- ;I f like the s fered a small stroke or inhaled too ly advice or page in many pesticides, however falla- editorial reply. Merit-sm ciouwor misplaced these anxieties And, yes, life as br are in reality). No, I seem to think let's not forget ., board. T I'll have a hard time because I usu- the rhetoric. were dr ally run away from a half-filled I'd get because page at least once every half-hour angry: "I'm addiction to rekindle the divine fire. not going to I event Actually, it isn't that dramatic: I open myself JOSH babbling just sneak off to smoke cigarettes. up to a hoity- WICKERHAM Leonard, And since quitting, I've developed toity puritani- tater at 7 a case of smoker's nostalgia. cal health smoking With cigarettes, could run for a campaign! When ar few minutes solace from term Take your you sure papers, stressfitl classes or newspa- mounting panoply of cancer stats spare ch per deadlines. Smoking always and peddle them to someone who. you offer provided a new perspective. Five isn't currently supporting a num- sees the minutes of swimming in nicotine ber of tobacco companies!" an attack euphoria always led to me to some I'd get defensive: "Maybe I'm I knov kind of epiphany. Those cancer braver than you, more foolhardy, a any of it. sticks offered much-needed stabili- little wasteful, somewhat insecure, blowing ty. able to justify the cost - or maybe for smok Smoking was an image, like a I'm just choking down the only But then carcinogenic veneer of manliness thing that gives me a grip!" a crutch or some such msalarkey pushed by I'd quote Sartre: "It is otnly in Trth I his cigarette that I realize ete possibilities, or, if you y desire to smoke." mechanisms for defend- oor plant ally would pop ersation without warning, Marlboro Man on the next Rolling Stone or those oking go-getters enjoying omide on a freeway bill- be smokers' faux truisms illed into my routine of my need to justify the n. took faith in the excessive of literary critics. John a former book regurgi- The New York Times says is a form of socialism. pedestrian bums a smoke, as hell don't ask for his ange to cover the cost - him a cigarette. Leonard fight against smoking as on the leftist agenda. , it's hardly reasonable, These arguments are just smoke. Any justification king is just as ludicrous. , tobacco has always been for the iconoclast. be told, in the year and a half that I smoked, I could notcry, even once. Whether this was a real physical side effect or just a psy- chological blockade enabled by my love-hate relationship with tobacco as some kind of emotion-blocking placebo, what kind of companion denies her comrade the right to his emotions? No friend of mine. But I somehow miss my old ally. I miss her as a junkie misses his heroin. My ailing lung cells still call out for the plant that kills a third of its acquaintances. Big Tobacco's weapons, the heavily marketed, nicotine-laced addiction sticks are mighty foes, but they can be bested with willpower, nicotine patches, gum and smoking cessation classes (I hope). And I - always one step away from a pitiful nicotine fit, but no longer a segregated pariah - have authored a tell-all story like some sobbing grandparent, recant- ing to anyone and everyone who will listen. So listen: it's not worth it. -Josh 1ickerham still loves Marv Jane and can be reached at jwickerh jcumich.edu. Art Fair: Its all about the Benjamins tGfhose locals who don't like the art fair are a bunch of curmudgeons," I heard someone say the other day. Now don't get me wrong. I have been called many things - to specify, many unflattering things- in my lifetime. But few times have I had to resort to a dictionary. After dusting off ye olde Webster's, I was able to decipher what this person, comically bereft of colloquialism, was getting at. I am a grouch, a spoil-sport, because the Ann Arbor Art Fair, the jewel in Culture Town's crown, does not inspire goose bumps and pangs of pride every time I make my way through the cattle-pens that are State, Liberty and Main streets. Far be it from me to poo-poo Ann Arbor's end-of-July junket, but as one who resides within the city's one-way confines, this col- umn space seems appropriate enough to address a few miscon- ceptions about this city's other defining staple. The Art Fair is often perceived as a sort of flea-market festival that can be found in any Michigan town from here to Marquette dur- ing the summer, except much more souped-up. Instead of cheap jewelry and . bitchin' airbrushed shirts, we get expensive art and designer wear. Undeniably, the art is good - so good, in fact, that the price range on most of it far exceeds anything a poor student could hope to afford. There was one colorful piece in particular which caught my eye until I got close enough to read the S200-price tag. Oh. Guess that old ripped Taxi Driver poster will have to do for one more year in the liv- ing room. Enter the yuppies. Their raging appetites for main street restau- rants and impulse buying keep the fair fueled year after year. Not to bash our parents, but the youthful exuberance always so closely asso- ciated with Ann Arbor is not wel- comed here. For the y majority of the summer student popu- lation, the more appro- priate title is RYAN "Ann Arbor: MOLONEY outdoor artA museum." Too often art, in all of its expansive genres, is viewed as one of the frills of good is money. To begin with, a true artist decides to live life in direct con- flict with the so-called "delegative elite" in order to live out his true- life destiny. As he sees it, to create for himself. No wonder a J.D. Salinger chooses life in seclusion - he's already laid out all the cards right in front of us. It's in the pages and in the work that he defines himself. What a deep connection berspen the artist and his tangible visi'dn. And yet, most of the artists sat there last week, sandwiched in between each other as cell phone- totin,' polo-wearin' boomers casu- ally strolled past with an occasion- al wavering glance. This is the cul- mination of all that creation? A bourgeoisie meat market? The art should fit within every- one's means. Simply selling a piece of yourself to those with the most money, that's - well, I don't want to say what that is. Let's be clear; this is a business ventre on the part of most of those involved. Why pass it off as anything but? Perhaps the best advertising in this day and age consists of using false pretenses. These days, the type of culture you get to enjoy - like watches or cars - depends on how much you can spend. I did make a purchase at this year's fair. I bought a Stone Cold Steve Austin shirt - middle fin- ger and all - on sale for $3.81. Well, that's all the culture I need; or all I can afford anyway. - Rvan Molonev can be reached via e-mail at rmolonet'@umieh.edu. living, or 'justification for educa- tion,' if you vill. Because many of us think "brains e q u a ls bucks,' the financially select are seen as the only ones who can fully appreci- ate the com- plexities of a masterpiece; the rest of us look at a pic- ture and say. "I like the colors and stuff." As with every- thing else, the issue here IAN BANE D;'' I SLEE S:.. .u v A fd - . : "1L x .. ../.r wnwt .