LETTER TO THE EDITOR " Reader feels like own can of spray paint. BEN JULIAN adding to discourse Alumnus by Daily building Lucky Charms inspires artistry The Michigan Daily - Monday, July 26, 2004 - 5 'Let the word go forth"...' SUHAEL MOMIN AN A]TERNAI5VE SPIN TO THE DAILY: Thank you for promoting the permanent defacement of our beautiful city and campus in the name of "art" (Good Marks, 7/19/04). With as many opportu- nities for legitimate political and artistic expression as we are lucky to have in Ann Arbor, the city does not need to look to vandalism to safeguard its "cul- tural vitality." We are, after all, in the middle of a city-wide art fair - with an entire block devoted to civic outreach. The next time our local sten- cil graffiti vandal chooses to "play a role in making Ann Arbor an artistically and cultur- ally diverse, tolerant city," I hope it is on the surfaces of 420 May- nard Street. I relish the chance to partake in a welcome act of "interactive art" and "argumen- tative discourse" on the property of The Michigan Daily with my TO THE DAILY: I wanted to express my whole- hearted agreement with the Daily's editorial in defense of stenciling graffiti on public property (Good Marks, 7/19/04). As the Daily wrote, "Many disapprove of stencil graffiti because of such overtly political statements made on our public side- walks. The beauty of graffiti is that if someone dislikes the message, that person is welcome to make his or her own mark." Indeed. I heartily encourage Christians to get out their cross stencils, Muslims their cres- cents, Republicans their elephants, Democrats their donkeys, capitalists their dollar-bill signs, Nazis their swastikas and Communists their hammer-and-sickles. I'm sure that every esthete in town will appreciate having a sidewalk that looks like a bowl of Lucky Charms. JUSTIN SHUBOw Alumnus When I was in Wash- wgton last week, one of the last things I saw was the Kennedy flame at Arlington National Cemetery. The flame is merely a flame, minor in comparison to the grand monuments, which serve as a testament to the lega- cy of those who have served and sacri- ficed for this country and its vision at home and abroad. Nonetheless, it was a row of quotations inscribed opposite the flame that I found most moving. One, specifically, stuck with me: Now the trumpet summons us again - not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are - but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight strug- gle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation" - a strug- gle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease and war itself. Taken from Kennedy's inaugural address, this line eloquently symbol- izes an idealistic and noble internation- al agenda, far more uplifting and inspirational than anything currently coming out of Washington. Today, the neoconservative revolution has bred an ideology that embraces similar end goals, but advocates militaristic means. The Bush Doctrine, in stark contrast to anything preceding it, actively embraces the idea of preemption, an unprecedented step for any nation in the modern era. What is needed is a renewal of the Kennedy spirit - an international opti- mism that seeks to use America's posi- tion and power to foster cooperation, strong multidimensional alliances and a global consensus on the virtues of freedom, liberty and democracy. The neoconservative policy emanating from Washington in untenable and unsafe, while the alternative - withdrawal from international affairs - will let pass this opportunity to fundamentally alter the dynamics of this world. Neoconservatives have some of it right - this is a unipolar world, and the spread of the economic, social and political freedom is an inherently wor- thy goal. However, militarism is not the vehicle for this change. Global aggres- sion - the liberal use of military power to topple unfriendly govern- ments - will only breed resentment and alienate allies. While the use of force may vanquish enemies, it will not create friends. The American position in the world will be literally enforced; other nations will not respect our ideals or our vision. They will fear our ten- dency to exterminate unfriendly gov- ernments. The current challenge facing Amer- ica - terrorism - will not be wholly overcome by force. Terrorism is not an entity, it is a strategy. Generally, it is not employed by states, but by rogue individuals and fringe elements. The discontent, which fuels terrorism, can- not be targeted by a cruise missile or bombed out of existence. While the war on terror has a legitimate military component, it can only be truly won by addressing the root cause. This cannot be done through the military; overt aggression will only exacerbate the problem. Instead, a war of ideas must be waged. America must form a new coalition of the willing - willing not to march to war, but rather willing to educate and uplift those most at risk of alienation. In the words of a former five-star general and president, "Though force can protect in emer- gency, only justice, fairness, considera- tion and cooperation can finally lead men to the dawn of eternal peace." While the common enemies of man persist to this day, America now has more power than ever to fight them. Through alliances rooted in common ideologies, outreach aimed at countering radicalism and economic development initiatives, which encourage advancement, the Kennedy vision can be fulfilled. A return to liberal internationalism, which encour- ages the international community to unite in the defense of freedom and liberty, is needed. Momin can be reached at smomin@umich.edu. Orientation homesick blues ELLIOTT MALLEN IRRTiONAl EXUBERANCE LETTERS POLICY The Michigan Daily welcomes letters from all of its readers. Letters from University students, 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 accord- ing to order received and the amount of space available. Letters should be sent through e-mail to tothedaily@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. SAM BUTLER 'I H. 'iOAttOX B A-lw'so Ovi 0eC~ Cords, Co , Fell4)emNATIONAL " "> EAGUE . 6 Freshman Orien- tation is an experience we'd all surely love to for- get. Living for three days in a room with two people I'll proba- bly never see again, going on a long and arduous campus tour for the eighth time and getting up at seven in the morning so that I can learn how to use the library are all parts of my life I'd prefer to block out. However, it is impossi- ble to do so with swarms of the yellow- folder-toting youth roving around Ann Arbor all summer. Orientation does noth- ing to actually orient one to real college life, and at best serves as a surreal escape from anything resembling reality. Orientees are always easy to pick out. By day, they're distinguishable by their signature brightly-colored name tags. By night, they're the only people traipsing about Ann Arbor in groups of 17. These kids are afraid to do anything alone. They are told right away that the focus of orien- tation is to make new friends by any means necessary. The result is the forma- tion of massive groups of incoming fresh- men that have known one another for only a couple hours. They all understand that traveling in groups of less than five or (God forbid) alone will result in being a social outcast throughout the entire four- year college stint. Being in these groups does little to yield actual friendships, let alone any kind of meaningful conversa- tion. The orientees latch onto one another, hoping that safety in numbers will protect them from becoming pariahs at age 18. I'm under the impression that many incoming freshmen lack the practical skills needed if one is to live somewhat indepen- dently of one's parents. For example, I work at the deli bar in the cafeteria of East Quad, where orientation kids stay. This bar contains all kinds of delicious sandwich ingredients. However, it is strictly forbid- den to use these ingredients on hamburg- ers, as there are hamburger toppings in the dining room and a sign explicitly stating just that right in front of the deli bar. I strategically placed this sign directly in front of the ingredients, blocking them from those who would dare use them on their hamburgers. This was apparently too much to handle. One girl read the sign carefully, gazed longingly at the forbidden sliced cheese behind it, then woefully at her cheeseless hamburger, then at the cheese again, then at the sign. She consulted another girl as to what course of action she should take. This girl then read the sign, looked at the cheese, looked at her burger, back to the cheese, back to the sign. A third girl did the same. Somewhere in the dis- tance, a cell phone rang. The three finally decided that the most reasonable thing to do would be to move the sign out of the way in order to take the cheese. These are the future leaders of the free world. Orientees seize the Diag at night, as it is the only Ann Arbor landmark they are even remotely familiar with. It is a place that defines college, and they'll be damned if they don't squeeze as much college into their three days here as they can. A com- mon fixture on the Diag at night is a young male orientee with an acoustic guitar sur- rounded by his 17 person cluster. The girls fawn over his off-key renditions of Goo Goo Dolls and Dave Matthews songs, occasionally trying to sing along when their swooning subsides enough. This is what college is: sensitive boys with acoustic guitars playing heartfelt covers under the shadows of ridiculously aristo- cratic buildings. He's the type of guy who will one day be the frat brother whose hair is a little bit longer and a bit more tousled (deliberately and painstakingly tousled, but tousled nonetheless), who has Bob Marley posters on his wall, who unbuttons his polo shirt an extra button, who occasionally smokes the cheapest weed he can find in order to maintain his rebellious image. "He's different from the others, the naive girls will say. "He likes Phish." This specta- cle on the Diag does not last, however, as the musician's repertoire is exhausted after five songs. Orientation gives a false impression of college life to a group of kids still deeply rooted in high school. Nobody starts col- lege in the fall prepared for anything except being registered for a few 100-level classes they didn't really want to take in the first place. Orientation is a bizarre limbo somewhere between high school and the imaginary, unattainable ideal of college life. The rough descent back into reality comes in the fall. Mallen can be reachedat emmallen@umich.edu.