Page 4 --The Michigan Daily -Wednesday, January 23, 1991 BIIE £tdnigan iBtulg EDITED AND MANAGED BY STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN 420 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 NOAH FINKEL Editor in Chief DAVID SCHWARTZ Opinion Editor Unsigned editorials represent a majority of the Daily's Editorial Board. All other cartoons, signed articles, and letters do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Daily. U' and the war Administration should promote student dialogue Z)y To TAE VA VAST OF Tr A 6 0-r --. U8 5 L '- 124,L 9E T K- apI A stte Ts4T 'goas -D T ? "AU RA A,Rsi r Aniwrru SAI states lwr oits gpgoals AS THE NATION BRACES ITSELF for a potentially long and drawn-out war in the Persian Gulf, the response from all segments of the University community - whatever their political orientation - has demonstrated tremendous concern for what is hap- pening in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the University administration's role toward the conflict has remained unde- fined. Though students both in favor of and against the war in the Gulf would probably desire the support of the Uni- versity in their efforts, the administra- tion would be remiss in its duties to all students by taking one side or the other, and could become a divisive force on campus. Instead, the University should ex- press its support for the activities of both movements in the coming months; their demonstrations, protests and teach-ins are all acceptable ways to deal with sentiments about the Gulf. As an educational institution, the Uni- versity can and should foster debate and discussion between the pro- and anti-war movements. The University - given its facili- ties, resources, and stated purpose - has a responsibility to help the com- munity explore some of the issues confronting students. It could devote those resources to promoting further teach-ins, establishing a film series, bringing in guest speakers and consid- ering a one-day moratorium on classes to highlight all three. As of yet, however, the University has remained aloof, hardly acknowl- edging the existence of the war. Al- though President Duderstadt and the Senate Advisory Committee on Uni- versity Affairs have issued a joint statement promoting "respectful de- bate" on the issue, the University has exhibited almost no concem in assuring that such debate take place. What little educational work has been done for the University commu- nity on the Gulf has taken place outside administrative auspices, thanks to the work of a small group of professors and students. Although the administra- tion has supported these activities in its rhetoric, it has stalled at the prospect of implementing similar projects on its own. If the entire University community is to learn from one another and pull together during this crisis, all its com- ponents - including the administration - must play their part in promoting intelligent discourse and positive learning experiences. Students and faculty have taken the initiative and begun developing such an environ- ment. Now, it is time for the University administration to do the same. Support our soldiers By Rochelle Davis and Paula Church This is in reaction to the misrepre-. sentation of Students Against United States Intervention in the Middle East (SAUSI) in the Michigan Daily, Ann Arbor News, and by various members of the University community in general. On Thursday Jan. 17, 1991 an emer- gency mass meeting organized by SAUSI was called in response to the re- cent outbreak of war in the Persian Gulf. Contrary to Daily reports, the agenda for this meeting was set by members of the coordinating committee of SAUSI and representatives of Ad Hoc Commit- tee of People of Color Against War in the Middle East and Racism at Home only, and did not involve the Anti-Impe- rialist Action Caucus or the Revolution- ary Workers League. The purpose of this meeting was to plan an action in opposition to the war. All individuals and organizations against the war and for a peaceful solu- tion were invited to attend and partici- pate in the planning. The meeting was not a forum for debate about U.S. in- volvement in the Middle East, and within that context, the meeting was run democratically. We wish to respond to misconcep- tions of the student body and faculty re- garding SAUSI: We do not support an Iraqi victory over U.S. troops. We do support a peace- ful resolution to the Middle East conflict with a goal of self-determination for all people. We condemn the Bush administra- tion for its racist and imperialist aggres- sion that places economic gain over human life. We do not believe U.S. The authors are members of the Students Against United States Intervention in the Middle East Coordinating Committee. troops are responsible for the administra- tion's inability to further explore a peaceful solution. U Demonstrating against the war is not an "anti-troop" activity; it is a pub- lic expression against U.S. intervention in the Middle East. We support our troops in the strongest way possible - we want to save their lives by bringing them home. Furthermore, to attribute the demoralization of Vietnam veterans to anti-war protesters not only belittles the horrors of war but ignores the govern- ment's neglect of Vietnam veterans when they returned home. Although many lives have already been lost in this unnecessary war, it is not too late to create a peaceful alternative. Unquestioned acquiescence to any leadership in peace or war can only lead to injustice. conditions that force a disproportionate number of people of color and poor peo- ple to serve in the U.S. armed forces. A war in the Gulf will have a particularly destructive impact upon these communi- ties. An end to anti-Arab racism, anti- Semitism, and all other forms of racism.* We condemn the prospect that Arab Americans will be interned in Louisiana and we call for the destruction of the camp built there for that purpose. Diminished U.S. dependence on Middle Eastern oil through conservation, more efficient energy use, and devel- Opposing war is fine, but DEMONSTRATIONS REMINISCENT of the Vietnam era are taking place across the country in response to the war in.the Persian Gulf. The large number of people involved in the anti- war movement increases each day, and ,his Saturday in Washington, D.C., more than 250,000 are expected to show their opposition to the war. While it is encouraging to see the anti-war movement garnering broad- based support, it is important that a clear distinction be made between laud- able anti-war sentiment and a discour- aging lack of support for the American troops deployed in the region. The best way to support our troops -- and their families here at home - would be to bring them home before massive casualties occur; this war has potential to continue for some time, and the lives of American soldiers are undoubtedly at risk. But it is imperative that the anti-war movement demon- strate its support for them no matter what happens. While maintaining fervent protest, we must keep in mind the importance of focusing that protest on the govern- ment of this country. It is the policy- makers in the White House, Congress and the Pentagon who are responsible for the ever-escalating conflict in the desert, not the soldiers who are fighting there. Our leaders are the driving force behind Operation Desert Storm, and anti-war activists should criticize these don't blame the troops politicians for carelessly tossing about the lives of American soldiers and Iraqi, Saudi and Israeli civilians. The blame for this war does not lie with the soldiers on the front lines. If anything, they are victims of the hawkish greed of our policy-makers, and deserve the support of the entire nation. In fact, many GIs do not sup- port the motives for U.S. involvement in this war, and given the choice would not be in the desert preparing to invade Kuwait. Others support the war. But none of the soldiers has a choice; they volunteered to serve their country in the armed forces, and are fulfilling the commitments they made to do so. Unfortunately, upon returning home from Vietnam, GIs were persecuted for honoring these commitments. U.S. soldiers faced hostile crowds blaming them for the atrocities that had taken place in Southeast Asia. These soldiers paid for American involvement on two fronts - in the jungles of Vietnam, and in the streets of their own country. Thus, as the voice of the anti-war movement intensifies, and more people join in the fight for peace, we must re- member the men and women who pay the ultimate price for this conflict, and demonstrate our respect for them. The American people made a grave error in their treatment of the soldiers returning from the Vietnam war, and should be wary not to repeat the mistake. We have not passed a resolution calling for a student strike although we do recognize the University's integral part in this unnecessary war. SAUSI was formed four months ago and has adopted the following as its statements of principle: Immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf. No permanent U.S. bases in the re- gion. g Diplomatic and peaceful settle- ment of all Middle East conflicts through an international peace confer- ence held under the auspices of the United Nations. An end to all military occupations and respect for the self-de- termination of the Kuwaitis, Palestini- ans, and all other people in the region. Supporting the needs of the poor and marginalized communities of the country by using our tax dollars and re- sources at home and not for war. We are against the economic and racist SOS condemns anti- war shanty destruction To the Daily: SOS, the newly-formed student group in Support of Our Soldiers, has seen and condemns the destruction of the SAUSI anti-war memorial wall. While we en- courage all citizens to band together in support of our servicemen and women in the gulf, we respect the right of all indi- viduals to express their opinions in whatever manner they see fit. It is our position that there is no place for vio- lence or violent destruction. We de- nounce the actions taken against our lo- cal ROTC officers, as well as those taken against the structures in the Diag. The United States Constitution de- mands that everyone be permitted to voice their ideas, particularly when those thoughts run contrary to govern- mental positions. We ask that all stu- dents on this campus respect each other's right to dissent, in order that we may create a unified homefront, not a bitter and divisive one. Support Our Sol- diers, but do not destroy what America stands for. Reg Goeke A--- irCn for me to find out. As I looked at the wall, I began noticing a number of Jewish symbols, such as a Menorah and a Star of David, had been included among the garbage strewn on the wall. As a Jew, I won- dered what the protesters were trying to say. Hadn't Saddam Hussein already done enough to hurt the Jewish People, without the help of these anti-war protesters? Was I, simply because of my Jewishness, somehow responsible for the fact that Saddam Hussein had invaded Kuwait? Or maybe the protesters were actually trying to help Saddam Hussein involve Israel in this conflict? I strongly believe in the right of ev- ery American to express their viewpoint, even if it means making this campus ugly by constructing a hideous wall on the Diag. But one thing is clear. The leaders of the anti-war movement on this campus are not humanitarians, and they don't give a damn about other peo- ple. If they did, the protesters would not have trampled on the fears, hopes, and feelings of this campus' Jewish commu- nity, or the fears, hopes, and feelings of the relatives of American servicemen. I only wish that Saddam Hussein opment of alternative energy sources. An end to arms sales and transfers to the region and a reversal of the arms build-up in the Middle East. An end to all military research at@ the University of Michigan. We call for the U.S.-led blockade of Iraq to allow the delivery of food and medicine to the people of Iraq. We will support military personnel who refuse to serve. We oppose the possible imple- mentation of a draft. Although many lives have already been lost in this unnecessary war, it is0 not too late to create a peaceful alterna- tive. Unquestioned acquiescence to any leadership in peace or war can only lead to injustice. If you believe that the con- flicts in the Middle East should be set- tled at the negotiating table rather than the battlefield, please consider our prin- ciples, and we invite you to join our cause. Take no public pride in your cowardly act. You have disgraced yourselves and the soldiers you support by resorting to an inarticulate grunt rather than engag- ing in open debate. You have shown your preference for demolition instead of democracy. Do you really believe the soldiers you support are defending your right to bully peaceful protest out of existence? Do you hope that such free expression will expire under the pressure of your barbaric intimidation? If you do, your ignorance speaks louder than your patri- otism, and your deed negates your "support." Eric Baumann Rackham graduate student Support our troops To the Daily: War in the Gulf has come, and now our responsibility is clear. Protests and cries for peace have lost their point and now we must do all we can to support the men and women we have stationed there. There is no doubt that most of the opposition to war in this nation lies in memories and feelings of our involve- ment in Vietnam. This hesitation is no __ __ _ _;_..