Letters to the Editors
Castro criticism
Dear Sirs,
How do you like anybody, let's say Mr Bush, 45 years as your 'president'? If your article and the implications of it is a sample of what Oxford produce as academic mental development, I have to admit that you have a peculiar sense of freedom and an even more peculiar way to develop your intelligence. I still think that a short trip to your Library will help all of you a lot.
Danny Rodriguez
Miami, Florida
Cycle of violence ends
Dear Sirs,
I would remind sympathisers that the late Yassir Arafat headed a terrorist organization and as president of the PLA supplied arms and cash to Al Aqsa Martyr's Brigade and Hamas, both of which are on the official US terrorist list and are responsible for countless suicide bombings.
Arafat was involved in hijackings and bombings over the years, including the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre. Though born in Cairo, he took on the cause of Palestinian liberation and led his people through suffering and violence for the past 40 years. His legacy is that of a dictator, not a liberator.
Arafat's insistence on diplomatic overtures and behind-the-scenes terrorism created chaos, destruction, and poverty for Palestinians.
In his death I see an opportunity to end the cycle of violence and bring both sides to the table. Arafat failed the people of Palestine.
We should reserve praise for heroes, not terrorists. It is alarming that these facts have been ignored by much of the media.
Jeffrey Snyder
Linacre College
H Weak argument
Dear Sirs,
I was interested to read your Leader in last week's Oxford Student. While there are valid points on both sides of the debate surrounding the position of VP for Women yours are not amongst them. Just because in this one election this position is unfilled does not mean that the role is no longer necessary. The gap in finals or women in graduate studies demonstrate that women are consistently under-represented and overlooked in this University.
This position has a strong history of contested elections. A single incidence of something is not a trend, nor conclusive evidence. This is a weakly strung together argument designed to mislead rather than provoke debate.
Rebecca Wilkinson
OUSU Vice President for Women
More support
Dear Sirs,
I am writing to express the views of my JCR regarding the Oxford Student journalists Patrick Foster and Roger Waite. We believe that there was no malice whatsoever in the actions they took and that they have done a great service to the University in highlighting the flaws in the security of its IT system.
Furthermore, the actions of the University constitute an attack on the freedom of the student press and its right to undertake investigative action in the interests of the student body. Finally, we believe that the punishment of the Court of Summary Jurisdiction was disproportionate in this case. As such, we have no faith in this Court.
Matt Jobber
JCR President, St Hugh's College
Abortion Issue
Dear Sirs,
Though not a direct supporter of the pro-life movement, I take issue with Rowenna Davis's article on abortion last week. The kind of counselling argued for is an embodiment of the pro-choice movement.
'Non-directive' counselling is pro-choice, as it emphasises the individual's choices.
The article criticises Life for "failing to market themselves as a directional counselling service." The counselling available fails to market itself as pro-choice.
Pro-choice supporters try to censor the pro-life movement in an extraordinary reversal of the nature that their name implies. In the name of tolerance and freedom, the pro-choice movement shows intolerance of pro-life organisations.
I agree with the article's desire for impartial and objective advice, however, to pretend that the counselling already offered is enough and to prevent organisations such as Life having their say is unfair on the women concerned, their unborn children and all the organisations involved.
David Goldsmith
St John's College
18th Nov 2004