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Page 9 • Monday, March 1,2004
Rushing the issue
mdent Bush's deadline for Iraqi sovereignty comes too early to succeed
NICHOLAS
DAVIS
Bis decision is not only premature, but dangerous.
First,the United States has already fallen behind schedule in
hit the groundwork for the transitional government because
jj,officials pompously presumed the Iraqis would embrace a
lojwj pmticgovernment wath open arms. To the officials’ surprise,
al number of Iraqis view the idea of implementing
ariisesunacceptable. In fact, many Iraqi politicians are hostile
tie idea.
His opposition has dumbfounded U.S. officials. After all, it is
lialthatthe Iraqis view their government as legitimate, or sta
ll; m the region will become a figment of the imagination,
havem ^^ere the ideal method of choosing leaders for the
ve m ittigovernment, but now many officials remain scratching
iiirtieadsstrenuously trying to conjure up another method to
id the dead line.
Stcondly, it’s nearly impossible to establish the sense of
|nty and trust that is vital to a democratic electoral system
nkbombings occur daily. U.S. News and World Report
njcttetTWhen bombs are exploding killing 50 people per day,
iiiatkratough sell to announce where 500 to 1,000 polling
Uitts will be. 1 ’
hooetheless. obtaining cooperation among the religious sects
dfiinic factions appears to be the real threat to the future
hji government.
Fonnstance. intense debate is transpiring between Islamic
li secular Iraq is over religion in the constitution. Islamic
to establishing Islam as the official religion of Iraq, while
ksecularists oppose it. Whatever the decision is. no one will
ly satisfied.
hi country where factions distrust each other even more
tathel'i. officials, equal leadership and representation with-
hthcngovernment are critical for stability. Of course, there
isiocasoay to resolve this dilemma. The Kurds have pro
posed a presidency consisting of a three-leader figure represent
ing each of the main factions. But the Shiites, being the majori
ty, desire a single presidency because odds are one of their kind
will be elected.
Americans cannot relate to this predicament. When was
the last time vehement debate transpired over a president’s
religious affiliation? Most Americans could arguably care
less, and even if some did disagree with a president’s reli
gion, they would be able to overlook it.
This is not the case in Iraq. If just one of these factions
suspect they are being shortchanged they may refuse
to recognize the interim government. And this trans
lates into one thing: chaos.
It can take year.s if not decades, to cultivate a cul
ture within a country that is conducive to a democratic
system, especially in Iraq, where the population is used
to a dictator.
What happens if sovereignty is returned and the fac
tions refuse to cooperate on one of the many controversial
issues? The whole country could fall apart, possibly creating
a power vacuum for some savvy person or group to seize con
trol with our soldiers stuck in the middle.
Nevertheless, President Bush remains unwavering on meeting
his deadline, which is not only foolish, but plausibly politically
motivated.
It’s doubtful that Bush is pushing for the swift transfer of sov
ereignty because he truly believes the Iraqi people are ready to
govern themselves. Most likely, his motivation revolves around
taking the spot light off of a controversial war to create a facade
that everything is improving and that American soldiers are get
ting closer to coming home.
Such an action is not only shortsighted, but dangerous to both
the Iraqi people and our soldiers who will be responsible for con
trolling any conflicts that arise. Bush must realize the United
States will face tremendous consequences if a democratic system
established in haste fails.
Nicholas Davis is a senior
political science major.
Graphic by Rylie Deyoe.
( R1 A IT A
1)1 M(X. RACY
SI NDAY
DAY OUT
M\J white scholarship conveys racial ignorance
ether a comfort or
a reason for alarm,
diversity supporters
aware that Texas
il is not the only school
Toccaij Imjmedia attention for
i just ft liative action protests,
tliis month, the
C%Republicans at Roger
is University in
I,R.I.,created a “White
” to protest affirmative action
iy similar awards given to people of
it is well within their rights to cre-
ttsucli a scholarship, it has been done in poor
iTooW ^ Jll( ' evi( ' ences a pathetic understanding of
^ “ipurposes of race-based scholarships and
iiilive action.
Despite what many opponents of affirmative
Souwouldhave everyone believe, America is
nex ( p| 5i far from the days when racism and other
t/ednesd hsofprejudice do not exist. The days of seg-
pottand violence toward minorities are still
in the recent memories of most
hetican citizens. They are things that cannot
Examples of prejudicial behavior aren’t hard
Id Recently, a METRO police officer in
iton was discharged after verbally assaulting
lEtliiopian taxicab driver on Feb. 9. According
to Click2Houston.com, the officer, whose com
ments were recorded on tape, said things such
as, “Let me tell you something (expletive); we
don’t need your kind. You need to go back to
your country.” Unquestionably, racism (and
extreme nationalism)
influenced the officer’s
comments.
The fact remains that
America hasn't recovered
from the injustices com
mitted before and during
the civil rights move
ment. Blacks, Hispanics,
Asians and other minori
ties are still discriminated
against. Some are still
living in poverty and
poor conditions and are
barely surviving on
minimum-wage jobs. For many of these people,
their goal is to survive, not to succeed. Often,
the only opportunities they have to break free
from this generational poverty are through
race-based scholarships and affirmative action
programs. The White Scholarship Award mocks
their plight.
The RWU College Republicans are missing
the point with this scholarship. The reason
such scholarships are considered racist while
other race-based scholarships are not is
4 ^The days of segregation and
violence toward minorities are
still embedded in the recent
memories of most American
citizens. They are things that
cannot be forgotten.
twofold. First, there is a deadly and painful
hisTorttfal connotation to the phrase “whites-
bnly.” To many, this conjures up images of
segregation. Memories of violence such as the
Watts Riots (both in 1965 and 1992) create
even more pain, even for
those not directly
involved. Thus the schol
arships appear to be
extremely regressive.
Secondly, whites have
always been dominant in
colleges; whether the
RWU College
Republicans intend to,
they are perpetuating
this dominance by
protesting the means in
which minorities are
given the opportunity to
attend college.
The scholarship was RWU student Jason
Mattera’s idea. Ironically Mattera, who is
Puerto Rican, was awarded a $5,000 minority
scholarship from the Hispanic College Fund.
However, The Associated Press reported that he
still believes “scholarships should be given out
based on merit and need.” Mattera’s thinking
must have been different when he applied for
the minority scholarship he received.
Some people will assert that someone in an
impoverished condition should work his way out
of it, yet they will refuse to give this person the
opportunity to do that. And instead of working
to dispel painful and racist images of the past,
they promote them.
Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk and social
activist, wrote, “That I should have been born in
1915, that I should be the contemporary of
Auschwitz, Hiroshima, Vietnam and the Watts
Riots are things about which I was not first con
sulted. Yet they are also events in which,
whether I like it or not, I am deeply and person
ally involved.”
Racial issues have not ended with the previ
ous generation, nor can the wrongs of past gen
erations be forgotten today. Each of these
wrongs personally affects all Americans,
whether they want it to or not.
Unfortunately, tactless and ignorant acts such
as whites-only scholarships and affirmative
action bake sales will continue to worsen this
problem. It is up to caring and concerned
Americans to continue to fight against them and
work for progress.
Cody Sain is a junior
philosophy major.
MAIL CALL
^publicans ignore
gr Biblical lessons
UARG
roppi^
‘8.9)
pto5Tof( i
»I 1.99
P response to John David Blakley's
\ill column:
kaChristian first and a Democrat sec-
d Mr. Blakley's article about
politics. I 'don’t understand
Isome people support the GOP only
tause it is perceived to be the party for
It's hypocritical for Bush and
t Republicans to support some
I teachings and reject others,
emphasized the importance of
igthepoor, yet GOP monetary poli
os iiai/e created the worst recessions in
: The Great Depression and the
^(economic slump that caused 2.6
e to lose their jobs, less peo-
^ to have healthcare and more
to live in poverty. Bush's
^ensetax cuts for the wealthy are dev-
the middle and lower classes
ating a permanent elite class.
^comprehend how Bush and other
Republicans can be so focused on portray
ing themselves as good Christians by
opposing abortion and homosexuality, but
can completely disregard the suffering cre
ated by their economic policies. While Bush
and the GOP rack up hundreds of millions
of dollars for his 2004 campaign, millions
of Americans are living on the street starv
ing. Bush and his cronies should stop being
so hypocritical and help the majority of
Americans, not just the rich.
David Johnson
Class of 2004
Bush faces as many
roadblocks as Nader
In response to Matt Younger’s Feb. 26
column:
First of all, while Ralph Nader's candi
dacy is an unexpected curve, it is highly
unlikely that it will be a factor to the
extent that it was four years ago. While I
respect Nader’s ideals, my practical side
will keep me from voting for him, and this
will probably be the case for most other
Democrats. Thinking that he will draw
the kind of numbers he previously did is
merely wishful thinking.
As far as Kerry's voting record is con
cerned, most pundits and politicians
agree that when you have been in the
U.S. Senate for as long as Kerry and
have cast as many votes as he has, it is
likely that your record will give the
appearance of “flip-flopping" as context
and times change.
Younger also seems to be under the
impression that President Bush will not
have his share of road-blocks. He said
that “Explaining the war in Iraq is per
haps Kerry’s biggest obstacle.” I think
one could say the same for Bush, as he
will have to explain to the American peo
ple a pre-emptive war based on question
able evidence. The bottom line is that
Bush is not invulnerable, it will be a very
close race, and we will see who has the
most roadblocks in November.
James Close
Class of 2004
Hotard Hall epitomizes
the Aggie spirit
In response to Carrie Pierce's Feb. 24
article:
I have noticed a pattern here over the
past year. People go to football games
and do not stand the entire time, or they
leave early or they may not even go at all.
In the days following, The Battalion is
flooded with letters from disgruntled stu
dents and alumni who scoff at the poor
pride of the current Aggies.
If you have ever written a letter to The
Battalion about the disintegrating Aggie
Spirit, or if you have ever read letters on
this subject and have agreed with it, I am
asking you to consider this: When there
was poor attendance at the Kansas
game, Hotard was there. Where people
were sitting down, Hotard was still stand
ing. When people complain about the
lack of “Howdy!” they hear about cam
pus, Hotard is continuing that tradition.
The administration is planning to turn
Hotard Hall into faculty offices, and dur
ing the renovations we will all lose some
of our Aggie Spirit. For all of those Aggies
who have ever complained about the
waning Aggie Spirit, now is our chance to
conserve what is left. The student body
president, Matt Josefy, has asked those
concerned with Hotard to write an e-mail
to him, of any length, so he can know
how the student body feels on this mat
ter. He can be reached at sbp@tamu.edu.
Victoria Montemayor
Class of 2007
The Battalion encourages letters to the edi
tor. Letters must be 200 words or less and
include the author’s name, class and phone
number. The opinion editor reserves the right to
edit letters for length, style and accuracy. Letters
may be submitted in person at 014 Reed
McDonald with a valid student ID. Letters also
may be mailed to: 014 Reed McDonald, MS
1111, Texas A&M University, College Station,
TX 77843-1 111. Fax: (979) 845-2647 Email:
mailcall@thebattaIion.net