The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, July 15, 2004, Image 9

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    Opinion
The Battalion
Page 9 • Thursday, July 15, 2004
Cold medicine crackdown
equiring prescriptions for cold medication restricts consumer’s rights
obel-prize winning economist Milton
Friedman once said “the government
solution to a problem is usually as bad
the problem.” If anyone doubts this senti-
nt, consider this: Last year an Oklahoma state
oper was shot and killed by a man cooking
a batch of methamphetamine on the roadside,
a response, state governments all across the
untry want to make buying over-the-counter
gs for colds a hassle.
The connection between this shooter and cold
dicine involves the production of meth-
S ajuphetamine, known commonly as speed, which is made from
I eudoephedrine, which is found in cold medicine and is used to
n oduce the illegal drug.
The production of speed is considered a problem in many states.
Ij 1 le seller permit for a gas station in Phoenix was revoked when of-
fl.ials believed they were collaborating with speed producers. This
aation sold $500,000 worth of cold medicine last year.
I In order to crack down on this activity, Oklahoma and Arizona
ll,ive enacted restrictive laws. They classified cold medicine as a
(jmtrolled substance that can only be sold in a pharmacy, and are
Jquiring customers to show photo identification and sign for the
| irchase. The procedure is similar to the process of buying bullets.
|| Lrhaps lawmakers feel that they can ease the pain of a tragedy by
Ting something that might avoid the death of other police officers.
L Regardless of any benefits such legislation may bring, such ac-
I ons constitute an unacceptable violation of Americans rights.
Make no mistake — murderers must be brought to justice,
ut while it’s the government’s job to deal with murderers, the
ivernment is not our parent, no matter how many adults act like
ley still need one.
As Ludwig von Mises wrote after Prohibition, “Once the prin-
ple is admitted that it is the duty of government to protect the
dividual against his own foolishness, no serious objections can be
vanced against further encroachments.” If the government uses
e excuse, “it’s for your own good,” and Americans accept this as
reasonable cause for taking away their liberties, then why stop at
gs? Why not appoint a special police force to make sure we’re
tall eating too much fast food or getting enough exercise?
While these questions are laughable, the sad truth of the matter is
at there isn’t a difference between stopping someone from taking
ed and stopping them from becoming obese. Both present health
sks — the irony is that obesity has caused far more deaths, yet no
ne is willing to have DEA agents posted at every Taco Bell.
The government is established to protect individuals from harm-
gone another and America was never intended to protect some-
Jnefrom himself. In the Declaration of Independence, Americans
|:riedout in one loud voice that they believed all men had the
wight to the pursuit of happiness. One man’s pursuit may not be
linother’s, and the government has no authority to interfere unless
it hinders someone else’s rights.
The saying “your rights end where
my rights begin,” is appropriate,
and in the case of drug production
and consumption, no violation
takes place.
Though many cry about how it’s
not right to let another man suffer
from drug use, writing laws to
deter him from suffering commits a
greater harm by stripping away the
freedom of a nation.
Patrick Henry asked “Is life so
dear or peace so sweet as to be
purchased at the price of chains
and slavery?” The answer that
gave birth to our nation, and all
the luxury and prosperity we enjoy
today was that nothing is worth
the price of slavery and the loss
of freedom. It is the principle
that sent Americans
I
E BATld
of Hie]
to their deaths on battlefields at home and abroad, and to argue
against their choice of liberty over death is an insult to every patriot
who died for the cause of freedom.
Drugs can ruin a man’s life, and while it can be an ugly problem
if one becomes consumed with their abuse, rejecting any legisla
tion that attempts to save a man from himself is the only choice that
remains true to the principles of the American freedom that was
paid for by our brave soldiers.
Texas is now considering this cold-medicine legislation, and
though it se prns I'kf* 3 «maii hassle ^ho principle
behind it is wrong. If citizens wish to hold sacred the things that
these men died for, they must insist that lawmakers refuse this
legislation. Though turning down this act won’t reverse the war on
drugs, we should do everything in our power to change what we
can, when we can. We must write our representatives and encour
age them to do just that.
Mike Walters is a senior
psychology major.
Graphic by Rylie Deyoe
3
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Readers say article unfairly characterized Islam
In response to Nicholas Davis’ June 30 column “Intolerance is the Answer”
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Editor’s Note:
While Mr. Davis has the right to
express his own opinion, it is not the
intent of Davis, The Battalion or its
editors to insult or unfairly label the
religion of Islam or the Muslim com
munity locally or internationally.
Unfortunately The Battalion has a history
of insensitivity towards minority groups on
campus. The article written by Nicholas Davis
titled “Intolerance is the answer” is obviously
asking for violence . This is not the first time
The Battalion has published an article against
Muslims and Islam, but this time it has gone too
far. This is not just an attack against Muslims,
it is against all minority groups. I was just won
dering where this fits in the 2020 vision of Tex
as A&M. As far as I know President Gates is
trying to promote tolerance and diversity, NOT
INTOLERANCE. The world is more beautiful
with peace and tolerance.
Homayra Moghadasian
As a practicing and devout Muslim, I am very
disturbed by the June 30 article entitled “Intoler
ance is the Answer.” This article denounces Islam
as an inherently violent religion and all Muslims
as terrorists or extremists. Although disturbed, I
am not at all shocked by this. It saddens me deep
ly that at A&M, a world-class institution of higher
learning, students remain so ignorant about other
cultures and social groups. I am sure many other
students feel as I do. I do not think it is enough just
to apologize. I believe that if this sort of narrow
minded thinking is to come to an end at TAMU
students should take time to investigate world is
sues on their own. We should critically evaluate
those issues regarding other social groups and
make a sincere attempt to understand them. Peace
will never be attained through ignorance, but only
through tolerance and understanding of each oth
er. We need to remember this.
Imran Khan
I was shocked when I read the article by
Nicholas Davis. It shows insensitivity and a
lack of understanding about other religions and
cultures. This kind of article may spread hatred
toward minorities or international students over
the campus, especially Muslims. Hence, it is
very conflicting with A&M’s vision 2020 pro
gram which is about creating a welcoming envi
ronment for all Aggies.
I know that this is not the first time The Battal
ion has published this kind of article or opinion.
Three years ago, a similar opinion (a cartoon)
was published that showed a disrespect toward
minorities (at that time it was the African Ameri
cans). The editor needs to be more sensitive in
reviewing opinions before it is published and
increase his or her awareness and understanding
toward other cultures and religions.
I as a Muslim and the vast majority of Mus
lims are peaceful citizens of this society, not like
what Mr. Davis portrays in his article, nor are
we all extremists. Many Muslim students make
up part of the Aggie family. We feel offended by
this article. This kind of article may emerge due
to fear of Islam rhetoric. In fact, anti-Muslim
hate crimes have increased 121 percent in 2003.
However, this reason cannot justify this kind of
article to be published in a respectful institution
of higher learning such as A&M.
Kun Marhadi
Class of 2000
This article is a clear and unfair attack upon
Muslims. The statement “Truthfully, the Islamic
religion is not a peaceful one” is seriously of
fensive and untrue. The most serious error of
Mr. Davis is that he bases his opinion upon a
weak amount of research (a Web site forum as
stated in the article.) Then, after establishing his
misinformed beliefs, he goes on to publish them
as though they were fact. In the end Mr. Davis’
article expresses his malice towards the Muslim
community, and suggests threatening a large
group of innocent people.
Omar Pacha
Class of 2006
In my six years here, I have had many interac
tions with Muslim students and have developed
numerous friendships with persons of Middle
Eastern decent and the Muslim faith.
I have often been humbled by the gentleness
and generosity of these persons. Rather than re
spond to hate-speech and discrimination with
anger and resentment, I have heard repeatedly
from these students that they consider it to be their
shame that they have failed to educate their Ameri
can brothers and sisters regarding the true nature
of Islam and the Muslim people. I only wish that I
could demonstrate such a mature and peaceful re
sponse to hatred.
I am a tremendous supporter of free speech, but
I believe that this freedom requires responsibility.
The Battalion fails to exercise such responsibility
when it publishes opinion pieces that stereotype
and misrepresent an entire segment of the Aggie
community in such a way that it creates an unsafe
environment for those students.
Carla Cheatham
Graduate Student
Honestly, I am not such a person who likes
to read newspapers, including The Battalion.
However, I have received many e-mails from
Muslim friends who felt that the article was
in fact offensive toward Islam and Muslims at
Texas A&M. I then read the article and 1 was
shocked by the way the writer jumped to the
conclusion that “Truthfully, the Islamic reli
gion is not a peaceful one.” I also felt bad about
the points, which are mostly false, mentioned
about my country of Saudi Arabia.
Because I am Muslim and Saudi, I was so curi
ous about what is going on in my country. I was
also eager to listen to a non-biased voice from
Texas A&M clarifying what’s really going on back
’ there from credible sources. I have to say that the
majority of Saudis and Muslims are peaceful and
don’t admit such terror activities, including John
son’s incident. Moreover, I haven’t heard about a
reputable and respectful religious scholar admitting
such things. In my opinion, such types of articles
will not help clarifying the truth. Instead, it would
make the vision foggier and less obvious.
The outstanding fact is that Islam forbids such
behaviors by all means. Fanatic people exist in
any culture. But that fact doesn’t allow someone
to blame the culture itself or the religion itself be
cause of the actions of few people.
Abdulaziz Al-Saadi
Graduate Student
As a Muslim wife and mother, I always felt
lucky because my husband was accepted here at
A&M and not anywhere else. Since September
2001, Muslims in U.S. cities and towns were ha
rassed and threatened more than anytime before.
This was largely due to an Islam-phobia wave that
was triggered by many irresponsible media chan
nels. The Bryan-College Station area was always
an exception. The community was helpful and
understanding to the simple fact that you cannot
blame 1.3 billion people for what a group of hun
dreds of them do. I was always grateful because
there was no serious reason to worry from walking
in the streets while wearing my Hijab. It’s sad to
say, however, that you at The Battalion are work
ing on destroying this bright image by participat
ing in that irresponsible anti-Islam wave. I really
do not understand what makes a newspaper like
The Battalion adopt such opinions. The article was
full of faulty information. TTie article wages a wave
of aggressive emotions towards all the Muslims re
gardless of their locations or true points of view
and encourages the readers to follow its example.
Can you imagine what would happen to us if sev
eral A&M students adopted what was mentioned
in your article?
I hope that you cooperate with the Muslim com
munity in order to serve the values of truth and pro
fessionalism that any acclaimed newspaper would
respect and serve. I don’t see any reason why The
Battalion should be an exception.
Wisam Khashoggi
Muslim member of the B-CS community
First of all I am an Aggie, Muslim and from
Saudi Arabia. I was shocked when I read the news
about the engineer Paul Johnson. This is not Islam,
and it did not fall within Islam’s parameters of ac
ceptable behavior.
Mr. Davis did not bother to research and read in
hundreds of Web sites that authentic Islam stands
against terrorist behaviors. Also, he did not bother
to search and see what the reaction of Muslims, es
pecially Muslims in Saudi Arabia were!
I want Mr. Davis to be fair and read more about
Islam to have the right picture about it. Islam is a
peaceful religion. Articles like these will create a
dangerous environment of hate toward Muslims.
Ali AI-Meshari
The Battalion encourages letters to the editor. Letters should
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: 015 Reed McDonald, 1111
TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-1111. Fax: (979) 845-2647
E-mail. mailcall@thebattaIion.net