Complaints about exhibit show lack of understanding

We are writing today in… Complaints about exhibit show lack of understanding

We are writing today in response to the recent letter to the editor regarding the “Innocence Under Siege” tour, which stopped at the William Pitt Union earlier this week. Complaints have been made regarding this powerful exhibit without making any attempt to understand or recognize the tragic environment these images were based on. Palestinian children living and dying under the yoke of Israeli occupation created these images. Their lives are filled with the unfortunate reality of death and destruction at the hands of the Israelis, their occupier.

It is a travesty to think there are those who wish to blame the victims for the crimes committed against them, resorting to name calling and finger pointing.

Mr. Ceren claims this exhibit is biased and indirectly ties it to anti-Semitism. First, art is a completely subjective form of expression, which these children are using as a means of saying in images what they cannot say in words. Asking that both viewpoints be represented by the victims of oppression is as inane as asking abused spouses to politely make excuses for their abusers abuser while displaying the misfortunes of their physical and mental suffering.

Furthermore, Ceren refers to our organization and books mentioned on our Web site in another attempt to distract us all from the issues. It is abundantly clear that the merits of the Palestinian Perspective are so undeniable that he must resort to arguments on semantics and slanderous diatribe. If that is the debate he wishes to engage in, then one must inquire about the official links between the Hillel organization and the ADL in which the racist rhetoric of the anti-free speech thought policeman Daniel Pipes is openly embraced.

Finally, the thinly veiled attempt to tie this exhibit to anti-Semitism merely illustrates, yet again, an effort by those that mindlessly support the wholesale oppression of Palestinians, to muddy the waters of logic and reason. Rather than claim the images were drawn with the intent of being racist, one should realize that they are merely depicting the horrid circumstances these children live under. Those circumstances – occupation, dispossession and oppression are themselves inherently racist and perpetuated by the Israelis. If there is such great concern for fighting racism, then we should concentrate our energies on ending the oppression of Palestinians, not silencing the voices of the victims, which are seldom heard.

Khaled Taha

Director

Palestinian Humanities and Arts Now

Gun control argument flawed

Ms. Bergman’s argument for gun control is flawed. (See “Gun control is legal, necessary,” Oct. 15). First is her assumption that the weapon the Washington, D.C.-area sniper – a most depraved and sickening individual – is using was purchased legally in the United States. Without this assumption, her argument (especially for gun tracking) loses what little validity it had. Not once does she mention the possibility that the weapon was purchased or imported illegally. The last decade has seen a dip in the number of federal prosecutions of firearms violations. Gun-control laws will not intimidate would-be criminals if they know that they will not be prosecuted.

Secondly, Ms. Bergman is incorrect in her statement about murder rates in the United Kingdom and Australia. The BBC reported on Jan. 4, “Between April and November 2001, the number of murders in the Metropolitan Police area committed with a firearm soared by almost 90 percent over the same period a year earlier.” The report continues, “Armed street robberies rose … 53 percent.” Australia is suffering similar problems, with brazen daylight robberies and home invasions on the rise. These are the results of disarming the law-abiding public.

According to Dr. Gary Kleck, approximately 1.5 million crimes are prevented each year by defensive gun use by law-abiding private citizens. This is more than 50 times the number of murders committed with guns. All citizens have the right to defend themselves and the numbers clearly show that gun control is not the way to achieve such security.

Brandon Boyd

Business Manager, Panther Pistol ‘ Rifle Club

CAS junior

SGB focuses on women’s safety

Women are taught not to be out alone at night. We wince at the thought of a friend walking home by herself. From a young age, we were all drilled to walk in pairs. We might as well get chaperones for the daytime, too, though, and make sure to stay in groups of five and 10, because rapes have occurred here in broad daylight, with or without the buddy system.

Rape and sexual assault have become epidemics at colleges and universities across the nation. Organizations on this campus have decided to take matters into their own hands. The first step is “Take Back the Night,” sponsored by Campus Women’s Organization, this Friday. In November, there will be a student leadership forum concerning campus safety, particularly, but not limited to, women’s safety.

It is a common assumption that sexual assault and rape are women’s issues, but men should also be educated about these concerns and take a stand as allies and community members. As Student Government Board members, we are proud to say that one of this year’s SGB projects is campus safety, with a focus on women’s safety. The women of SGB fully support measures to initiate discussion and action to increase women’s safety at the University of Pittsburgh. To have a successful board project, however, we need full participation from the campus. Take the first step in saying no to violence on our campus by coming to CWO’s “Take Back the Night” on Friday, Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. on the porch of the William Pitt Union. As women, we don’t want to be afraid of our own campus community.

The women of SGB

Brandy Blasko, Elizabeth Culliton, Andrea DeChellis and La’Tasha Mayes