Defending the war
In regard to your response to Mr. Pritchard in the May 7
issue: Many of your statements are without merit.
                 First:
The war was not a violation of the UN Charter and other international
agreements. The UN Charter allows for self defense. And the prior UN
resolution, passed without dissent, stated that Iraq either had to disclose and
give up all weapons of mass destruction or be forced to. Further resolutions
were stopped by France and some other nations that were acting to protect their
own financial interests.
                 Second,
the United Nations has no real power or authority. The only time the UN ever
acted with force was with Korea, when the Russian did not attend the meeting.
For the last decade and a half, the only force to send troops to prevent
“ethnic cleansing” was led by the US.
                 Based
on what reasoning do you think that if the US was “pure of thought,”
Saddam would have “vanished”? Your usual dream-world thinking where
everyone in the world would be sweet little lambs if the US fell off the face
of the planet?
                 Yes,
in the ’80s we gave aid to Iraq to stop Iran, which was holding Americans as
hostages. That, unfortunately, is international politics. It is unpleasant, but
in a world full of Saddams and other dictators it is necessary.
                 As to
your claim that the first Gulf War was “unjust”: I assume you felt it
was “just” for Saddam to invade and capture Kuwait. And as I recall,
you and others claimed that America fought only so that it could control oil.
That was proven a lie when we did not take control of the oil fields or even
cross over into Iraq.
                 The
bulk of Iraq cultural heritage was moved before the war by Saddam. Your concern
for the one or two thousand dead people would be a lot more believable if you
showed a tenth of that concern for the one or two million civilians Saddam
murdered and gassed.
                 If,
as you claim, anyone who supports such a mission is culpable to some degree, I
and most Americans are only too happy to claim that honor. It is you and the
“blame America for the problems of the world” extreme left that we
are ashamed of.
                 As
for your statement that we should consider the death of enemy soldiers as bad
as the death of an American: This is the most unrealistic statement of all.
                 You
described those who supported the war as “Chicken Hawks”; by the same
logic, you can be described as a die-hard supporter of Saddam. And you can be
described as supporting the murder of one to two million Iraqi civilians, the
gassing and murder of God knows how many Iranians and Kuwaitis, the removal of
Iraqis’ human rights for a quarter-century, and the support of international
terrorism.
                 John Cook, Pine Knoll Drive, Rochester
                 Jack Bradigan Spula responds:
For brevity’s sake: A good primer on the UN Charter in this context is an essay
by Michael Ratner of the Center for Constitutional Rights, “War Crime, Not
Self-Defense: The Unlawful War Against Iraq,” available via
www.ccr-ny.org/v2/viewpoints. Among the many media reports on US support of
Saddam Hussein’s war against Iran is a fine one by Julian Borger in The Guardian (UK), December 31, 2002;
Borger uses declassified US documents to describe events from 1983-1988, a
period well after the US hostages were freed. The anti-war movement and
journalists like me are very much concerned about human suffering; visit the
American Friends Service Committee, www.afsc.org, for pertinent information.
The “Chicken Hawks” are the administration officials and legislators who pushed
for war but never were in combat themselves; a web search will turn up plenty
on this crew.
Test trauma
One week earlier this month, students in grades 1 through 6
in elementary schools in Rochester spent approximately one to two hours daily
completing standardized tests in math and reading. In addition to missing their
regular instruction for that time, many students also missed music, art, gym,
or library.
                 These
tests are often overwhelming to even very capable students; they add
considerable stress to children’s lives and provide little, if any, useful
instructional information. Teachers typically don’t receive results until the
following September, and the scores are reported in very general terms. Prior
to taking these tests, students spent anywhere from one to several weeks
practicing to take them, again significant amounts of direct instruction lost.
                 Meanwhile,
in Fairport instruction continued as always. There were no crying first
graders, no angry and resentful fourth graders, no defeated fifth graders. No
added stress placed on already vulnerable children. No teachers caught in that
terrible position between fulfilling the demands of the system and doing the
right thing for children.
                 Fairport
certainly does assess student performance and growth, as should all schools.
They do hold teachers and students accountable and measure them against a
common standard. They just don’t use standardized tests that at best are
questionable uses of educational resources and at worst border on the unethical
treatment of children.
                 Surely
the children of Rochester deserve the same opportunities and consideration as
the children of Fairport.
                 Paula Hansen, Selborne Chase, Fairport (Hansen is a teacher at Rochester School 20.)
Buddha praise
I am a longtime Buddhahood fan, and I know City has given them plenty of coverage
over the years. But in the May 17 music listings, how could you possibly give a
star (City’s Choice) to the Peachee
Neitzches over the Buddhahood-Hypnotic Clambake show? The Peachees are good
people, but how could you suggest torturing unsuspecting music lovers like
that?
                 I
know, I know, in the grand scheme of things… but have you seen the Buddhahood
lately? They are a 10-piece now. Granted, they sort of out-played themselves in
this town a few years back, but they are much better and different, with new
songs and new players, including Andrew Bellavia, formerly of Yolk, on sax and
flute.
                 The
belly dancers in all of the shows are no slouches, either.
                 Jake Pewter, Manhattan Square, Rochester
We survived!
Well, George Thorogood has come and gone and Highland Bowl
and the surrounding neighborhood are still standing.
                 Despite
arguments against paid admission (and what a great deal it was) at a festival
that permits the hawking of chiropractic care, satellite dish systems and pots
and pans, a well-behaved audience, made up of people of all ages, enjoyed a
great afternoon. No fights, no drunks wandering around adjoining streets, and
no mountains of trash collecting on neighborhood lawns.
                 I
cannot understand the almost hysterical resistance to such a benign, feel-good
event. Evidently a few people who purchased property next to the park feel that
99.9 percent of county taxpayers require their forbearance to have an
opportunity to utilize the park.
                 Hey,
it’s only seven hours out of their lives: Attend an ice cream social or
something, and move on.
                 Richard Noack, Meigs Street, Rochester
This article appears in May 28 – Jun 3, 2003.
