Jordan River Forum

Not so smooth \nLet's take a look at Rahsaan Bartet's column from this past Thursday ("Smooth Criminal," IDS, Dec. 4):\nAbout half of it discusses how the media focuses on larger-than-life celebrity trials, like those of "Kobe Bryant, Elizabeth Smart, Scott Peterson or O.J. Simpson," rather than important issues like "Medicare, tariffs on imported steel and school vouchers." I'll give credit where credit is due: this is a fair criticism. One may or may not completely agree with Bartet, but there's certainly an argument to be made here. \nBut wait -- what's the other half of the column about? That's right: Michael Jackson. \nNow, I'm pretty sure this was an attempt by Bartet at being funny. However, if he's serious in his criticisms of the media for ignoring important issues for celebrity trials that have no bearing on practically anyone's daily life, this seems like a grievous error. Unlike an overwhelming majority of people, Bartet has a weekly column in a widely distributed, respected newspaper. He could rise above the rest of the media as he sees it and use his column to try and educate people about Medicare, tariffs, and vouchers. Rather you agree would with him on those issues or not isn't the point -- he'd be fostering discussion about them, and that's never a bad thing.\nInstead, Bartet chose to waste a wonderful opportunity to educate tens of thousands of readers, all so he could write about how the media never covers anything truly important -- and Michael Jackson. His "humor" sounds more like hypocrisy. For shame.\nNicholas Blesch\nSenior\nEuro-proud\nLisa McClelland did not leave her high school because of "flak," but because some students of another race told her that, "All whites should die," and other sick, racial epithets. She feared for her personal safety.\nShe also left because it was obvious to her that Principal Eric Volta, effectively a representative of our government, did not want to allow the formation of a Caucasian Student Club. That is not his prerogative. \nI assume that some members of your editorial board are self-loathing European Americans -- since our liberal educational system has done a disgraceful job of creating them in large quantities -- as well as some haters from other racial groups who lack the understanding that European Americans created this country and refuse to allow interlopers to take it from us without a fight. \nNewcomers are welcome in America as full fledged citizens, but not the type who grovel at the feet of government entitlements. Please grow up and get a life. \nLouis Calabro\nPresident, European/American Issue Forum\nCoach Davis owes me $4\nDespite the recent downward trend in the IU men's basketball program the last two years, mixed with the overpricing of student tickets and having one of those tickets be an exhibition game, I have kept the negative comments to a minimal. However, after the humiliating display of lackluster basketball against Wake Forest Tuesday night, I demand coach Mike Davis reimburse me $4. \nI had just finished half of a pizza that was delivered earlier when the horrific sight of IU men's basketball losing by more than 30 points forced my body into a state of extreme hysteria. The disruption knocked the remaining half of my supreme pizza onto a carpet that has been lived on by college men for three years to date. Needless to say the pizza was completely uneatable. \nAs I stood above the disastrous waste of money that I hold so dear for pizza eating and happy hour on Fridays, an overwhelming feeling of blame was directly placed upon the leader of this year's men's basketball team -- coach Mike Davis. So, to keep this demand short, coach Davis you owe me $4 for a lost half of a pizza and I do not accept checks.\nLee Nachand\nSenior\nEducation spending helps economy\nIndiana passed a budget cutting spending on education, specifically on higher education. This has led to an increase in tuition at IU. While the budget may not reformed this year, all is not lost. As members of an institution that receive financial backing from the state government, it is our responsibility to inform our legislators that we need more money. Educational spending is always important, but especially at a time when the economy is slow, an increase in education will spark an increase in the economy.\nMichael Thomas\nSenior\nRemembering\nWhen I picked up my copy of the IDS on Nov. 21 I was surprised and pleased to see the picture of President Kennedy and me 40 years ago. It would have been nice if someone had contacted me so that I could have explained the significance of that event for IU.\nIn 1963 I was selected to spend a year at Peabody College and Vanderbilt University as a "Kennedy Foundation Visiting Professor." The purpose of those professorships was to bring faculty members from different disciplines to Nashville to study mental retardation in depth so that they could add that knowledge to their research and teaching. That purpose was well met in my case. I subsequently devoted many years to studying how teachers could stimulate retarded children to maximize their cognitive abilities. I also worked with other IU faculty in obtaining grants to support a research and development center on teaching the handicapped.\nIn June of 1963, President Kennedy was scheduled to give an address at Vanderbilt and those of us who were to be Kennedy Foundation Visiting Professors that fall were invited to come to meet him. Needless to say this was a great thrill. Not only did we shake hands but he took time to listen to me explain how I would benefit from the professorship. He looked at me intently and showed the warmth and magnetism that made him such a great leader. On the following Nov. 21 I was in the Peabody College Student Union when I heard that he had been shot. I wept. \nWilliam Lynch\nProfessor Emeritus of Education, IUB\nRaise the bar\nAt this time of year, we will read stories of how to help the "less fortunate." I instead am posing the obvious question -- why not just create more fortunate people? A statistic hiding itself amongst census numbers is this -- Monroe County is the poorest county in Indiana. With an 18.9 percent poverty rate, we have 20,095 impoverished people here in our own community. Systemically it is simple -- our astronomical housing rates combined with low paying work equals a high poverty rate. The solution to this is also so very simple, we let it go right past our heads. Instead of paying a man a pittance to perform low-wage work and humiliating him while he stands in line for donated food and resources, why do we not pay him more so he can actually afford his own food and resources? One quarter of all Americans make less than $8.70 an hour, while the richest 1 percent of Americans have more money to spend after taxes than the bottom 40 percent combined. Outraged? Want change? Here's one way how. Next time you want to help the "less fortunate," use your purchasing power -- are you buying something that is oppressing someone here or elsewhere? Is the man who scanned your items at the store getting his basic needs met? If not, demand it and then shop elsewhere. The answer to eradicating poverty truly lies within ourselves. We let people go without food, clothing, shelter, and medical care because of a deep-seated belief that we have earned what we have and are therefore better than those who do not have these things. It is when someone does not have these basic needs that most other social ills arise, and then they are judged for the consequences. But I will tell you that the poor are working harder than many of us can imagine and are still poor. What is needed is a revolution. It is waiting to happen and you can be a part. Be outraged, take action, and don't wait another minute.\nAnn Roth \nBloomington resident