Keeping Schiavo alive is playing God\nIn regard to the article "Playing God" (Freiberg, Mar. 23): We're playing God by keeping Terri Schiavo alive on machines. After this I bet there will be a stampede for living wills advising families NOT to keep them alive on life support after a couple of months. I know I intend to.\nTereasa West\nStaff
Schiavo, Jesus and Passion week\nThe week of Good Friday and Easter is commonly known as Passion Week because of the pain and sacrifice Christ endured through the scourge of the crucifixion. For another reason we will remember this week of 2005 as Passion Week because of the pain Terri Schiavo has endured since her feeding tube was removed last Friday. \nRemoving Terri's feeding tube is not only inhuman, it is an act of cruel and unusual punishment. Terri will either starve to death or die of dehydration as a result of the removal of her feeding tube. Those on death row are not allowed to die in such a fashion. In fact, many people work tirelessly to ensure that every possible measure is taken to save the lives of criminals on Death Row every day. We are even required by law to treat animals humanely. A person who starves their pet could be and would be charged for breaking the law. Anyone who values life and respects the right to life understands that Terri deserves the same protections and rights that we regularly give to those on death row and even to animals. \nTerri Schiavo is alive. She breathes, communicates and is able to swallow on her own. Just because some view her life as "not worth living" does not give anyone the right to force her death by starving the poor woman. According to the standards of those supporting Terri's death, thousands of Americans with mental disabilities such as Alzheimer's disease would be better to die than to live. \nBefore there was the mass execution of the Jews, Adolf Hitler and his diabolical cronies went for the sick, the mentally and physically handicapped, and in essence those lives deemed to be "not worth living." Let's learn from the past. Let's be a nation of character. The one nation under God that we were created to be. \nChase Downham\nJunior
Schiavo case ignores rule of law, federalism \nDespite the attempt made by Warren Christopher Freiberg to compare a brain-damaged woman who is having her feeding tube removed according to her wishes to a rabbit whose life is being ransomed, such comparison is like that of apples to oranges and fails to address or even accurately state the situation.\nFlorida has a "Death With Dignity" Act in place which carefully lays out the legal process by which such decisions may be carried out. The courts in Florida have followed these procedures to the letter.\nThe issue in the Schiavo case is not about the legality or morality of a person's right to determine what treatment they wish to receive. The issue, now, is whether the state and federal legislatures have the authority to come in and reverse a legal judgment which they don't like, for the benefit of specific individuals. This case has been local news in the Tampa Bay metro area for eight years, and has certainly been on the radar of state and federal politicians. If they were so concerned about Terri Schiavo then, why not try to change the law on denial of treatment?\nInstead, at the eleventh hour, conservative leaders in the Florida Legislature and the U.S. Congress decided to earn a little political capital with the Religious Right by dragging this litigation out. Never mind that Mr. Schiavo has fought a long and costly legal battle to see his wife's wishes carried out. Never mind that the courts in Florida have determined that Florida law is overwhelmingly in his favor. What this action by Congress represents is the idea that the rule of law means nothing when you get a crying mother out in front of the press. A person's rights, as granted by state law and ratified by several judges elected or appointed to interpret that law, now mean nothing when the political majority wants to make an example of that person.\nIf you take a look at the polls, you will see that a majority of those polled believe that a person's decision to end treatment is between that person, their loved ones, the law of the land, and God. They are not clamoring for Terri's death. They are hoping for her wishes to be respected.\nMike Colgan\nGraduate student
Columnist neglected facts on Japan
In response to Charlie Szrom's article "Japanese jingoism" (Mar. 24) I have to first ask if any research at all was done on South Korea or Japan before writing the article or if Mr. Szrom simply read a few facts on the Internet and then 'assumed' the rest. \nFirst of all, the Japanese government did apologize to the South Korean government for Japan's wartime aggression in a formal letter addressed to then-President Kim Dae-Jung in October 1998. Secondly, relations between Japan and South Korea are the best they have ever been. \nTo suggest that the two countries are at each other's throats is preposterous. Perhaps Mr. Szrom has not heard, but South Korea's cultural ban that had been placed on Japan has been lifted and trade between the two countries is at an all-time high. Of course, this information could only have been obtained through "research" which this particular article is obviously lacking. \nFinally, to suggest that "Condoleeza Rice should demand that Japan apologize for the war and fully recognize its past errors" is the pinnacle of your East Asian historical ignorance. Are you forgetting the fact that the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan and has never apologized for that? Perhaps Japan should "demand" an apology from the United States. Mr. Szrom, your column is titled "Reflections From Eastern Europe," I suggest you stick to what you know.\nDoug Laux\nSenior
Japan and South Korea in conflict
First of all, I like to thank to Charlie Szrom for his deep understanding about the issue. As an international student from South Korea, I was really impressed that there is someone in this school who really understands that Japan is wrong in the matter. To add to his article, there is another big issue regarding the Japanese Jingoism which is still showing its previous intention to conquer neighbor countries. \nDo you know the small island "Dokdo" located in east of South Korea? South Korea has had its army there after World War II, and there is tremendous historical proof which shows that the small island is part of South Korea's territory. For half a century, the island was considered as just small island, which is close to a relatively big island, Ulrung Do. \nHowever, Dokdo recently has been discovered as having tons of natural gas under the sea nearby. Now, the Japanese government proclaims that the island is its territory because Japan conquered it during the Japanese rule of Korea. We have serious potential conflict between Korea and Japan regarding this issue.\nTo go back to the simple point: How can a positive relationship be established between East Asian countries and Japan while Japanese political leaders still insist that the colonization was the right time for the industrialized Asia?\nKwang-Wook Lee\nSenior
Japan did apologize for wartime crimes
Regarding "Reflections from Eastern Europe: Japanese Jingoism" (March 24): There is certainly a great deal to criticize about the ways in which Japanese government and society as a whole have dealt with the question of war responsibility since 1945. In discussing the case of the Korean "comfort women" pressed into sexual slavery by the Japanese military, Charlie Szrom rightfully points out one of the most appalling examples. But Mr. Szrom simply has his facts wrong when he states that the Japanese government has never apologized for aggression and atrocities perpetrated in Asia during the wartime 1930s and 1940s.\nIn fact, beginning in the 1990s, there have been multiple official, unequivocal apologies by the Japanese government to Asians, apologies that have been welcomed by the People's Republic of China and officially recognized by the government of South Korea. The most famous of these was made by Prime Minister Murayama Tomiichi in 1995. His official apology was based on a cabinet decision, and it has continued to be the expressed policy of successive administrations since. \nFrank descriptions and unblinking criticism of the war crimes committed, moreover, have been part of public discourse within Japanese society from at least the 1960s. One might still deem such apologies and public criticisms insufficient, but no productive discussion about the legacies of Japan's wars in Asia is possible without accurate knowledge of what actions have or have not been taken in the 60 years since the war ended. \nScot O'Brien\nAssistant Professor\nDepartment of History and Department of East Asian Languages and Culture.
Davis doesn't deserve bonus
One issue has completely puzzled me the past few days, as well as many of my fellow Hoosier friends. Why in the world is IU basketball coach Mike Davis, a man who has failed to get the Hoosiers into the NCAA Tournament for two consecutive seasons, receiving a $300,000 performance bonus from his contract? Attention IU Athletics Department: Please do not speculate anymore why so many students are opposed to the athletics fee. \nThe last thing students here at the Bloomington campus want to do is give our money to you so you can reward a basketball coach who garnered such an 'impressive' 29-29 record the past two seasons. Perhaps if Davis had led our basketball team to the Sweet 16 or Final 4, a bonus that ludicrously high would be appropriate, but before? \nIndiana's athletics department needs to make more common-sense contracts, rewarding performance-based bonuses to accomplished coaches based on outstanding seasons and successful programs. The last time I checked, a 15-14 season, lack of an NCAA bid and a loss in the first round of the NIT tournament does not count for a successful season and warrant such an insane bonus to be given to Mike Davis. Maybe (and hopefully) next year will be a different story for IU basketball. Go Hoosiers! \nMark Hoaghund\nFreshman
Administration fails on wins, coaches\nWith Coach Davis setting records as one of the worst coaches in IU Basketball history, I am shocked that the IU administration has decided to keep Davis on for another year. However, I should not be surprised knowing the same administration is responsible for the following: \n1. Fired a Hoosier legend, national icon and the winningest active coach in the nation, Bob Knight.\n2. Hired a coach (i.e., Mike Davis) with no college head-coaching experience to coach one of the top five college basketball programs in the country.\n3. Did not pursue Rick Pitino, a proven winner and potential hall-of-fame coach, after he expressed an interest in the coaching position. \n4. Did not pursue any coach in the country who deserved the position more than Mike Davis. Coach Davis was hired as head coach with only six years college assistant coaching experience and a dismal first year as an interim coach. That is, with two first-round NBA picks on his team, the Hoosiers placed fifth in the Big 10 and lost the first game of the NCAA Tournament. Coach Knight, however, has won national championship with \nless talent. \nMike Davis has proven at record proportions that he is not qualified to coach Indiana Basketball. However, I also now believe those who hired him and continue his contract are not competent enough to make the decision if he should remain the coach of IU basketball. \nSteve Scofield\nAlumnus
Political labels are unreliable\nIn response to "When liberals attack" (Daniel Hiester, March 25): I can take verbal lashes as well as anyone else. Most of the time, I don't even respond to people who use 'liberal' as an insult. And yes, I'll admit that some of the things said by more liberal people during the past year about various topics are harsh, and sometimes overboard. But to have conservatives say that "lack of tolerance for conservative or moderate ideas amounts to 'New McCarthyism,'" sounds like the pot calling the kettle black.\nFirst off, I think everyone needs to admit that just because an idea comes from someone who is liberal/conservative, the idea is not necessarily liberal/conservative. For example: When Kerry talked about bringing other nations back to the table about Iraq during the election, he was labeled a liberal. When Bush said the same thing in his State of the Union after the election, he was applauded for it. Funny how that happens.\nTerrence Dellinger\nJunior
Is green beer Irish?\nScott Bryson, just wanted you to know how much I enjoyed reading your article on the Irish in the March 22 issue of the Indiana Daily Student. Many people, unfortunately, only think of the Irish on St. Patrick's Day when they drink green beer. Your well-written article did much to enlighten readers and educate them about contributions the Irish have made to America.\nThe basis of any bias against the Irish, including the current conflict in Northern Ireland, is not religion based but an issue of civil rights.\nWhen my grandmother emigrated to the United States at age 16, her most vivid memory of life in America was the unlimited opportunity and getting to eat everyday. I wish you continued good writing and success.\nGeorge Smith\nStaff
Newspaper fee won't benefit students \nThe student-run Committee for Fee Review must be feeling sorry for two of the nation's largest newspaper-publishing companies. The committee wants to charge IU students $1 each semester to, in effect, bolster the promotions budgets of these multi-billion-dollar media conglomerates.\nThe committee has endorsed the $1 student fee to buy copies of The New York Times, USA Today and, perhaps, the Indianapolis Star. For that dollar, the Gannett Co. and the New York Times Co. would distribute 715 copies of each paper on weekdays, according to the plan presented to the fee committee. Apparently the fee committee and the newspaper companies envision a lot of sharing among IU's 37,000 students. \nIt's not surprising that USA Today and The New York Times have programs to promote readership among college students. Daily newspapers are desperate to attract younger readers, who represent a declining share of their audience. What is surprising is that they've been able to convince student leaders that their classmates should be assessed $1 a semester for these "hunting permits." For that $1, the vast majority of IU students will get nothing.\nIf the New York Times Co. and Gannett want IU students to sample their papers to encourage readership -- certainly a laudable goal -- they should provide the papers for free. They can certainly afford to do so. Gannett, the publisher of USA Today, the Indianapolis Star and more than 100 other daily newspaper companies in the United States and abroad, had net income of $1.3 billion last year. The New York Times Co., which also owns the Boston Globe, about 15 other smaller dailies and eight TV stations, had net income of $292 million. \nIf you want to know more about why the fee committee wants to do this, the IUSA office says to contact student body president Tyson Chastain. Or you could register your displeasure directly by going to the IUSA Web site (www.indiana.edu/~iusa) and saying "no" in its poll on this fee program.\nRandy Beam\nSchool of Journalism faculty
Draft not an imminent reality\nBy now we have all seen the No Draft, No Way flyers announcing a nationwide anti-draft action day. This call to no arms proclaims that March 31 is the day the Selective Service System will report to President Bush "the draft is ready to go," with implementation possible within 75 days to furnish the manpower necessary to carry out the administration's "dream of global empire". The No Draft, No Way Web site declares, "Reinstatement of the draft is likely soon," and includes a Draft Threat Advisory with the Draft Threat Level set at Yellow: Elevated. \nThe feared report is nothing more than the SSS annual report, which will include information per the agency's progress toward internal efficiency including Strategic Objective 1.2 to "Ensure a mobilization infrastructure ... operational within 75 days of an authorized return to conscription." Assuming fulfillment of this objective, there remains the necessary act of Congress to pass a bill reinstating the draft. In January 2003, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) introduced bill H.R.163 to require "all young persons ... perform a period of military service OR a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense." In October 2004, that bill was defeated 402-2. The reality is that Congress is not entertaining the thought of drafting young Americans to serve the needs of the current war. \nNo Draft, No Way also calls for a shutdown of military recruitment. Perhaps they should have skipped straight to their point and organized a No Military, No Way day. Unfortunately for them, just as the reinstatement of the draft is not in our near future, neither is the disassembly of the military. In the absence of a draft, the military would not exist as it does today without the process of recruitment. Hundreds of thousands of Marines, soldiers and sailors are standing guard in the desert and watching out over the seas thanks to the recruitment process. They are a predominant reason why we do not live in an oppressed society and are free to protest. \nThe Ides of March have already passed. Let's refrain from using baseless threats to procure a second coming.\nAlicia Szumski\nSenior
