Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (June 5, 1978)
Letters Zionism is racism I am writing in response to Mr. Berne’s letter to the Emerald May 30th entitled "Israeli not Racist”. Mr. Beme claims that Israel is not racist, by avoiding the issues. Mr. Beme based his defense by point ing out that the Arab governments are undemocratic and treat the Jewish citizens badly. I fully agree that the Arab gov ernments are very corrupt and treat all their citizens badly, re gardless of their religion. If Jews were badly mistreated in Europe, this does not mean that Israel should treat all Europeans badly. I think it is an outrageous argument to say that because the Arab gov ernment discriminates against Jews — an allegation not based on facts —then Israel should dis criminate against its Arab citizens. The Zionist ideology is racist. I did not reach this conclusion on theoritical basis only. I have had a first hand experience of Zionism. I lived in Israel most of my life, for I am an Israeli citizen and I know what happens there. The Arabs in Israel are denied their basic human rights. For example, in the field of edu cation the Arab students in Israel can hardly be admitted to colleges and if they are accepted they are restricted to certain fields. In pre college education the Arab stu dents are taught their history from the Israeli government perspec tive. Another example is em ployment. The Arabs are restricted to menial jobs, and teaching jobs in Arab schools. The teachers are only allowed to teach what is printed in books which are pub lished by the Israeli government. If they deviate from these books they will be expelled. The Arabs’ lands are continuously confis cated. The Arab population can do nothing about it. When they tried to protest in March 1976, seven Arabs were killed in cold blbod by the Israeli army. I could go on giving examples why Israel is racist. What the Zionists want is an exclusive Jewish state in Palestine. And to r accomplish that purpose, they are mistreating the Arab citizens so they will leave the country. What the Palestinians want is a secular democratic state. Arabs and Jews have lived peacefully in Palestine and it can be done again. I suggest that Mr. Berne learn more about the facts of what is actually happening in Israel, be fore jumping to its defense. Name withheld for fear of possible reprisal by the Israeli government Bookstore profits The Board of Directors of the University Bookstore has asked me to make a few remarks con cerning the level of profits at the Bookstore. At the outset I would note that the profit margin at the store runs around two percent. One might question why even this low profit level exists in a non profit organization. The answer is that some profit is essential to keep the Bookstore ahead of infla tion in prices and wages and to improve and expand services to the membership. Further, this Board feels that it would be less than responsible for it to deal with one issue of profita bility solely in terms of the current membership of the store. It has attempted instead to consider the current needs of the store mem bership as well as the future of the store and what may be required to serve members down the road. All funds not directly necessary to provide for improvement of pres ent services and for future needs are returned to store members in a number of ways. The discount on textbooks and consequent loss the Bookstore takes on each one sold is one method. Selective discounts of other merchandise and events such as the recent storewide 25 percent off sale are others. It is the policy of the Board to work with management through out the year in evaluating current —Letters — financial information about the store to make sure any surplus is returned to the membership in a timely fashion. In broad outline, this is the way in which this Board has viewed and dealt with profita bility. Two further points should be made, however. The Bookstore exists day to day by the efforts of its employees. Given the depen dence of these people and their families for sustenance on the continued health of the Bookstore operation, the Board of Directors has had additional impetus to maintain a prudent posture in re gard to profits. Finally, I feel the membership, when considering this issue, must bear in mind the difficulty of forcasting year end profits early in the year so as to distribute any excess before the year end. This Board is the first to attempt to systematically do so and has acted with utmost sincerity and good faith in its attempt. It is my hope that future Boards will follow the reasonable, prudent and well considered approach of this Board and improve upon it. Charles Lundeen President, Bookstore Board of Directors Discrimination? I am writing this letter because discrimination has become an issue here in Eugene and I feel I have been discriminated against. The subject of my discrimination was not race, color, religion or sexual orientation. I’m not sure what it was. Having been a member of the 77-78 Kamikaze Kickers and sticking with it all year, I have been interested in dancing, especially at Mac Court. As a former captain of the team, I found it difficult to be in a position of authority over my peers. I became a bitch and was demoted for my inability to be a leader. This was justly so and I continued out the year (in spite of others quitting the team due to other activites), as our group slowly decreased in number. We had a second advisor that really helped out discipline and organi zation of the group and the tension diminished somewhat. I auditioned for Oregon rally last year and was asked to be the cap tain of the new dance team, I tried and failed, I suppose. Enough for background. This year I had been anticipat ing the 78-79 rally squad try-outs for a couple of months. Because of my enthusiasm about it I was told to participating in various ac tivities to raise money for the rally and help out. So upon request I jogged in a jog-a-thon (and had three grade school kids jog with me), taught a dance at a rally workshop, posted audition publi cation around the dorms, and col lected uniforms from dance team members. I didn’t mind doing these things even though they took time from my own studies. When I came back from Spring Break, I began hearing rumors from various persons that I should not consider trying out for rally be cause the authorities (advisors, to be precise) did not want me or a person of my character (?) on the rally. I was furious and there was still about six weeks before audi tions. Now, for anyone who knows me, I am an enthusiastic, energe tic person and I love to dance. When I perform I put these traits together which enables people to enjoy themselves seeing my en thusiasm. I am not inexperienced. I have been on a performing dance team for three-years, taught grade school kids dance, and in structed a disco-dance class at a local community center this year. Nor am I perfect, but I try very hard to be good at what I do. I decided not be be discouraged by what others told me but as try outs got nearer, I began to lose faith. I did not receive telephone calls for mandatory meetings and practices and found out about them from others auditioning. I did not ‘Kiss ass’ to the authorities, I just made up my mind to do my very best and give them no reason to doubt my abil ity. I made my dance precise and was sure of my placement. I had practiced the stunts many times and felt that I could do well in front of judges. My past dedication to dance team, I felt, would help me as I’d been to every class meeting all year, participated in flashing scores at gymnastics meets and attend every performance. When I went to be judged (I was the first person) I was told I wouldn't be interviewed because I was already known. This scared -Letters me because of what I’d heard for weeks about my trying out, but I figured that it would be unfair to the other girls for me to be inter viewed. So I did my dances and stunts — with no mistakes at all. Needless to say, I didn’t pass the screen so I decided to try out for the dance team. I waited to be in formed on tryouts and I wasn’t cal led for that either. I called an ad visor and she informed me the new team had been chosen and it was too late for me to try out. I was angry and upset over this because I did sign up for dance team also. This letter is not to be jusi another griper among many but I felt I had to write this letter to keep my own sanity and pride. Don’t get me wrong. The people they chose for these squads are very good and I see a good year ahead. I only wish that I could have been a part of it. Based on the above circums tances, I feel that I have been dis criminated against not because of my ability, but perhaps because of who I know and my personality. As they have been saying, "discrimi nation has no place in Eugene.’’ Debi Dirks Elementary Education/Dance Reply to a reply May I make a reply to the reply on my letter abour dorm de molishers. If obnoxious and ex pensive behavior in a place where I live is not my business, then what is? Your letter seemed to be a temper tantrum more than any thing else. If your one most logical and intellectual way of treating someone you disagree with is by saying “blow it out your sphinc ter," I suggest you drop elemen tary ed. You still have some grow ing up to do yourself. Your attitude that says "If we want to wreck the place where you live, you’d better ignore it and keep quiet about it," seems likewise incomprehensi ble. I look forwares to your reply next fall. Lyneil Chase Junior, Journalism and Ester Hamermesz Graduate, Landscape Architec ture mv vm li twaezeo ^SIC 6 CLfM 1 MK #SkT 15 A time \ me & v%g fvcnou Ir\ my me ?6FlSCX$ *■&:■ A MPS! \ MV CCSt" {BCSMTdDKJ i.r Jt-V A 055k l I must pg A iJkk thats OK* A . c&}<! Leri IKAC* \ wmv 1UBJ If IUTO A swat l n ami wow*. im fopevett. I m &o‘. \ HO, W aiw ne \ wsr Rl<3MT' I CMT STAMP ir x PflilUP MV W5S<, r see umieH flKvtHiue. i i i I
