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
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