2008 Woodie Awards
Letters to the Editor
Issue date: 4/21/08 Section: Op-Ed
To the Editor:
The article "Don't Extinguish the Torch", from the Apr. 14 issue of The Quad, displays what I believe to be an inverted set of values. Too bad for the poor Americans, it says, who were not able to enjoy the torch running. Is that really the important issue, or is it the human rights abuses by China? What is the real travesty - abuses of human rights or people (who the article calls "bad apples") standing up on behalf of the victims of those abuses? The torch relay, being subject to worldwide publicity, is an opportunity to raise awareness and express disapproval for the situations in Tibet and Sudan. But according to the article, this tarnishes the sacred Olympic spirit, symbolic of peace, hope, etc. That is to say, it is important above all to feign unity in order to play some games; therefore we must refrain from crying out against actual injustices causing actual suffering in people's real lives.
Tony White
WCU Graduate Student
To the Editor:
It is admirable that the Honors College has mobilized the consciousness and the conscience of the community to see something of what is going on in one of the many other places in the world. Truly, this is part of what every institution of higher learning should see as part of its educational mission. While it seems you and they have a full plate of activities already, let me suggest one more that might catch your attention. Global Camps Africa is using camp as a vehicle for HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention in South Africa.??By giving children and youth (3,300 in 4 years) the best time of their lives and lacing it with a steady and relentless educational component of prevention and awareness, Camp Sizanani has been the largest prevention mechanism in the Soweto community. As there are 6 camps a year, it provides an opportunity for volunteers to come from WCU and other places to give two weeks in working directly with children affected by HIV/AIDS. Sparrow Village, which you already support, has sent children to camp. If volunteering doesn't work out, toiletries, children's shoes and cash are also appreciated.??
The article "Don't Extinguish the Torch", from the Apr. 14 issue of The Quad, displays what I believe to be an inverted set of values. Too bad for the poor Americans, it says, who were not able to enjoy the torch running. Is that really the important issue, or is it the human rights abuses by China? What is the real travesty - abuses of human rights or people (who the article calls "bad apples") standing up on behalf of the victims of those abuses? The torch relay, being subject to worldwide publicity, is an opportunity to raise awareness and express disapproval for the situations in Tibet and Sudan. But according to the article, this tarnishes the sacred Olympic spirit, symbolic of peace, hope, etc. That is to say, it is important above all to feign unity in order to play some games; therefore we must refrain from crying out against actual injustices causing actual suffering in people's real lives.
Tony White
WCU Graduate Student
To the Editor:
It is admirable that the Honors College has mobilized the consciousness and the conscience of the community to see something of what is going on in one of the many other places in the world. Truly, this is part of what every institution of higher learning should see as part of its educational mission. While it seems you and they have a full plate of activities already, let me suggest one more that might catch your attention. Global Camps Africa is using camp as a vehicle for HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention in South Africa.??By giving children and youth (3,300 in 4 years) the best time of their lives and lacing it with a steady and relentless educational component of prevention and awareness, Camp Sizanani has been the largest prevention mechanism in the Soweto community. As there are 6 camps a year, it provides an opportunity for volunteers to come from WCU and other places to give two weeks in working directly with children affected by HIV/AIDS. Sparrow Village, which you already support, has sent children to camp. If volunteering doesn't work out, toiletries, children's shoes and cash are also appreciated.??
RSS Feed
Be the first to comment on this story