Trisler’s column does not reveal true Bush
Two words effectively characterize J. Colin Trisler’s column: dead wrong.
“Sometimes it [war] is the only option.” Sometimes war is, however, this is not one of those times. It is to fool oneself to believe that we were left with no other options. I am no appeaser, nor do I particularly care for Germany or France, but the manner in which George Bush so arrogantly and wrongfully engaged the rest of the world was disgraceful.
Top CIA analysts speaking out months after Colin Powell’s UN speech stated they were laughing while he addressed the world. They were moved to hilarity because he knew what they knew: the intelligence he was advancing as conclusive had been considered discredited for some time. Again, to pretend war was the only option is to delude oneself.
“But freedom is the most admirable of concepts, one that is definitely worth fighting and dying for.” Very admirable, and very true, if only it were applicable in this case. We were the aggressors in this unjust war and the 17 UN resolutions don’t change that.
Saddam Hussein had not attacked us, he did not have weapons to attack us, and the Bush administration knew it — the Kay Report is the first step in proving this and history will be the true vindicator of Bush detractors. This administration was so deceitful and shameless in manipulating the nationalism of our honorable soldiers that it asked them to risk their lives for an unjust war — I want to wail every time I think of those 500 plus Americans’, and thousands of Iraqi lives George Bush ordered spilled.
“…are the ones who are lying to and misleading America about the terrorist threat…” You still conveniently overlook the fact that Saddam Hussein never has been linked to the terrorist threat, or al Qaida. It is intellectually and journalistically dishonest to gloss over this fact — it IS error by omission! “Do they really think America and the world would be better off…” So simplistic and so extremely dishonest. Of course the world is better off (for now), but if that were the standard, I’m afraid Saddam would not have been the first target. You should be ashamed of yourself for perpetuating this nonsense –there is NO logical justification for attacking Saddam, now or ever.
He was not the greatest threat to American security and it won’t become more true no matter how many times you say it — you know it, I know it, the intelligence community knows it and the shameless president knows it.
One of these days, preferably sooner than later, people like you are going to be blessed with a moment of clairvoyance and wisdom and realize that this administration’s, and your own, logic does not hold up under scrutiny. There were much graver threats to American security both then and now. Why can’t you understand that? You are lying to yourself, and your readers, when you suggest that Saddam Hussein was in bed with Osama bin Laden — you imply it in your article, but you don’t say explicitly because you KNOW it’s not true; the same thing the Bush administration did for months!
I plead with you, I beg you and I implore you to open your eyes and realize how corrupt this administration truly is. The blood of those people who honorably followed the orders of their Commander-in-Chief is on the hands of Mr. Bush.
The debate has moved beyond whether Mr. Bush is intellectually capable. It now is apparent that his hubris is what we should have feared most!
Peter Ragusa
LSU Alumnus
Southern and LSU should not merge
I must say that Hannah Anderson’s idealistic plan to merge LSU and Southern is both unrealistic, and I daresay, detrimental to the cultural and academic prosperity of both colleges.
Southern became a traditionally black college because of its heritage and the fact that many black students choose to go there, not because they are forced to attend. I know several black students at LSU as well as white students at Southern. None of them, in action or character, resemble “Token” from South Park, and they would probably be quite offended to be referred to as such.
Is Anderson blind to the cultural diversity present here at LSU? I see a plethora of different ethnic backgrounds every day. In truth, a black student here at LSU is much less likely to be the victim of racism than a white student at Southern. History has taught us that tolerance and acceptance cannot be forced down the throats of the general public by governmental policy. So what would combining these two schools accomplish? I do know that LSU, with its Flagship Agenda, is now striving to become one of the premier universities in the nation, and in doing so, is raising admission requirements. It would only hurt LSU to combine its funding and academic efforts with a college whose admission requirements are much lower than its own. A student choosing to attend an institute of higher learning takes many factors into consideration. There are always going to be colleges that appeal to certain cultural sections of society. A black college is no different than a college that appeals to Catholics, Baptists, or liberals. Also, a university that is attempting to excel in the collegiate academic community must accept only the students that will help achieve that goal. However, there will always be colleges for those who cannot or choose not to meet the standard of a more intellectually prestigious university.
A black student who has good grades and standardized test scores may or may not choose to attend LSU for his or her own reasons, just as a white student may choose to attend Southern if his grades are not quite acceptable for LSU’s standards.
Why have a mediocre school, when we can have one that is good and one that is great?
Wilks Holmes
Freshman
Biochemistry
SG president urges student support
Dear Student Body,
I am writing to inform you that the Metro Council will meet next Wednesday, February 25, 2004, to consider a change to East Baton Rouge Law that would ban all 18 to 20 year olds from entering bars.
This issue is something that I see as a shortsighted approach to a complex problem. Imagine not being able to hear live music or enjoy the environment of many of the entertainment venues of Baton Rouge until you are 21.
The limitation of our age group is not the solution to fix problem, and underage drinking. Please join me at the Council meeting next Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 in the Governmental Building, 222 St. Louis St., room 364 to give your input.
Allen Richey
Student Body President