Simple Logic

Thank you, Adam, for the floor. As a Middle Eastern Christian, your comments certainly did not represent my views. It may not have been appropriate to shout obscenities at people peacefully demonstrating, but with all due respect, I find your assertion that this demonstrates the perversion of homosexuality to be absurd (“You have the floor,” Nov. 24, p.5) If people’s responses to other viewpoints are an example of their sexual orientation’s perversion, then heterosexuals like me must be really sick. Five heterosexuals gang raped a lesbian when she was walking home from the Black Cat nightclub in September of this year. Heterosexuals have murdered homosexuals such as Matthew Shepard, who was beaten to death for being gay. If the worst thing homosexuals do is swear, then you have to wonder how perverse we heterosexuals are.

To clarify, I think your perversion logic is wholly irrational. I don’t deem any whole people perverse based on what some people do. Furthermore, I could see myself spurting out expletives if a bunch of people marched saying that all Arabs are a threat to our society. I bet even you might respond in such a fashion, Mr. Ramey. The reason for this is simple; bigotry hurts. Now, as Christians, I would imagine that neither of us would support judging people. Would we?

As someone who supports civil liberties, I support the free speech rights of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property. At the same time, as a decent human being, I oppose their message. These guys publish a newsletter titled “The Crusade.” That alone discredits their message. If they support religious wars, let them go camp out with bin Laden.
–Timothy Kaldas, Sophomore

Right-wing radicals

As a conservative, it upsets me to see groups like the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property parade around our campus. First off, nothing in the conservative playbook says anything about red armbands, huge banners and bagpipes. They look like a bunch of Nazis!

Second, it is important to explain that TFP in no way represents any mainstream conservative voice. It is a fundamentalist Catholic group based in Brazil, and it largely revolves around its founder, Plinio Correa de Oliveira. On their Web site, they extol the Crusades and denounce everything from abortion to modern art.

These folks are truly the LaRouche of the Right. Democrats and Republicans alike should condemn the TFP, and conservatives in particular should make sure not to be confused with this fringe group.
–Matt Baer, Junior

Attitude adjustment

As an alumnus of GW, I frequently read The Hatchet’s online edition to keep up to date on what is happening with my alma mater. I cannot express how bewildered I was when I read about the recent action taken by the Foggy Bottom Association against GW (“Community Group Files Complaint Over GW Gates,” Nov. 24, pg. 1). Unfortunately, however, I was not surprised.

During my time at GW, I believed that both GW and the non-University community were in the right at various times. In the interest of progress and harmony, both must begin to make assiduous efforts to heal past and current wounds.

Fighting neighbors will never be at rest, and the continuous waging of such childish battles will only waste time and resources. The University needs to realize the historic character of Foggy Bottom, and it should work to maintain and improve that atmosphere; in my view, GW has often behaved recklessly toward this end.

However, the non-University Foggy Bottom community needs to realize GW’s right to pursue academic freedom and expansion and the benefit GW brings to the area in pursuit of that end. These include a highly regarded university, a world-class hospital, a political debate show, public performances and events and – in the issue before us now – the beautification of a walkway that, before the gates, was a drab and unpleasant area in Foggy Bottom. By erecting the gates, GW made a much-needed improvement that has benefited the neighborhood’s aesthetics.

The FBA’s silly complaint is a step back from what should be the ultimate goal of cooperation. It’s time for both sides to examine what the other is saying and to not complain or invade at every opportunity.
–David Johnson, GW Alumnus

The law does matter

In your Nov. 24 edition you published an editorial (“FBA Frivolity, pg. 4) in which you chided the Foggy Bottom Association for “continuing to initiate frivolous complaints” in relation to actions taken by GW – in this instance, our complaint filed with the city concerning the iron gates (actually fences) constructed at the entrances to the I Street pedestrian mall. Let me assure you that this and the other issues that the FBA has addressed in relation to GW are far from frivolous; they are serious issues for those of us who reside in Foggy Bottom and who are committed to the survival of our residential neighborhood and its quality of life. Far from being “a radical fringe”- an ongoing litany of University managers – our Association represents over 400 dues-paying residents.

Let me remind you of the facts in this case. A public street (I Street between 23rd and 24th streets) was closed by the city and vested in GW without compensation. In return for this largess on the part of the city, GW entered into a covenant with the city in which it agreed to grant “a perpetual easement and right of way unto the District of Columbia and to the public over that property.” GW also agreed that it would not construct “any buildings or improvements on the property constituting the closed street, other than those improvements reasonably necessary for the use and enjoyment of the public right of way.” The covenant contains no language that would allow the University or the city to change this part of the agreement.

A covenant is a binding contract, yet GW has willfully violated the terms of that contract by building the large gates on either end of the pedestrian mall. Frankly, I am amazed that The Hatchet seems not to understand that all law-abiding citizens have a legitimate right and responsibility to be concerned about any breach of contract with our city government. GW has broken the law, and it should be called to account. Breaking the law matters very much indeed.
–Ronald Cocome, President, Foggy Bottom Association