j^ovember 29,2001
The Blue Banner
Page 3
Opinions
Letters to the Editor
Time to get the
lead out
Pear Editor:
Did you know that you can have
j’our drinking water and home
tested for possible pollutants by
trained laboratory professionals
^ight here on campus for a very low
nd affordable price?
Do you want to be certain that
|rour friends and family are safe
from lead, copper, and arsenic?
The Environmental Quality In
stitute is a laboratory located in
loom 209 Rhodes-Robinson Hall
on the campus of UNCA, which
works to serve the local community
through research, public service,
education, water quality monitor
ing and consumer product testing.
The EQI operates not for profit,
tut in order to improve under
standing and knowledge about en
vironmental problems facing citi
zens inside and outside of North
Carolina.
The EQI relies primarily on grants
from organizations interested in
helping the local community and
the environment as a whole.
Specifically, the Clean Water
Lead T esting Fund of North Caro
lina allows all residents of the U.S.
(including UNCA students and
their parents, guardians, or bene
factors) to obtain laboratory grade
analysis of lead, copper, and arsenic
samples at a very affordable cost to
the consumer.
It has both nationwide and state
wide certification to analyze indi
viduals’ water samples for lead, cop
per, and arsenic.
These three metals can be ex
tremely dangerous if present in
water resources, especially to chil
dren.
Possible sources of these pollut
ants include: tainted well water,
plumbing fixtures and water meters,
plastic mini-blinds and paint.
In addition to drinking water test
ing, the Environmental Quality
Institute can also test your house
for lead-laden dust, paint and soil.
The prices of the analysis along
with information about obtaining
a sampling kit can be obtained by
calling EQI at 828-251-6895 or
you can visit us online at
www.unca.edu/eqi/.
Lots of very useful information
can also be obtained from the Clean
Water Lead Testing website
www.leadtesting.org.
Its time to spread the word about
a healthy environment, and to Get
the Lead Out!
Jacob Berkowitz
Junior, Environmental Science
t>owr\(>reak ^
Mirage
Asheville Music Zone
9pm Tuesday
December 4th
Trash becomes
another’s treasure
1
WALTER FYLER/PHOl O EDITOR
Dan Millspaugh of the art department demonstrates the
separation process of flush valves salvaged from Governor s
Village dormatories before its destruction. The valves will be
used for future art projects.
Response to
Rothman’s letter
Dear Editor:
As is tradition amongst all Jews,
first I will greet you David, Shalom
Chaver.
David, as I read your scathing
article in theNov. 15 edition of 7"/!?
Blue Banner, I can only wonder if
you have ever lived in Israel. David,
for numerous years I have feared
that the destruction of the Jewish
people will not be caused by the
Arabs but rather by the ignorance
of our people.
Mr. Rothman, you fail to under
stand that since 1948, 20,000 in
nocent Israelis were killed because
they were Jews. It is not shameful or
wrong to be a proud Jew.
First and foremost, I have never
suggested that Jewish injustice is
worse than Muslim injustice. How
ever, the level of injustice in the
Islamic World goes far and beyond
the injustice committed by Israelis.
Israel is not a perfect country, nor
is the United States, nevertheless.
Mr. Rothman, I urge you to spend
one month in the Middle East, first
spend two weeks in Israel, then
spend two weeks in any Muslim
country of your choice. After you
have finished your tour, I want you
to write another article in The Blue
Banner.
Furthermore David, if being a Zi
onist, being part of Am Yisrael
(People of Israel), wanting a uni
fied Jewish Jerusalem, and if want
ing a strong Israel with secure bor
ders is anti-Arab, then I am anti-
Arab.
Last summer David, I had the
honor to meet Druze (Sect of Is
lam), soldiers and officers and who
have served and continue to serve
with dignity and honor in the Israel
Defense Forces. As a Jew and as a
Zionist, I was proud to have met
them and we owe a solemn debt to
those Arabs who do serve Israel
proudly.
Again David, I have to say that
you are speaking of ignorance and
lack of knowledge. The cycle of
violence began with the signing of
the Oslo Treaty (great for toilet
paper usage) eight years ago when
the late Prime Minister and Chief
of the IDF General Staff Yitzhak
Rabin (may he rest in peace) had
the dubious pleasure of shaking the
hand of Yasser Arafat, who has the
blood of hundreds of Jews on his
own hands.
You stated David, that the struggle
between Israel and the Palestinians
is not analogous with each other.
Let’s do a compare and contrast
between the Sept. 11 attack in New
York City and Washington, D.C.,
and the massacre of 24 children on
a Kibbutz in Northern Israel called
Ma’alot in 1974.
David, correct me or not, but I
believe that the people who initi
ated these terrorist attacks want the
destruction of the U.S. and the
State of Israel.
Is that not the same? David, your
political correctness is exactly what
the U.S. does not need, especially
Israel.
You stated that you are ashamed
to be associated with me or with
Ariel Sharon.
David, we live in a democracy,
and you have a right to believe that.
Before you call Ariel Sharon a
mamze, enlighten yourself and read
about how Ariel Sharon has fought
and risked his life more times than
you have gone to your favorite cof
fee house to sip lattes and discuss
subjects you know nothing about.
I am certain you have already made
up your mind on the subject of
Sharon, however, I have hope for
you David, so I will try to enlighten
you.
In 1948, Sharon fought with the
Palmach which were the first fight
ing units of the State of Israel before
the creation of the Israel Defense
Forces. In 1953, Sharon established
unit 101.
Unit 101 was an anti-terrorist unit
that would go into Jordan or Egypt
and do what we should be doing,
killing terrorist. In 1956, Sharon,
as a Lieutenant Colonel, led unit
101 in a paratroop drop behind
Egyptian lines, which allowed for
regular units of the Israeli Army to
pour into the Sinai and defeat them.
In 1967, as a Major-General, he
commanded the Southern Com
mand, where he destroyed the Egyp
tian Army that had boasted it was
already in Tel-Aviv, pushing the
Jews into the Mediterranean.
In 1973, when Egypt and Syria
surprise attacked the Jewish People
on Yom Kippur, our most holiest
of all holidays, Sharon again, as
Major General, led a Reserve Ar
mored Division into the Sinai.
In 1979 and 1981, as Defense
Minister he was responsible for
throwing out Arafat and destroying
his proxy state in South Lebanon.
Ariel Sharon is a hero of the Jewish
People; I hope you have been en
lightened.
Finally, David, I will say that you
have a right to make every false
statement you want as long as no
one gets hurt or you are inciting.
In the U.S., which I will argue is a
world model of how a country
should operate and function, you
have the right to chastise me or say
what you please.
Here is something even more ex
citing: even in Israel you can say
exactly what you want and do what
you want. In the Islamic World you
cannot.
David, please do not misunder
stand me. I realize that you come
from sheltered academia, and I am
impressed with your political sci
ence degree, but please spare us
your political correctness and go to
Israel and meet victims of terror,
wake up at 4:30 in the morning to
car bombs, listen to Arabs shouting
“Death to Jews,” and then we can
talk.
Shalom
AM YISRAEL CHAI
Avi Mechanic
Junior, Economics
In Mechanic’s
defense
Dear Editor:
It is a testimony of praise to The
Blue Banner that David Rothman
and other alumni keep reading our
paper even after years have passed
since their graduation.
However, Mr. Rothman unfairly
portrayed Avi Mechanic as coming
off as anti-Arab. Having read most
if not all of Mr. Mechanic's articles,
I think that Mr. Mechanic is anti
terrorist, not anti-Arab.
Can we blame Mr. Mechanic for
the fact that more than half of the
world’s terrorism is commited by
Muslims?
No we can't.
Mr. Mechanic also seems to have
a very good grasp on the political
situation in the Middle East, al
most as if he has spent a substantial
amount of time there.
I praise Mr. Mechanic for his real
istic view that transcends the ivory-
tower theories of political science
textbooks.
Thank you, Mr. Mechanic for
standing alone against the mob and
bringing balance and a fresh per
spective to our campus.
Matthew Deal
Senior, Classics
Asheviile Parks and Recre
ation is seeking volunteers to|
help with First Night
Asheville, a big Nev/ Year's |
Party to be held at the Civic j
Center. Each volunteer will
receive a limited-edition Yea^
2002 long-sleeve t*shirt and.
a complimentary ticket so.
they can enjoy the festivities|
before or after their shift.
Contact Bob Applegate atl
Photo contest winner
¥
Congratulations to Jack and Katie Senechal, The Blue Banners photo contest winner for the week of Nov. 29, with their photograph
taken in Australia.