Letters to the Editor

3/13/08 7:00pm

Civic duty requires insight and concernTo the editor:

As the next generation of leaders, Rice University students are called to partake in the political processes of this country. They are obliged to learn the issues and to act on them. However, they must not forget the homes they have left and should tend to the communities that nurtured them. University students have the unique power to strategically decide where to register to vote. This may seem Machiavellian, but I implore members of the Rice community to exercise their constitutionally-given right to vote where they believe their voice matters the most.

I speak mostly to suburban Houston residents who compose a strong and vibrant part of the Rice population. The district 22 congressional race to determine who fills the post once held by Tom DeLay remains of critical importance. Democrat Nick Lampson currently holds the position but expects to face a significant challenge from the Republican nominee, who will be determined in a runoff election on April 8.

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Voters need to explore the two GOP candidates rather than depend on name recognition. On the night of the primaries, Republican Shelley Sekula-Gibbs finished first despite her poor record. During her brief stint in Congress finishing DeLay's term, she found the limelight of C-SPAN cameras more appealing than breaking ground for sensible policies. Her reputation for opportunism and unprofessional behavior mars her legacy. I admit I have not fully looked into her opponent, Republican Pete Olson (Jones '85),

but as a responsible citizen, I plan to do so. Nonetheless, Olson's status as a fellow Rice alumnus has its appeal. His venture into public service also proves that individuals of all backgrounds can participate in performing their civic duties, as Olson graduated with a computer science degree.

Leonard Chan

Lovett '07

Obama's associations contradict columnist

To the editor:

In response to Evan Mintz's article about Barack Obama's Jewishness, I think a closer look at Senator Obama's past may prove Mintz wrong ("Obama displays qualities of prime Jewish candidate," Feb. 29).

Obama belongs to Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, which is headed by Rev. Jeremiah Wright, a long time supporter of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. Wright, in addition to making anti-Semitic comments equating Zionism with racism and calling 9/11 a "wake up call" for White America, praises Farrakhan as "a catalyst for change," despite Farrakhan's labeling of Judaism as a "gutter religion" and his depiction of Jews as "bloodsuckers."

Obama, who calls Wright his mentor, has been a member of Wright's church since 1988; had Wright reside over his marriage and had his two daughters baptized by him. Yet, despite his loving words for his anti-Semitic pastor, Obama cleverly has disinvited Wright from all campaign activities after Wright's admission that his involvement would cause Obama's Jewish support to "dry up quicker than a snowball in hell."

In recent weeks, Obama has publicly denounced some of Wright's views, yet he still remains a member of Wright's church. Senator Obama has already frightened foreign policy experts with his admission that he would invade Pakistan and that he would sit down and talk with some of the world's most evil dictators without stipulations. Although Obama may fool the rest of America, the Jewish community should open its eyes to Senator Obama's hateful friends.

Matt Wasserman

Martel freshman

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