Set aside differences during natural disasters

Dear Editor,

It is the year 2005. Decepticons rule the planet Cybertron and Republicans rule the United States. Moralists complain about the make-believe violence in video games, but applaud real-life war. A recent tsunami left millions of Asian people homeless, dead or maimed, but the U.S. Army was too busy making war on terrorists, accused of killing thousands, to help.

People have always suffered from natural disasters. And meanwhile they are usually very good at fighting among themselves instead of helping each other out. We can’t predict when, where or how terrorists will attack, but that is the point of terrorism, to cause fear. While we are blindly striking out, we are all the more vulnerable.

But we can predict that there will be more natural disasters, and while we cannot prevent them, we can try to minimize the damage they cause or try to help people survive them. As long as we waste our efforts on causing more violence in the name of helping people, the human race itself will continue to be the biggest natural disaster and the greatest threat to itself.

Ted Bowen

Post-Undergraduate in Mathematics

“10 things” in orientation issue is best in 10 years

Dear Editor:

I was so excited when I saw the Stater’s cover, “10 Things You Should Know About Kent State.” This is the best Fall Orientation paper front page I’ve seen in the 10+ years I’ve been at Kent State. I got a real visual — a group of people got together, sat around a table and started talking about all the stories heard about the headaches and nightmares for college freshmen. Where to eat, how to deal with being homesick, how NOT to drink, how NOT to park and so on.

You hit the nail right on the head with this one, DKS. Kudos to you!

Robin Gray, Administrative Assistant

Office of the Vice President

Good parenting is good parenting in all cultures

Dear Editor:

Speaking as an “average American parent” who was raised by “average American parents,” I take offense to someone, who is NOT a parent, trying to say that her parents cared for her more than my husband and I care for our boys. Or more than our parents cared for us. Just because you do not agree with restrictions parents set for their children, or lack thereof, that doesn’t give you the right to say those parents do not care for their children. Are there bad American parents? Yes. Are there bad Iranian parents? Yes. Being a bad or good parent is not a cultural thing where you can lump them all in together. I think Ms. Pourahmady owes the “average American parents” a huge apology!

Teri K. Dunlap

Wife of Kent State Senior in Art Education

Wrong about support

Dear Editor:

We were shocked to read the Aug. 17 editorial in the Summer Kent Stater that claimed a lack of support by AAUP-KSU’s two bargaining units for AFCME’s negotiations once these faculty units had reached tentative agreements themselves. There is simply no basis for this inaccurate claim. The reality is that all three bargaining units have been working closely together and plan to continue to do so. While the reporting in the Summer Kent Stater has generally been first-rate, it is unfortunate (and poor journalism) that the editorial board would craft such an editorial so totally out-of-line with the facts of the situation and without checking with the principal parties involved.

Ray Davis/President, AFSCME

Tracy Laux/President, AAUP-KSU TT Unit

Cheryl Casper/President, AAUP-KSU TT Unit