Dear editor:

I understand the good-natured intent of the activities on Monday and Wednesday morning/afternoon outside the USU; what I don’t understand is how poorly it was executed.­ I know people who had classes in Speech Arts during that time and I work in McLane Hall during that time.

To say myself, the people who attended class, the professors I spoke to afterward, and the people I work with were distracted, annoyed or downright angry would be a gross understatement.­ The short-sightedness and ignorance of blasting music when people are in class or working is only topped by the short-sightedness and ignorance of the people who continually approve to carry out these wayward ideas.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions and it was hell being in class or working while this was all going on.­ I would hope that some thought to the people who are actually in class or working (professors and office staff alike) during this time would be taken into consideration next time, but excuse me if I’m extremely doubtful of that.

Christopher Moss

Communication

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Dear editor:

Ambrose Bierce, in his 1875 satirical reference book “Devil’s Dictionary,” defines patriotism as: “Combustible rubbish ready to the torch of any one ambitious to illuminate his name.”­ William Flores-Lemus’ letter underscores a major contemporary issue, immigration, yet it is short-sighted because of its sentimentalism.

In a time when most countries in the world have been forced to redefine their ideas of Nationalism and Citizenship due to pressures from the international community, why shouldn’t the United States be asked to do the same, however minimal, when the pressure comes from internal communities?

The challenge is: Where does the discourse on Citizenship and American identity start? The rebellion from English rule? Genocide of Native Americans? Enslavement of Africans? Indentured slaves? America hasn’t fully reconciled these contradictions, even with the country’s celebration of the erection of Dr. Martin Luther King’s statue. Contemporary issues of immigration only highlight this dilemma, especially once the mass exodus of Eastern Europeans, South East Asians (who sought refuge after World Wars I and II and Vietnam to America) is considered.

Who better to begin America’s reexamining of its laws on immigration and citizenship than neighboring countries?

W.E.B Dubois in his “Souls of Black Folk” said the problem of the 20th century was the color line. I think we can further his claim and say the problem of the 21st century is the color line and the geographical citizenship line.

Dalitso Ruwe

Cultural Anthropology

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Dear editor:

Objectivity is tough to maintain when Fresno State habitually gets embarrassed on national TV. Sure, Coach Hill has “resurrected” Fresno State’s football program, but is the trend onward and upward? Or alarmingly stagnant?

The Fresno Bee’s Bryant-Jon Anteola’s article published Oct. 19, 2011, made it difficult for me to keep my recently eaten turkey sandwich out of my trash bin. I was not upset about local recruits playing for a rival school; rather, I was sickened to hear how Mr. Hill simply offered most local recruits who grew up wearing cardinal red the cold shoulder.

Illustration by Rebekah Franklin / The Collegian

What is more disheartening is these recruits annually beat Fresno State on the football field (0-3 vs. Nevada since 2008). Mr. Hill needs to learn about hospitality. How long must the Valley settle for cold shoulders? How long must the Valley settle for mediocrity? As the BSU game on Oct. 7 painfully highlighted, how long must Bulldog fans hope to see a “sea of red” at Bulldog Stadium instead of blood baths? Sure, Mr. Hill made Fresno State football relevant last decade. But what has he done for the fan base lately?

In an attempt to remain truly objective, what better way to gauge Mr. Hill’s on-field performance than bowl games (neutral field, evenly matched opponent, weeks to prepare)? Mr. Hill is 4-7 in bowl games. Losing to a “directional” school (e.g. Northern Illinois)on national TV was humiliating. Perhaps Mr. Hill has done something for fans lately ”” high blood pressure.

Matthew St. Germain