Letters to the Editor

Army recruiters have always used tricks, get over it

In response to your article “Combat and the campus” published on Oct. 10, I have to say that recruiters have used every trick in the book to get me signed up prior to college. I may have plans to join the armed forces after my graduation, but I did not fall for some of the blatantly obvious tricks to get me signed up.

I once received a call just saying, “Hey, Logan, this is Ron, give me a call at (phone number).” Of course I knew no Ron and was smart enough to check the reverse directory to find it to be the phone number for the Army recruitment office.

So essentially––people who join the Army do so either because: a) They want to for whatever reason, politically, financially or otherwise or b) They fell for what I equate to a used-car salesman speech.

Don’t get me wrong, I supported both wars and still do in a way––but quite frankly, if people are not intelligent enough to see through the Army’s need to fill a quota, then they have it coming.

They are not being drafted. They are signing up to be paid for assisting a war effort. If they can’t wrap their heads around that and enlist anyway, then, as callous as it sounds, they deserve whatever’s coming to them.

Get over it, let people take responsibility for their own actions instead of trying to protect them. Isn’t that what anti-war people want, accountability? It goes both ways. If you want to fight a draft that’s your thing, but there is no draft; these people are choosing to go into the Army. If they don’t expect to go into a war then they aren’t that bright.

Logan Rapp
political science, sophomore

A dollar goes a long way

War, natural disaster, rebuilding a nation. This country has gone through a lot in recent times. With a large portion of the country being bruised and battered beyond belief, there is much to be done. Right now we have an opportunity to make an important difference in the lives of others.

It has been several weeks since Hurricane Katrina literally swept the Gulf Coast off its feet - and not in a romantic way either. We have seen vast coverage of these events and felt the emotions of remorse, anguish and empathy.

If the essence of a university is not simply to learn, but to share, then this can be a fantastic opportunity for each of us to unite and respond to this national disaster.

There are more than 60 student organizations and individuals on this campus alone that have helped in this cause. We all have the same goal, so why not unite?

There is a movement going on at Fresno State that requires the assistance of each and every individual who attends a class, teaches a class or works on campus. It’s called the Fresno State Hurricane Relief Project.

All it takes is $1. Everyone should donate to this campus-wide project.

If that happens, together we will raise over $23,000 towards helping hurricane victims rebuild their homes and lives.

An event of this magnitude has rarely, if ever, occurred. This could be remembered as one of the defining moments of our university’s history.

Drop off your donation at the Civic Engagement and Service-Learning Office in Science I, room 136. This is not just fund raising, but life re-building.

Sundeep Dillon
graduate studies

Dear Eminent Commander

The Collegian is published three times a week, times four equals 12, and I have seen something “Greek” in a majority of at least 12 Collegians, including inserts (you mentioned Greek eight times in your letter, so does that mean we’re at our quota for the month?)

If you personally know The Collegian has failed to receive press releases, ask yourself who forgot to send them and whose fault is that?

If you can’t concentrate on your classes, I suggest you quit reading “Wasted Daze.” This should be a no-brainer. Parodies and opinions are protected by the First Amendment, which is how your letter got printed.

While we’re on the subject, did you know that Greek philosophy is stolen Egyptian philosophy? Greek civilization was around for five thousand years before being invited to study in Egypt (Kemet) by African scholars and philosophers. During those first 5,000 years, the Greeks spent much of the time fighting each other or the Persians. Greeks couldn’t read or write until the Egyptians (Africans) taught them how.

Historians won’t account for Socrates between the ages of 18 and 40. He was in Egypt (Africa) learning how the Earth revolves around the Sun, and not the other way around. This is why Socrates had to drink hemlock. You claim Greeks have been negatively stereotyped for 20 years, but Africans have been negatively stereotyped for 500 years...what’s your point?

One last thing. Did you know that white people’s history only goes back to the Greeks?

Before you throw in the race card, you need to know that I am white. I refer you to two books, “Stolen Legacy” by George G.M. James, and “Nile Valley Contributions to Civilization” by Anthony T. Browder.
Bon Appetit!

Kathleen Elias
Africana studies and criminology, senior

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