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Show Your Opinion PAGE A4 The war against FUD "Buzz words" tools of political spin rather than objective labels Ron Cardon Opinions Writer Misnomers often go unnoticed and are usually unchallenged. Eventually they are accepted. Misnomers often are the result of a deliberate attempt to mischaracterize something to either make it seem better or worse than it really is. The latter practice is also known as FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) in an effort to cause confusion. Some of my favorite FUD misnomers are ones that are used by the left and the media in recent times in an effort to demonize a situation, making it seem worse than it is. One such example is the reference to the recent war as a "preemptive" strike. The threat in Iraq did not simply appear overnight after September 11, 2001, but has been an ongoing struggle to rein in Saddam Hussein after his invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Ever since the end of the first Gulf War, U.N. sanctions were put in place in an effort to make him disarm his nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons programs; of which at that time he was either known to have had in operation or was in the pursuit thereof. Seventeen U.N. resolutions and 12 years later he was still playing a cat and mouse game, which is what led to recent events. The recent war was the closing, rather than the opening act. While on that topic, there is another well-known and overused misnomer perpetuated by the liberal media: "unilateral." The claim that the United States was acting "unilaterally" or "going it alone" is so false it's absurd. The fact of the matter is that we had over 30 allied countries working together. The fact that we had the support of a majority of the members of the U.N. has always been eclipsed by the biggest dissenters, Germany, Russia, and France, the latter two having veto power. The reason why the resolution to actually go to war with Iraq never went to vote is because it was known that France would veto, thereby single-handedly deciding international policy. Another misnomer that is overused today is "insurgent" in describing thefightingin Iraq. An insurgent by definition is "a person who rises in revolt against civil authority or an established government; especially one not recognized as a belligerent." Seeing as there has not been an established government in Iraq since the fall of Hussein's regime and our military presence there does not qualify as such either, this word is hardly appropriate. It is also well known that many of the enemies against coalition forces are not even Iraqis, but are, in fact, imported for killing. Let's call them what they really are: terrorists! Finally, the one on the home front that is scaring grandma and grandpa is "privatization." Used in reference to Social Security reform, the word "privatization" simply means a "total change" from one form to another. Fortunately, anyone with the facts knows that this is not the case. Social Security reform as outlined by President Bush is the option to put some monies into a private account. Quite a bit different from the "privatization" scare tactic that the Democrats are using. Next time you hear a buzz word, think about what it means versus what it is describing, and you will get a better sense of truth out of it. The FUD stops here. Dating and baseball America's pastimes compared Robert Nelsen Opinions Writer I have decided not to date anymore. I know what you are thinking, "But Robby, couldn't this destroy the entire global economy, bring utter destruction to democracy, or worse increase the penguin related deaths in Antarctica?" Yes, I know the possible consequences; luckily none of these will really happen. Don't get me wrong; I like girls. I like them as much now as ever. I have just given up on the whole dating scene; it's too much work. I would rather skip the whole dating bit and go right into arranged marriage. I don't know how much I would trust my parents, but at least I know my dad would find me a rich girl, and that would have its advantages. We make dating into too much of a game. For example, I'll compare my dating life to baseball. I am a great starting pitcher; I can talk to any girl, make her laugh, and sometimes spark some interest. I am great through six or even up to eight innings...and then comes the ninth. I am not a closing pitcher, never have been, by that time my arm is worn out and all I throw is home runs. I need a closer to come in and relieve me. When it comes to sealing the deal I always seem to end up in the ever-feared "friend zone." Unfortunately when you are in the friend zone you are stuck there for the rest of time. Also, we guys are pretty slow sometimes and it would just be a lot easier if you ladies, would say, sometime during the date, "Hey Robby I like you, you should give me a goodnight kiss," or if you're not attracted, you could always say "Thanks for the free food and movie but I'm not interested," That's a hint I can understand. Though I don't know why any girl would say she isn't interested in me; I think I am the next Fabio...except my hair is shorter, I have never been on the cover of a romance novel, and I don't have one of those sexy accents. For the sake of democracy, the global economy, and the entire population of Antarctica, let's make this dating game a little easier. Staff and Faculty Corner... Fahrenheit 9/11 did what mainstream media would not Alexander Simon Letters to the Editor... LETTERS TO THE EDITOR * E-Mail letters to uvscopinions@hotmail.com * The NetXNews room is located on campus in SC220. * All letters become property of NetXNews and may be edited for content, specifically clarity, length or other concerns at the discretion of the Opinions Editor. * Letters marked by their succinctness are more likely to be published; letters between 50-250 words are encouraged. * Letters must be accompanied by full name, address, and phone number for verification purposes (contact information will not be published). Occupation, title or major is optional. Vagina Monologues and victims of abuse mqre important than Michael Moore and D.L.C. Dear Editor, I was very disturbed when I read the most recent issue of the College Times with its informal, half-hearted article on the Vagina Monologues. Even though it is continually listed as one of the reasons we did not receive our funding, compared to the Michael Moore visit, it received little coverage. How many articles have been about Michael Moore? Too many to count; in fact they still continue to pop up from time to time. But something as direly important as the Vagina Monologues got a grand total of six vague paragraphs. Half of the people walking this school are women. And one in four of them have been abused in their lives. One in four. The Vagina Monologues very bluntly addresses that fact. It shows women that they are not alone; no matter how isolated they may feel. Frankly that is more important than Michael Moore, Nelly and mock gambling combined. If UVSC does not receive their library for another year, because women are standing up for themselves and saying enough, then I say we can wait another year. If just one woman overcomes abuse, then it was well worth the wait. Toni Mutter Orem Elementary Ed Major Vagina Moral Monologues judgements act of sometimes bravery arbitrary Dear Editor, As an adjunct instructor here at UVSC, I am concerned about the narrow mindedness of some of my students. The other day when some students were complaining about the "liberal" student newspaper, especially its use of the word "vagina" on the front page, I decided to investigate the issue for myself. So I read Errin Julkennen's article about her reasons for bringing "The Vagina Monologues" to UVSC. Afterwards I was very impressed. This was an act of bravery! Too often this community is content only to see the positive and happy side of life. Illustrating the prevalence of abuse in this community is important and valuable; thanks Errin fordoing it! Dear Editor, As reported recently in your pages, John Valentine, President of the Utah State Senate, claims that he's "having a hard time convincing some of [hisj colleagues, even in Utah County, that the school is going in the right direction." Judging from the furor over our supposedly "controversial activities" - exercising the right of free speech and teaching books by gay and lesbian writers, for instance -1 think it's pretty clear what sense of "right" he means. documented by multiple sources long before he made his documenBrian Whaley tary. However, the average person Assistant Professor of English is not likely to read the works of The media's coverage of Michael public intellectuals such as Noam Larisa Schumann Moore contained no serious analyChomsky or Naomi Klein. They^are Provo sis of why "Fahrenheit 9/11" has willing sit through Adjunct Professor of English been an overwhelming commercial an entertaining success or why powerful interests documentary. have attempted to prevent ordinary The claims made by Moore were well Providing a cricitizens from seeing Moore's docu- documented by multiple sources long tique of the Bush mentary and/or hearing him speak. Administration The failure of the corporate me- before he made his documentary. How- and the corpodia to adequately inform citizens ever, the average person is not likely to rate media that about U.S. foreign policy is one of is accessible to the main reasons for Moore's suc- have read the works of public intellecthe general pubcess. In the case of Fox News, one lic makes Moore study showed that the more people tuals such as Noam Chomsky or Naomi a clear threat to watched, the more likely they were Klein. powerful interto falsely believe that there was ests. However, an alliance between Saddam Hushe goes beyond sein and Osama bin Laden and gues that the Bush Administration criticizing the powerful. He is a that weapons of mass destruction falsely led the American people to white male from a working class had been found in Iraq. It is obvi- believe that Saddam Hussein was background, whose field of concern ous that Fox News functions as a involved in the 9/11 attacks, that encompasses women, racial and defacto Ministry of Propaganda for he possessed weapons of mass de- ethnic minorities, and the gay and the Bush Administration. However, struction, and that he posed a signif- lesbian communities. He speaks to even allegedly "liberal" sources of icant military threat to the U.S. The the concerns of these groups and enmainstream news such as The New claims made by Moore were well courages them to engage in collective actions. It is understandable why he is feared "The Faculty Corner" is a new addition to the College Times in by the powerful Chad Clart/NetXNews and/or the igno2005. If you are an employee of UVSC and want to write an op-ed UVSC Rowdies protest the legislature's snubbing of UVSC at Tuesday piece for The College Times contact us at uvscopinions@hotmail.com. rant. Faculty Guest Opinion Writer Assistant Professor of Sociology York Times had to admit, after the fact, that their pre-war coverage of the Iraqi invasion lacked any substantive critique of the Bush Administration's reasons for going to war. In "Fahrenheit 9/11", Moore ar- MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2005 night's men's basketball game against Grand Canyon University. |