Saturday, November 22nd, 2008

Letters

LettersWish for wins

Editor:I am writing this letter hoping that my wish will come true. As you may

recall, I often write to you about winning games for me. Some have called

me number one rooter for UCLA.

I want you to know I feel very badly about the football team losing to

the Arizona State Sun Devils. But this is what I want the football team to

do for me: Win the next two games against the Washington Huskies and also

against U$¢. I know you can do it.

I believe those devils put grease on the football last Saturday - that

caused four turnovers! I believe you (the UCLA football team) are the

greatest, and have the potential to fulfill my wish. I haven't been feeling

well lately. You can make me feel better: First, WIN against the Huskies,

and then go and beat those $ "men" from $¢. Please - you CAN DO IT -

LOVE,Maxie Sonnenschein

Alumnus, Class of '42

Psychology

Broken silence

Editor:It's funny, but from the media coverage of the UCLA protest a few weeks

ago, you'd never know affirmative action is an Asian Pacific Islander

issue.

DOES ANYONE HEAR ME?

As I watched the news and read the newspapers, it seemed clear that the

focus was on African Americans, Latinos and of course, Undergraduate

Students Association President York Chang.

I AM TIRED OF BEING THE SILENT MINORITY!

I have never had so much as a speeding ticket, yet I felt honored to be

among the 30 or so UCLA students arrested on Oct. 12, 1995. According to

the police report, we protesters were from the "UCLA Black Students'

Union," yet I was booked as an "Oriental."

Unfortunately, the LAPD and the media are not the only ones who just

don't get it. (Seen any Viewpoint letters recently?) I donate blood,

volunteer at a soup kitchen, tutor inner city kids and rescue stray dogs. I

also vote, write to my state and congressional representatives and protest

injustices in lawful ways.

Yet, I know I speak for all those arrested at the affirmative action

protest when I say we chose to disobey the law because we tried (and

continue to try) to right the wrong done by Pete Wilson and the UC Regents

through legal means, but THAT IS NOT ENOUGH!

So many people think that Japanese Americans (and other Asian Pacific

Islanders) are not interested in taking a political stand because we have

"made it." To this claim I can only ask, "Made what? Made ourselves

indifferent?"

I remember that my greatgrandparents couldn't own land or become

citizens. I remember how my grandparents worked 70-hour weeks to put food

on the table. I remember the bigots who jeered at my father because of the

color of his skin. I remember the internment and the struggle for

reparations.

Civil disobedience is a right, not a crime, and forgetfulness is a

luxury we cannot afford.Christina Shigemura

Third-year

Geography/environmental studies

Hollywood Park Summer 08 Button