letter to the president of university of washington
8 September 2004
Mark Emmert
University of Washington
Dear President Emmert:
Re: Obscenity on Campus
I am disturbed by a recent incident of obscenity on the University of Washington campus. No, I am not speaking about someone bearing their body, or a photograph of someone's naked body, nudity seems like one of the few clean pleasures left to a citizen in this society. I am talking about the appearance by National (In-) Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice on campus on September 7, 2004.
As I understand it the Supreme Court's definition of obscenity rests on what is not acceptable to local community standards. From what I have read of the Condoleezza Rice speech it appears that this event clearly meets the definition of obscenity when considering the norms of our community. Ms Rice has been at the center of promoting the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive war. Simply put the most economically and militarily powerful nation on the planet (possibly the most powerful ever) declared in January of 2002 that it had the right to declare war on any other nation for any reason. The subsequent invasion of Iraq was carried out in clear violation of international law and norms. Thus far the US has killed well over 50,000 Iraqis (including at least 10,000 civilians) while over a thousand US soldiers have died. About 7 to 10 times as many have been severely injured on both sides. This type of wanton bloodshed can only be described as obscene.
Allowing one of the architects of this policy to appear on the UW campus in a forum where she was not asked to answer a single question from people who disagree with her is completely contrary to the spirit of our community and the academic institution you lead. I assume that you are aware of the level of fear and loathing for the Bush administration that exists throughout the rest of the world. Moderate friends from Europe and Africa agree that they now fear the US in a way that was inconceivable 5 years ago. I cannot understand how you can in good conscience moderate an event like this that appears to provide free propaganda for an obscenely violent and vehemently anti-intellectual regime. I am frankly embarrassed that my alma mater has sunk so low.
Nic
Mark Emmert
University of Washington
Dear President Emmert:
Re: Obscenity on Campus
I am disturbed by a recent incident of obscenity on the University of Washington campus. No, I am not speaking about someone bearing their body, or a photograph of someone's naked body, nudity seems like one of the few clean pleasures left to a citizen in this society. I am talking about the appearance by National (In-) Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice on campus on September 7, 2004.
As I understand it the Supreme Court's definition of obscenity rests on what is not acceptable to local community standards. From what I have read of the Condoleezza Rice speech it appears that this event clearly meets the definition of obscenity when considering the norms of our community. Ms Rice has been at the center of promoting the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive war. Simply put the most economically and militarily powerful nation on the planet (possibly the most powerful ever) declared in January of 2002 that it had the right to declare war on any other nation for any reason. The subsequent invasion of Iraq was carried out in clear violation of international law and norms. Thus far the US has killed well over 50,000 Iraqis (including at least 10,000 civilians) while over a thousand US soldiers have died. About 7 to 10 times as many have been severely injured on both sides. This type of wanton bloodshed can only be described as obscene.
Allowing one of the architects of this policy to appear on the UW campus in a forum where she was not asked to answer a single question from people who disagree with her is completely contrary to the spirit of our community and the academic institution you lead. I assume that you are aware of the level of fear and loathing for the Bush administration that exists throughout the rest of the world. Moderate friends from Europe and Africa agree that they now fear the US in a way that was inconceivable 5 years ago. I cannot understand how you can in good conscience moderate an event like this that appears to provide free propaganda for an obscenely violent and vehemently anti-intellectual regime. I am frankly embarrassed that my alma mater has sunk so low.
Nic
posted by nic rossouw at
11:57 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home