Letters

Published: Monday, June 24, 1996

Bruin ad renders harmful symbols

Editor:

I couldn't help but be a bit confused by your June 3 (page 18) ad for Assistant Editor of the Daily Bruin which begins "Don't be a peasant!" and which supposedly illustrates this point by depicting a foreground image of a woman riding side-saddle on a slow horse. She is followed by two somber-looking children. Forgive me, but as an art historian, I fail to see the connection between your printed encouragement and this particular illustration. In fact, the more I analyze your ad, the more I conclude that such highly inappropriate images in the media lead to highly inappropriate messages.

Think about it. By associating this detailed work (a military/ceremonial procession in a medieval town) with "a peasant," here is what you are saying: "Don't be an uninformed, illiterate laborer nor an obedient female follower. For, historically these two groups of people have consistently endured such class stereotypes."

Now, is this the kind of subconsciously discriminatory social attitude that you want your future assistant editor to adopt? I realize that it is one awesome and one unenvious responsibility to recognize and to filter out such potentially offensive statements. However, keep in mind that, together, text and image are highly powerful communicators. Therefore, it's best to use both cautiously, especially when uncertain about the relevancy of either to the ultimate argument.

Ivana Mladenovic

UCLA Class of 1993

B.A. History, B.A. Art

Fanning flames of discontent

Editor:

My roommate recently submitted a Viewpoint article expressing how can I say it "dissatisfaction," with racial persecution and a lack of understanding between himself and a family of whites. He was quite blatant in his anger at the time, and I can understand that such intense emotive situations can spontaneously occur just like a highly reactive chemical reaction (please excuse my scientific metaphor too many science classes) when people who have strong beliefs, like my roommate, are placed in such situations. I am not trying to dismiss or blemish his arguments concerning racial or social injustice; I am only trying to put a little more perspective on the situation. Fighting fire with fire can be quite hazardous to one's health.

As I see it, if people fight racial stereotypes and derision with their own attacks of racial stereotypes and derision, we won't be seeking to resolve the problem, but only seeking to continue and possibly proliferate these problems. No matter how much you may think you are the most racially equitable person, a person of a different color can be quick to point out the weak places in your stone armor. We must try to dissolve our masks of stubborn ignorance and arrogance, bring ourselves down to humble precepts, and relearn and readjust our understanding to a wider variety of ideas.

It would be great if we could all actively voice our opposition to injustice, just as my roommate did, in order to let the aggressors realize the errors in their thinking, but we should try to check ourselves and pick the planks from our own eyes before we pick the sawdust out of others' eyes. Do it. (Long live the human race!)

Dan Hong

Second-Year English Student

Article not worth the mention

Editor:

[In a recent article, Levin Sy and Stephanie Wang argued that recent government legislation attempts to keep social services from legal immigrants.]

This is a "non-response" to the article by Levin Sy and Stephanie Wang, June 6, "Legislation targets legal immigrants." The only good thing about their article was the cartoon!

Flora Degen

Department of Psychiatry