Don’t be duped by homeless
I read the editorial concerning the problem of homelessness in Westwood (“Homelessness in Westwood exaggerated,” Nov. 22). I do agree with you that the problem won’t be easy to solve. I am the owner of the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in the Village and I see the panhandling going on all day.
Some of the homeless get very aggressive and even curse at people who don’t give them money. I have heard them curse out a college student because she was going to give him some of her fries instead of the sandwich he requested.
What was not in your editorial was mention of the fact that most of the homeless elect to live that way. Also, many of them are not, in fact, homeless. They make between $200-$500 a day asking for money. Do you make that kind of money – tax-free? I know I don’t.
Some of the “homeless” are dropped off by vans who later come by and pick them up at the end of a days work. Some have been caught getting out of their wheel chairs and walking to their cars. Granted there are truly homeless individuals out there, but which ones? It is not always easy to distinguish between the homeless and the con artist.
If you’re gullible enough to believe everything you see, try handing them a job application or offer them a job and see what happens.
Mike Madvig Owner, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
Bruin fans owe team an apology
After reading Bryan Peebler’s letter, “Team should be embarrassed,” I was disgusted that a Bruin could speak that way about his own team (Letters, Nov. 25). The letter says that the team “owes us fans … an apology,” and I ask for what reason?
The team played a good game against “U$C” and the only thing I was embarrassed about was the lack of support from the crowd. By the end of third quarter, the UCLA stands were deserted – admitting an early defeat to the Trojans. Only the loyal fans stayed around after the game to cheer on their team while the so-called fans left early to “beat traffic.” Despite the lack of support from their school, our athletes held on and continued to close the gap as well as provide a powerful defense against USC.
As for the team, I am proud to say that I am a Bruin and will continue to support our team at the Washington game.
Meg Millett First-year, undeclared
Editorial Board makes mistakes
See the Daily Bruin Editorial Board.
See the Daily Bruin Editorial Board endorsing illegal behavior.
It is utterly irresponsible of you to advocate that protesters trespass on military installations to get a point across (“Homelessness in Westwood exaggerated,” Nov. 22). Even Cohen saw the error in his ways – a point which you completely ignored in your piece. While he did say that he would go back to protest, he clearly stated that he would not enter the base grounds again. All Americans have the right to peacefully assemble in public as long as they don’t break any laws in the process.
Marc Levy Fourth-year, mechanical engineering
Lives of U.S. citizens must be top priority
I was dismayed that Muneer Adhami’s submission, “U.S. pursues selfish ends in foreign policy” (Nov. 26), argued it was immoral for our government to exclusively protect the oft-reviled “American interests.” In making his argument, Adhami ignores the one proper purpose of government: the protection of individual rights.
Any government’s utmost interest must be the protection of its citizens’ most basic right, the right to life. This means that any moral government must work to further its own interests (the most important of which is protecting its citizens) as opposed to humanitarian or altruistic concerns. Surely the readers of the Daily Bruin can see that any government which held the interests of poor or hostile nations above those of its own citizens would be evil and would collapse.
Unfortunately, the U.S. government must sometimes kill in order to protect American lives and interests. Sometimes those it kills are innocents. These casualties are called collateral damage (not, as many critics claim, wanton slaughter) because they are the unintended and undesired side effects of the government’s effort to protect Americans. As tragic as these deaths are, they must not stop the government from taking the necessary steps to save American lives. Our government is and must remain more concerned with our well being than that of foreign nationals. Just as the Iraqi government should be more interested in saving Iraqi lives than in saving American ones.
Robert Johnston President, The Objectivist Club at UCLA