U.S. Politicizes Refuge Treatment

Dear Editor:

Why is it that virtually all Haitian refugees, including children, are returned to Haiti by the Coast Guard, while many Cuban refugees are allowed to stay in the United States? The conditions of life for children in Haiti are much worse than in Cuba. Children work in sweatshops for U.S. corporations like Disney in Haiti, and there is no free health care and education as there is in Cuba. Cuba is a better environment for children, even with the U.S. embargo, than is Haiti. If Elian Gonzalez had been one of the thousands of Haitian children risking their lives to flee that island, the story would have been completely ignored by the U.S. media.

A similar thing happened in the 1980s, when Nicaraguan refugees were accepted into the United States, while Guatemalan and El Salvadoran refugees were sent back to the brutal governments in those countries, often to a certain death.

The determining factor is whether the people are fleeing a socialist or a capitalist country. The overriding concern of U.S. foreign policy is the preservation of capitalism and the opening up of all countries to U.S. corporate domination.

The intense controversy over little Elian Gonzalez is entirely political. The Cuban exile community in Florida is utilizing the existing antagonism toward Cuba by the U.S. government to further their own ends. Many of these exiles were landowners or owners of other capital property in Cuba, who lost that property when Cuba went socialist - just as the Mafia lost their casinos and prostitution houses. Some of these Cuban exiles have a history of terrorism. On Oct. 6, 1976 they bombed a Cubana airline's plane, killing all 73 people on board, and there have been many other terrorist acts.

This little boy has suffered enough with the loss at sea of his mother and now the continuing debate over which country he should call home. If these U.S. politicians, who constantly talk of "family values," really believe in them, Elian Gonzalez should be sent back to his father and grandparents in Cuba!

--Gary Sudborough, Bellflower, Ca.

Exiled Student Lashes out at Student Senators Hide Behind Sketchent Senator's Enrollment

Studying abroad, one reflects often on experiences from home. It's a natural tendency. One thinks of people missed, habits which have changed, cultures which contrast, etc. Surely one doesn't have the illusion of the ability to represent that home in the way that someone still there, completely engaged in every aspect of an ever changing society, could.

Because of this, I am stunned that one of my student's senators isn't even enrolled at Oberlin College. As a sophomore at Oberlin, it discomforts me greatly that it is possible to be represented by someone who is not part of the same academic system I am. It is interesting that Chris Anton is worried about his removal being disruptive to "the activism [he] has already completed." How can I believe his activism is in the best interest of any students at Oberlin, both those who did and did not vote for him, if he himself is not a student at Oberiln!

I accept that he may or may not have good ideas on issues like student life and that he may be well directed in his efforts to expose discrepancies with the use of students' activity funds (that has yet to be seen), but nonetheless our primary reason for going to Oberlin is to obtain an education and if he is not obtaining his from Oberlin as I or other students are, then I cannot be confident that he is qualified to be a part of Student Senate.

That is why non-citizens are not eligible to hold public office in America. If they are not fully part of the society, how can they expect to represent the citizens who take part in elections, serve jury duty, and pay taxes? I am not saying that Anton should not be involved in activism at Oberlin; just as non-citizens should be allowed to take part in other forms of activism in American society. Holding public office and preserving a legacy, as seems to be Anton's prime interest as evidenced by his statement that being "received the wrong way will tarnish the legitimacy [he has] already received," are neither the most effective or most respected forms of activism.

Granted, there are members of American society who are unjustly prevented from being considered full citizens, as seen in the case of the disproportionate racial distribution of felony convictions in the U.S., but Anton comes nowhere close to a comparable situation, and he should just redirect his efforts to a different form of activism and let an Oberlin student be an Oberlin student senator.

--Bill Lascher, College sophomore

Student Senators Hide Behind Sketch

The attack on Peter Goldsmith ("Goldsmith breaches search committee integrity") in The Sketch is unfair and undeserved. Only the most clueless senator would suppose that the Dean of Students would NOT be involved in the search for one of the principal members of his own staff, someone with whom he will work every day. It would be irresponsible of Mr. Goldsmith not to be involved.

On the other hand, it is irresponsible of the authors of the anonymous articles in The Sketch NOT to sign their pieces.

--Michael Henle, Professor of Mathematics

Oberlin not the Oppressive Landscape of Yesteryear

To the Editors:

While many students here in OC see race relations in black and white, let's be honest here. As Yakup Sener said last week, much of the so-called "oppression" here at OC is more perceived than in the flesh. I myself am a minority (Puerto Rican). I don't think I have experienced the oppression that allegedly permeates this campus, at least not from the administration. Am I naïve? Do I have to do certain things or act certain ways to merit oppression? Who knows? Nevertheless, I also admit that Oberlin isn't exactly the Wonderful Land of Oz - yet at the same time, fellow Obies, whether you are Black, White, Asian, Hispanic, European, African or whoever, this is not the Tulsa, Oklahoma of 1921, or the Birmingham, Alabama of 1963.

This isn't the Tulsa, Oklahoma of May 31, 1921, where a dark chapter of American history occurred - a chapter many historians and investigators have said is the worst race riot in American history. Initial estimates placed deaths near 100; recent digging and ground-piercing radar have indicated a number anywhere from at least 300 to 3,000 dead (mostly African Americans). Newspaper reports and survivors later reported that military aircraft bombed blacks as well as 35 blocks' worth of their residences and businesses. In addition, a near-successful media and government cover-up of the gruesome event lasted well into the 1970s. The few surviving photographs of the massive firestorm that swept what was then called the "black Wall Street" looked eerily similar to that of the one that consumed Hiroshima, and surviving photographs of murdered and about-to-be-murdered African Americans look reminiscent to those from the Holocaust.

Neither is Oberlin anywhere close to Birmingham, Alabama of May, 1963 - where a certain sheriff named Bull Connor had no problem turning fire hoses and police dogs loose on peaceful civil rights protesters, both white and black. The actual footage of the protesters being blasted by fire hoses and attacked by dogs shocked and galvanized the rest of the nation, while at the same time bringing to the spotlight the cruel and heartless face of 400 years of oppression on a people solely because of the color of their skin.

Obies, while I myself am not-repeat, am not - laughing at what is called "oppression" here, I do question the PC definition of it that dominates this campus. Indeed, Yakup and now I have pointed out that even though this setting isn't exactly paradise, there's a helluva lot more genuine multiculturalism (and less "oppression") here than at other schools of our size, or any size for that matter. At the same time, I must say that if such a large - and "diverse" - group of individuals here have such a tough problem with oppression here, then I hate to think what's going to happen in the real world outside of Oberlin, where oppression is unfortunately quite real, and one can't retreat into safe space. But that's the topic of another article for another time.

P.S. -An important author was left out of the list in "Ignorance Dominates Campus Landscape". His definition of oppression is pretty close to what the other writers have said it is, but I think his (proven) answers to it - Christian love no matter what the opposition, charity, prayer-might differ from the other authors. He was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King's methods garnered him a Nobel prize, respect from all sides, and the status of a martyr. Have they been repeated by the other authors?

--Miguel Villafana, College first-year

College Funds Satisfy Interests

To the Editors:

In the past few years there has been a growing interest in alternative medicine among Oberlin College students. While the field of alternative healthcare is practically part of mainstream culture out West and on the rise in other areas of the country, it appears virtually nonexistent in Oberlin. This poses two problems for Oberlin students who seek alternative treatments and practitioners. The first is obviously that those who reject allopathic techniques have very few resources for medical treatment and the second is that students who wish to pursue the field of alternative medicine have very little opportunity to learn about it as an undergraduate.

In the last year the Wellness Center has made a wonderful effort to bring in local and remote alternative practitioners to speak at Oberlin. Despite these efforts, there still exists a lack of interaction between local practitioners and the College. Although few, there are people in Oberlin who practice various forms of alternative medicine and are aware of the growing interest among college students. Jian Dong Sakakeeny practices Chinese reflexology, herbs and electromagnetic therapy. She loves her work and is truly willing to work with students who are interested in alternative medicine. I am currently doing a practicum with Jian where I have experienced her treatments and done quite a bit of clinical observation. She has kindly provided me with readings as well as opportunities that I did not expect to find in Oberlin. Sokara Kamillisa practices Reiki, kinesiology and aura soma color therapy. She is also a holistic counselor and educator. I have studied with Sokara on several accounts and I have found her knowledge regarding healthcare and the alternative movement to be essential to a pre-med curriculum. These practitioners are wonderful resources for students who are seeking alternative treatments as patients or students. It is tough to make a decent living in Oberlin practicing alternative healing so those of us who advocate their work need to look to the College to support them. I applied for and received a research award to help fund my practicum. There is a great deal of money at the College to help fund interests that the College cannot satisfy. As students we need to be aware of such resources to establish connections between the College and the community. With this effort, we can increase the opportunities available to us at Oberlin College.

--Erica Matluck, College senior