4 I The Behrend Beacon
Congress shall make no law respecting on establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the Press; or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. - The First Arnmendrnent to the U.S. Constitution
The only Bolton worse than Michael Bolton
To start, I heartily give my applause to Chris Brown for not even
mentioning Human Rights Day, which was December 10 (applicable
to the December 8 issue of The Behrend Beacon). When glorifying
John Bolton, the United States' Interim representative to the United
Nations (UN), in his article, "Bolton the bully?" he praises Bolton's
tireless work ethic, bullying manner and sadly typical, controlling
American personality. Bolton's bullying efforts have fortified the
domineering American presence in international affairs. The U.S. has
an air ahout it as the biggest, the best, and the most powerful, a style
that Bolton exemplifies, regrettably. Brown further omits how the U.S.
is the world's dictating leader in economic, political, and military
operations-strong clues of a unilateral mentality.
The UN is not unilateral; hence, bullying is unfair and only extends
the circle of being unwelcome as an American into other parts of the
world. The UN is designed to be a multilateral governmental body
whereby each country is deemed as equal. According to Brown, "He
! Bolton ] looked out for America's interests in an organization that
time and again turns its head away from its largest benefactor, the
United States. - In 1994, Bolton is quoted as saying "There is no such
thing as the United Nations. There is only the international communi
ty, which can only be led by the only remaining superpower, which is
the United States." Unfortunately, Brown's article only further proves
Bolton to emphasize being a unilateralist who is not what is desired or
required by the UN.
Another significant drawback to Bolton's short term appointment
has been his severe lack of cooperation. The most important was dis
approving the approval of visas to the Iranian parliament's speaker
and group of officials in part of a mandatory world conference for UN
members. Visa approvals are not questioned, regardless of war, rela
tions, etc. But, because of Iran's "non-democratic" government,
approval was not given as needed and no visas were sent on time. This
was not the first time that a denial of mandatory visas has happened;
the last time was with Yassar Arafat. Reports have also documented
Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor,
This is in regard to not only the articles concerning Jon Demerecz, but also the
letters to the editor. It is apparent that the arrest of Jon Demerecz has the entire
campus up in arms, but what a lot of students don't realize is that he deserves the
same rights as any other American. As citizens of this country, we have a judicial
system that keeps us in check, and that judicial system says that every American is
innocent until proven guilty. I am not defending Jon Demerecz. I am defending
his right as an American, because I know I appreciate the rights given me by this
country and its constitution. I cannot know for sure whether or not Jon is guilty. I
will leave that decision to the elected officials given that responsibility. Until then,
Jon Demerecz is innocent.
David Exler
Mechanical Engineering Technology 'O9
The Behrend Beacon
published „cc. the students ()I „in, st„e Behr. nil
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Beacon
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The Behrend Beacon retterVOS the
publication.
By Stephen Oyler
contributing 11 lit e r
Jennifer Haight, Editor in Chief
Patrick Webster, Managing Editor
Lindsay Snyder, Advertising Manager
Sports Editor
Jordan Gilmore
Opinion Editor
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that Bolton has illegally (by contract and oath) withheld information
from both Colin Powell and Dr. Condoleezza Rice, more than once.
In an article by Kathy Gill, a professor at the University of
Washington and former governmental worker both at that state level
(in Pennsylvania) and at the federal level, she quotes Bolton as having
"tunnel vision, a lack of diplomacy and borderline xenophobia." Later
she goes on to state that Bolton will "dangerously fray the United
States' already eroding relations with the rest of the world." Other
comments about Bolton, by a spokesperson from North Korea, include
him as being "human scum" and a "bloodsucker [who] is not entitled
to take part in the talks [about peace]."
Bolton had
little support
ly a legiti
mate ambas-
Dec. 31 2001
sador to the
United
Dec. 31 2002
Dec. 31 2003
Nations. He
lacked, and
Dec. 31 2004
current
Dec. 31 2005
lacks, support
Senate
American citizens, and other global leaders and was inadequately rec
ommended by President Bush, who, in my circumstances, represents
the U.S. just as defectively. In researching information for this rebut
tal, I came across a non-partisan webpage showing sections on criti
cism and praise. To show the pros and cons in comparison, the site has
a mere six lines of praise, and twenty-seven lines of criticism.
If the U.S. is the largest benefactor of the UN, then one would think
that the U.S. would pay their bills to the UN. Listed in the chart above
proves the U.S. in their capitalistic mentality whereby they pay less,
and get more (from the UN). Bolton's aggressive attitude certainly fell
short in paying the bills, yet somehow the U.S. still has the loudest
voice (unfair).
Dear Editor,
I understand your need to keep the Behrend populace up on
the legal issues of Mr. Jonathan Demerecz, as the case is big
news in Erie, but I for one would appreciate if you would tone
down the sensationalist angle. When he was first arrested,
you printed an immensely unflattering photograph of him and
his address on the front page. Now you have put wildly
inflammatory information on the front page, claiming that
"multiple images of minors engaged in oral and anal inter
course" were found on his computer and printing an article
suggesting a strong correlation between viewing child porn
and an inclination towards sexual violence. Additionally, a
letter to the editor was , printed stating that "[Demerecz] is a
sexual offender]" and "this guys a freak."
Essentially, it seems to me that the Beacon has already tried
and convicted Mr. Demerecz, despite the fact that a jury of his
peers has yet to do so. Why? An article ran beneath his this
past week reporting that a Behrend student was caught in the
act of stealing painkillers, with the intent (admitted by the
criminal) of getting high on some and selling the rest, yet no
photos of the perpetrator accompanied it.
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- Specials at Jimmy Z's
- Ski season
- Caffeine
- End of the semester!
- Graduating!
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Have a Thumbs Up
Thumbs Down?
•••6
'Submit it to the "Thumbs up-Thumbs Down" box at the RUB
I
U.S. debt to the United Nations, from 2001 to 2005
Y ear
Beacon Thumbs Up Beacon Thumbs Down •
44 \
ular Bud
$165 million
$l9O million
$268 million
$241 million
$607 million
(check a box)
A few brief examples of UN inequalities in favor of the U.S. First,
"The UN Peacekeeping budget is lower than the budget for the New
York City police department, and the UN regular budget is less than
the smallest US state budgets-Wyoming and South Dakota." Secondly,
the current annual Peacekeeping budget has been approved at $5.03
billion (representing 0.5 percent of global military spending). The fis
cal year budget for the United States (2004-2005) military expendi
tures was $370.7 billion (more than 73 times the UN Peacekeeping
budget). It is simply an oxymoron to pay mere pennies for peacekeep
ing and hundreds of billions of dollars into military operations which
fight wars that are the opposite of peace.
Peacekee
$691 million
$536 million
$482 million
$722 million
$607 million
Bolton, as a representative of the United States, may in fact have
been "one of the best representatives the U.S. has had in years." He
epitomizes the bullheaded American viewpoint; a lack of financial
responsibility, a social conscience, or a heart, as Brown evidently
writes. His countless problems and bullying personality disappoint
ingly represent a helpful, effective; international collaborator in which
today's more pressing issues can be safely solved. I do not think that
many people want to be represented by him and this bully's resigna
tion is a welcome site to anyone who has a heart and the realization
that others need the UN's help more than the U.S.
Mr. Timothy Blackhurst held up a local family-run business
at gunpoint to steal drugs. Mr. Demerecz already suffered the
ignominy of the front page once; what is so special about him
that he needs to be shamed again at the expense of warning
the Behrend community about a man who is addicted to drugs
and armed?
I'd also be interested to know how many Behrend students
have been pulled over for drunk driving or have multiple
moving violations, with accompanying shots of the drivers
and their license-plate numbers; students need to be aware
when they cross Jordan Road of classmates who operate
motor vehicles with utterly careless abandon.
I have numerous friends who are attractive women, two of
whom are rape victims; I understand fully the need for
Behrend to be aware of predators. I would merely ask that
your coverage of the potentially dangerous be fair rather than
sensationalistic.
Thank you very much for your time
Sincerely,
Kyle Zaffino, MIS 'OB
- Rude shoppers
- Backpacks on wheels
- Newspapers not consistently restocked
- Inconsiderate cell phone users
- Saying goodbye to friends for break
Friday, December 15, 2006
$B7l million
$738 million
$762 million
$975 million
$1.246 billion
Total
STEPHEN OYLER
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4.0 10
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desk.