Category Archives: Letter to the Editor

War Criminal’s Accomplice

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

It seems the case of Shamima Begum has exposed several British political double standards. Patrick Galey’s “UK’s racist two-tier citizenship” (Feb 21, 2019), highlights the racist double standard being applied in this case, but I think there are other layers to this debate.

Although recent headlines suggest otherwise, Shamima, who left home at 15 to join ISIS, is
neither the first nor the last returnee. Hundreds of other European ISIS fighters and “those
affiliated with them” – their families – have returned to their home countries. Shamima is
getting much more media attention due to her pleas for return which went viral on social
media and the home secretary’s decision to strip her of her UK citizenship. Shamima does
not have a second citizenship, nor does she have the ability to guarantee one. Thus the
government’s decision effectively renders her stateless, an action that is illegal under
British law and international law.

Had she been allowed to return, Shamima would not have been the first European “ISIS
wife” or even ISIS fighter to face the consequences of her decisions in her own country.
Hundreds of returnees have been processed by their respective countries and have
received verdicts ranging from life sentences to participation in rehabilitation and de-
radicalization programs. As your writer points out, the homes secretary’s assertion that she
can be stripped of her citizenship because her mother is a Bangladeshi immigrant is, on its
face, hypocritical and racist.

But Shamima’s case also exposes a far different facet of British hypocrisy, one exemplified
by a British citizen who does in fact hold another passport. This is a woman who is married
to a brutal war criminal, the one responsible for the largest number of civilian deaths Syria
has ever witnessed. She has defended her husband, consulted with him on strategy and
publicly expressed her allegiance to him repeatedly. So the conversation around ISIS wives
and terrorist accomplicity begs the following question: Where is the challenge to Asma Al-
Assad’s British citizenship in this debate? Where is the call to hold this European citizen
accountable to the crimes against humanity, the terrorism, she has helped defend? The
first lady of Syria and the accomplice of a mass murderer surely deserves as much debate
as a pregnant teenager who ran away from home at 15 to join a terrorist organization.

It’s Not Just About Keeping Your Voice Down

Letter to the Editor

The insight that Dr. Kate Klonick’s “A ‘Creepy’ Assignment: Pay Attention to What Strangers Reveal in Public” (Op-Ed, March 8) gives into how easily our privacy is compromised is both eye-opening and incomplete. While it’s true that people will divulge information without any awareness of their surroundings, it’s more interesting to see what kinds of people feel anonymous in a public setting. Tellingly, every student Dr. Klonick writes about performed the experiment on test subjects that had one thing in common: all of them were men.

Perhaps the three anecdotes Dr. Klonick chose to share were simply the most interesting ones. But if not, it is a disservice to overlook the cultural influences that determine who is in need of this advice. The article would paint a more complete picture of what privacy means to different kinds of people if it considered the following question: is there a reason men are less careful about revealing too much information, at least in America? The answer is straightforward: men have the privilege of knowing that the entire culture system is slanted in their favor. They take over the space around them because they feel it’s their space to take. Not only that, but they feel secure enough to do so without fear of repercussions.

Meanwhile, your author fails to grasp the fact that an invasion of privacy is not merely “creepy,” it’s an issue of personal safety. In a political climate such as ours, it’s not enough to just write about how easy it is to compromise another’s privacy. It is a gross oversight not to acknowledge the inherent dangers that a large majority of Americans face when a stranger figures out a person’s nationality, religion, gender, or sexuality without their consent. Rather than limiting herself to generalizations, Dr. Klonick should have considered what it is about American society that poses these risks in the first place, and focused her advice on those who are most vulnerable.
 

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/08/opinion/google-privacy.html

“They are just doing their job”

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor,

Racism is alive and well in Great Britain and clearly, Twitter isn’t helping. The racist online abuse of Meghan has put royal staff on high alert by Max Foster, (cnn.com, March 8), calls attention to the ways in which the media, social media, and other modern public discourse are making it difficult for the royal family to navigate this moment in its history. I appreciate the article’s informative, to-the-point departure from the sensationalist norm that appears to be controlling British media.

The social media din raised by online trolls has made it harder to tell the factual from the merely inflammatory. As Foster highlights in the piece, “The pressure to produce ever more dramatic headlines to drive traffic is intense,” and it’s what  gives the trolls a platform.

Monarchy implies monolith in the eyes of many, and a break in the pattern of whiteness in the royal family (the marriage of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle) has shown the British public’s true colors. Surely I am not the only reader who is outraged by how much the color of Meghan’s skin influences the online discourse in Britain. Unfortunately, the historical composition of the royal family implies, as Foster notes, that racism is built into the fabric of British culture. And so despite their efforts at projecting an image of normality, the royal family has continued to face challenges in welcoming Meghan into the fold.

Foster’s careful article reminds us that it’s the job of the media to present an accurate report of what’s happening with the royal family, while at the same time emphasizing the humanity of the often-superficially portrayed people who comprise this iconic group. Some in the media, like your writer, are working to make their reporting reflect the ideal of racial tolerance. With luck, this will one day become the norm.

Reconciling a Foreign Author, a US Book, and Authorial Responsibility

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor,

I am writing to take issue with your article, An Author Canceled Her Own YA Novel Over Accusations of Racism. But Is It Really Anti-Black? (slate.com, Jan. 31, 2019) by Aja Hoggart. The article discusses the controversy surrounding the publication—or non-publication—of Amelie Wen Zhao’s debut young adult (YA) novel, Blood Heir. In late January, a fellow YA author took to Twitter to point out what she considered anti-black racism in Zhao’s forthcoming novel—the book includes a young woman who dies at a slave auction. Though her race is never explicitly stated, some readers interpreted the character as black. Following an explosion of criticism on “YA Twitter,” Zhao decided to indefinitely postpone the publication of her novel, the first part of a six-figure deal for a trilogy.

This article downplays the seriousness of the situation, and the ultimate merit of the accusations. The intense outrage on Twitter may have been overblown, but it shouldn’t be dismissed. However, the situation isn’t clear-cut; Zhao immigrated to the United States at the age of eighteen, and her experiences growing up in China informed her book. She states that the slavery and indentured servitude described in the novel are based on the indentured servitude and human trafficking that she witnessed firsthand in her native China and surrounding countries growing up. Zhao’s cultural background may well have limited her awareness of the cultural connotations surrounding slavery in the U.S. For this reason, and because she has clearly learned from the situation, she should be given a second chance at publication.

Still, it is vitally important to remember that while Zhao may not be from the United States, and while her story takes place in an Asian-inspired fantasy world, the book was set to be published in the United States. The slave auction scenes it contains are troubling and, in our cultural context, morally fraught. Hoggart’s article overlooks this fact, as well as the fact that regardless of Zhao’s intentions or the technicalities of whether or not the book is anti-black, it can be perceived that way. This could have a harmful effect on the American teens who read it—a real concern, and one that Hoggart utterly fails to consider.

Fear and Ignorance Open the Door to Disease

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor,

While Japan contributes a significant amount to UNICEF towards the elimination of measles, and their infant mortality rates are amongst the lowest in the world, children there still die from preventable diseases.  The recent outbreak of measles, as described in the news article “Japan Battles Worst Measles Outbreak in Years,” (World, February 22) is not an isolated incident and has an impact beyond the island nation. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Japan has been one of the countries most responsible for exporting measles to the U.S. over the years. If nothing else, that makes it a keen point of interest for us. Just as an individual’s choice not to get vaccinated can impact those they come in contact with, Japan’s choices can impact our nation.

The measles vaccine was first introduced in Japan in 1966, followed by the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine in 1989. However, the MMR vaccine was pulled in 1993 due to unexpectedly high incidences of aseptic meningitis. This led to widespread public distrust towards vaccines which, in 1994, resulted in them no longer being mandated by law. This fear, while understandable, led to a regulatory vacuum that left the country vulnerable to otherwise preventable diseases.

Although Japan is in the process of overhauling its vaccination policy and has made progress against measles in the last decade, the Japanese still have a way to go before they have eradicated the disease. Japan doesn’t have an “anti-vaxxer” movement like the one we are dealing with in the U.S., where the irrational and unfounded belief that vaccines lead to autism has become deeply entrenched, but many Japanese don’t understand how not being vaccinated can affect others. The groups largely responsible for the current measles outbreak in Japan were very willing to get vaccinated when they realized their actions could have a negative impact on others in their community. This shows a clear need for more understanding –both here and there–about the importance of vaccines and how they work. The measles outbreak in Japan has a lesson for all of us: promote science to combat fear and ignorance.

Of Course You Got Debate-Blocked

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

Slow your roll. Do you even realize how your article about the DNC barring Fox News from hosting democratic debates is itself a prime example of WHY Fox News shouldn’t host? You quote the DNC’s decision as being “a shame” but address none of the numerous examples the DNC cited about your publication’s clear partisan bias. Sure, it’s great that Fox has a few journalists with enough “journalistic integrity and professionalism” to host the debates, but still, all anchors at a news agency are supposed to have integrity, not just some special few. Fox News as a whole is so overtly biased that their version “journalistic integrity and professionalism” has become synonymous with Republican favoritism.

It’s impossible to guarantee that any Fox reporter’s ‘integrity’ won’t shift during this election cycle because these days any anchor who pleases Trump could be up for a job promotion. Just take a look at the list of former Fox News contributors turned White House staff: John Bolton, Heather Nauert, Mercedes Schlapp, Tony Sayegh, K.T. McFarland, Scott Brown, Richard Grenell, John D. McEntee, Georgette Mosbacher, and Anthony Scaramucci. It’s so long I bet even your eyes glazed over reading it. With so many connections to Trump, how can any of Fox News’s reporters be trusted?

What’s “really a shame” is that as long as Fox News remains biased, any reporters that may have journalistic integrity will be written off by the public as biased just by association. Instead of touting around the names of a few good journalists, Fox News should focus on improving its own integrity. Maybe then the DNC might reconsider its decision.

Responding to Defense

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor,

In his June 2017 article “In Defense of Cultural Appropriation,” Kenan Malik begins by insisting that he is bravely putting his job on the line by defending a “controversial opinion.” This tactic is often used by people to preemptively invalidate the response of the marginalized communities that they are intentionally hurting, shutting themselves off from opposing opinions. Instead of offering my own opinion, I’d like to point out an issue with the argument itself.

When speaking about challenging racism, Malik postulates that “Once, it was a demand for equal treatment for all.” He then goes on to claim that Elvis Presley becoming a cultural icon was a clear case of racism determining that white people can achieve substantially more success than people of color for the same work-Chuck Berry’s music, which came before Presley’s, had the rock and roll vibes that made Presley’s work “unique” and “revolutionary” . Evidently, the call for society to pressure the Elvis Presleys of the world to stop appropriating culture is, in fact, a demand for equal treatment for the Berrys. This seems perfectly in alignment with the past acts of challenging racism that Malik approves of. However, he then implies that ending cultural appropriation doesn’t challenge racism because it wouldn’t have single-handedly eradicated Jim Crow laws. Malik argues defending cultural appropriation holds that anti-racist acts are only valid if they give redress to the group as a whole, but what is the point of corrective action if it doesn’t include individuals?

To address Malik’s concern that he will be out of the job because people will be offended by his opinion, I am not offended.  How could I be? Malik’s “defense” of cultural appropriation doesn’t make enough sense to cause offense.

Watch Whose Streets You’re Walking On

Letter to the Editor

To the editor:

Re: Paris on Foot: 36 Miles, 6 Days and One Blistered Toe by David McAninch.

I see your writer feels special for dismissing the elite sites of central Paris in order to advocate for the underappreciated Parisian suburbs. I’m here to inform him that writing a travel article does not align him with the marginalized immigrant communities of his destination.

McAninch takes the trouble to meet with activists who advocate for the Parisian suburbs. He gets their advice on where to go and falls in love with their suggestions. He seems to think this makes him one of them. It doesn’t. Drooling over the ravishing architecture does not in fact address the needs of the poor communities in certain areas of la banlieue, which are composed mostly of immigrants often maligned by the news media as criminals. By leaving these issues unaddressed—issues that are at the heart of why tourists do not visit the periphery in the first place—he minimizes their weight and disguises deep prejudice as mere ignorance. In doing so, he hides the social unrest and tension between the elite of Paris and the marginalized suburbanites. And hiding that only allows it to fester.

In a word, he’s unintentionally supporting the exact people those activists are fighting against. He doesn’t put what they preach into practice or make any advancement for the communities. He merely treats la banlieue superficially: slumming so he can enjoy their wine and call himself their hero, but not doing anything heroic.

I think a main problem is his audience. The activists he mentions write in French, and they seem to attract a French audience—which may very well influence the suburban-central Paris relations. But McAninch is writing for the relatively elite audience of the New York Times. To these elites, who mostly do not live in France, the suburbs will become a bucket list destination that will make them feel more cultured or woke for finding the “real” Paris. Brushing up these educated egos will not bring the justice that’s needed.

I recognize your effort, Mr. McAninch. I’m just worried you’re hurting more people than you’re helping.

Where yogurt cultures meet South Asian culture

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:
Re “For South Asian Cooks, Yogurt Starter Is an Heirloom” (Food, Feb. 27):

Growing up in a Pakistani-American household, I found that my childhood summers
were synonymous with ripe, juicy mangoes, falooda kulfi (rose-flavored ice cream), and, of
course, fresh homemade dahi (yogurt). Priya Krishna is right when she says that homemade yogurt is a staple in many South Asian households, and that continued use of the same starter culture enables yogurt makers to preserve their heritage right in their own refrigerator. Yet homemade yogurt is not merely an heirloom of the past. It’s also a palpable link connecting the younger generations of South Asian Americans to their native cultures.

In my house, the fridge would hold my mother’s homemade dahi only in the summertime
because yogurt made from scratch does not set during the colder months of the year. With that yogurt, my mother would whip up a number of other dahi-based dishes using traditional Pakistani recipes. As a result, our summer evenings would be accompanied by lassi, a tangy yogurt drink, or papdi chaat, a snack made of chopped vegetables topped with yogurt, aromatic spices, and crispy fried dough.

Homemade yogurt opened up doors for me to experience other culinary traditions and
regional delicacies from Pakistan. Eating it with my family was a way for me to connect with a homeland that I had not lived in but could still feel a profound connection to, because of the dishes my mother put on the table.

Fixing This Garbage Fire May Be More Work Than We Thought

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor,

Your recent article, South Korea’s Plastic Problem is a Literal Trash Fire itself reflects the careless way in which we treat environmental issues worldwide. The story it tells of this black market garbage pile is not the one begging to be told —  a story of systematic neglect. Rather, we read a tale of simple Band-Aid fixes, paired with lamentations of if only we had known.

This massive combusting garbage pile in Uiseong did not spontaneously appear; it was the result of a series of poor attempts to mitigate pollution. The article highlights a number of regulations — from strict cutbacks in waste incineration to international waste import bans — but nowhere in this list of pollution mitigation strategies do we see an attempt to solve the underlying problem of South Korea’s surplus waste. These so-called solutions only address the symptoms, and have resulted in a combusting trash pile rather than a decrease in waste.

The exploding trash heap that’s given the spotlight here is a story that is replayed by many nations that have failed to fix a broken system. Your writer succeeds in highlighting the ways environmental policies fail, but like these policies, it doesn’t conclude with a call for a true fix. What’s needed is a systematic change — a deep industrial restructuring and an effort to reduce waste before it’s created, not once it’s spontaneously combusting and threatening lives.

You get points for telling this story, but like so many others it will fade into oblivion as more waste piles up, and frankly, there are more important things to take away from a 170,000 ton garbage heap than a lone fist shaking at the ‘what ifs.’

 

https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/02/asia/south-korea-trash-ships-intl/index.html