Don't belittle issue

My letter is in response to the editorial on "Needless Intervention" [April 14]. I've worn hearing aids since I was four years old and haven't really complained about the adjustment to the hearing world. I'm offended by the editorial's way of targeting a mother who is simply trying to help her daughter live a normal life.

Until you've worn hearing aids yourself or you've tried to buy a cell phone that did not have a radio frequency buzzing in your ear but are claimed by the company to be "hearing aid compatible" or you've had to turn to a friend during a movie and ask "what did they say?" because you couldn't hear the joke or you've missed half the things said in class because not all classrooms on BYU campus are equipped with sound devices, then I give you the right to complain.

You'd be surprised at what little is done for those with this disability, both at a private institution and on a state level. Often federal intervention is the only way to get something done. Do some research and find out how many insurance companies don't cover hearing aids because it's not a "real problem." Please don't belittle this issue. If I got tickets to the hottest show in town, I sure hope I could hear the lyrics like this little girl wishes.

Domineau Wiley
Sammamish, Wash.

Degrading wall

During my visit to Israel, I crossed the wall. While doing so I was forced to wait in line for several hours under the hot sun. I was surrounded by metal bars and barbed wire being patrolled by teenagers with machine guns, harassing those waiting in line. People were buzzed through cattle gates one at a time as they were interrogated by Israeli soldiers. It was degrading.

Many Palestinians must go through this ritual daily if their school or employment is located on the opposite side of the wall. Many have been forced out of employment or had to drop out of school since it can take them hours to cross the wall, if they are allowed. Many of these people are God-fearing, family-oriented, educated, law-abiding citizens.

Family members that live on opposite sides of the wall must receive special permission to visit each other. They must request permission months in advance, and they are not given notification that they will be allowed to visit each other until hours before their scheduled visit - if they are even permitted to make the visit. If they are deemed as violating the terms of the visit, they will be beaten, imprisoned or worse.

The wall surrounding the Palestinian area is inhumane and reduces their quality of life to substandard levels. Using the wall, the Israelis have denigrated the Palestinians to a sub-human status, approaching the treatment the Jews received during the Holocaust.

Jeff Lark
DeWitt, Mich.

Deal with it To the author of "Be polite" [April 14], your letter was very entertaining. Thank you! I probably can't put names in my letter, but I'm guessing you work for a certain bank that has a branch located in the bookstore. Either way, one fun realization I've come to about working as a teller is the same as yours, many people don't follow their accounts like they should, then we have to be the ones to let them know about any fees. It's unfortunate, but it's part of the job. Get used to it all ready. Every job that deals with serving costumers is going to have those quirks. Oh well.

I am fortunate enough to work for a credit union. We are trained to find ways to help our members, rather than make them feel like it's all their fault for mistakes (even though it often is). Maybe having an attitude of teaching your customers how to stay current with their account will give you a happier feeling at the end of the day. Although, it does help when the company you work for does care enough about its members to reimburse those fees sometimes.

Chris Clark
Sandy

Raid's tragedy

There is only one reason any organization should have the right to forcibly remove a child from his or her mother, safety of the child. The Texas raid in the news leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I oppose the Fundamentalists' lifestyle and methods. I oppose marriage to a minor or an unwilling party of any age. I am glad someone had the courage to challenge what was going on at the ranch. But, I also think children need their mothers. Let's not make a bad situation worse. These children are not a means to an end.

Jon Spackman
Provo

Celebrate human rights

In response to the naive statements written in "Olympics not political," I feel compelled to remind the author of just two situations in which the Olympics proved to be very political. First, the 1936 Olympics, in which Germany won the Olympic bid, Adolph Hitler was using the Olympics for his "hidden agendas" and his sadistic ideas about "Aryan Race," in which only "Aryans" were allowed to compete.

When Jesse Owens competed in the Berlin Olympics, he dashed Hitler's ideas of an all German victor. Many consider Owens a hero for symbolically opposing the political intentions of Hitler. Or need I mention the 1972 Olympics in Munich in which eleven Israelis athletes were taken hostage and then killed by eight Palestinians. Obviously that wasn't political at all, right?

So if it's not political and it's just about the athletes and "not about a specific country" then why don't they just compete without nationalism? Why play the national anthems when athletes win and drape their national colors around their shoulders at opening ceremonies. And in "rethinking why we have the Olympics," the Olympics, in fact, are to promote a healthy competitive environment and celebrate human rights, which the People's Republic of China is in direct opposition to with its current occupation in Tibet. I am sure the author of this letter doesn't find the slogan of the 2008 Olympics at all ironic: One World, One Dream. Well, my dream for the world is not that of China's, which consists of injustice and brutality.

Jordan Lydia Shaw
North Ogden

Boycott Olympics

It is disappointing that the Olympics are not as celebrated by the world as they were in prior years. However, think about the average person who goes to the Olympics. They will spend around $1,000 for airfare as well as a comparable amount on tickets to the sporting events. They will stay in lavish accommodations and eat at the best restaurants that Beijing can offer. They will be sightseeing and essentially enjoying a 2-week party.

Meanwhile, the average citizen of China and Tibet are barely getting by. In fact, many aren't getting by at all. Many are being tortured and murdered and the rest are living in extreme poverty. They work in factories making pennies a day. Have you seen the things that are "Made in China?" That should tell you how much they're making.

So while Americans are going over there for a celebration of "sports, competition and entertainment," many Chinese and their neighbors will be trying to figure out how to survive until tomorrow. Celebrating our pride for humanity in this location is not only a contradiction, but it is supporting their deplorable treatment of their citizens and neighbors.

Abby Clark
New York, N.Y.

Copyright Brigham Young University 15 Apr 2008