10The DePaulia.

September 20, 2010

NATION & WORLD

Fear and loathing: Qu'ran threat leaves student feeling betrayed
BY PETER DZIEDZIC
AND GREG HAYNES
In recent weeks, there has been
much controversy regarding
the plans of a small church in
Gainsville, Fla. to sponsor an
“International ‘Burn a Koran’
Day” on September 11, 2010,
the ninth anniversary of the 9/11
terrorist attacks.
“I feel somewhat betrayed,”
said Islamic student Leena Saleh,
a senior. Saleh said she doesn't
feel protected by the Constitution
and that herself and everyone else
she knows is being persecuted for
their religion.
Terry Jones, the senior pastor of
the Dove World Outreach Center,
a small, non-denominational
charismatic Christian church,
had originally intended to burn
the Qur’an, the sacred book of
Islam, on the anniversary of the
terrorist attacks. The plan drew
wide-ranging criticism. From
Pope Benedict XVI to Angelina
Jolie and from Buddhist monks
to atheist students – many across
the nation and across the world
condemned the plan.
“It’s a truly disrespectful way
to make a point,” said Jewish
student and DePaul Hillel
president Michael Evers.
“If he has concerns with the
Muslim community, he should
have opened up a civil dialogue
with these people. It is a disgrace
to people of faith, and gives the
U.S. a terrible reputation abroad.”
As a result of Jones’ threat,
anti-American protests have been
held around the world. David
Petraeus, Commander of U.S.
forces in Afghanistan, warned
that the plans and media attention
could endanger US troops abroad.
“It’s unbelievable that someone
would consider doing such a
thing to something many people
consider valuable and sacred,”
Eric Tang of the Students for a Democratic Society march to the Dove World
Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida on Saturday, September 11, 2010. Pastor
Terry Jones canceled his plans to burn copies of the Quran.
said Nathalia Oliveira, a junior
who said she identifies with no
particular religious tradition.
“If I could speak to the pastor
right now, I would greet him
with peace and tell him that our
religion does not seek violence.
We are a peaceful religion,” said
Mohammad Yassin, a sophomore
Muslim student and DePaul
Interfaith Scholar.
“Muslims were affected by 9/11
as well. Muslims died in the
attacks and Muslims helped heal
and rebuild.”
On September 9, Jones
cancelled the proposed event.
Jones’ plans have caused many
to question our level of Muslim
tolerance in the U.S.
“We’ve made a space for a
profound lack of respect for
other viewpoints and cultures,”
Image courtesy of MCT Wire Service
said David Wellman, associate
professor of Religious Studies at
DePaul University.
“It is in this space that we
demonstrate the tragic state of our
collective religious illiteracy.”
Jones’ plans also come at a time
when Park51, a controversial
Islamic community center and
mosque in New York, is being
constructed about two blocks
away from the World Trade
Center site in Lower Manhattan.
There have been several protests
both in support of and against
the construction of the facility in
addition to Jones’ planned event.
The manner in which Islam and
the many unfavorable responses
to it have been portrayed in the
media in recent weeks begs the
question – is America becoming
increasingly Islamophobic?
“I don’t believe that we
as a nation are necessarily
predisposed to becoming more
Islamophobic,” said Wellman.
At the very least, however,
this story highlights the fact that
the U.S. mainstream press still
prefers to focus on simplistic acts
of religious hatred, rather than the
beauty and complexity of those
who are committed to promoting
peace and respect.”
“I think it’s a terrible idea to
disrespect somebody else’s
religion,” said Dr. Barbara
Speicher, a Communications
professor. “There are Muslims
who have a negative view
towards the United States so
doing this would help put the
troops at greater risk.”
“When people accept this kind
of behavior, or do nothing about
it, they are closing themselves off
to progress,” said Oliveira.
While Jones cancelled plans
to host a Qur’an burning event,
there are still hate crimes
plaguing Muslim communities.
On September 15, a burned
copy of the sacred text was
found in front of the Muslim
Community Center on Chicago’s
northwest side. A similar incident
occurred in East Lansing, Mich.
on September 11. It seems that
Jones, while not hosting an event
himself, was able to inspire others
to commit the act.
Whether America is becoming
increasingly Islamophobic or
not is tied inexplicably with how
we will handle the situation at
Park51. Many wonder if these
events will become a turning
point in American history.
“It depends on our response,”
said Wellman. “If we allow the
Islamic center to be built, we
will demonstrate that we are
living out our claim that we value
and honor religions other than
Christianity. If we allow Jones
and those like him to derail such
efforts, it will only affirm many
people’s worst fears about us.”
“I honestly hope that this
event will be remembered,” said
Oliveira. “We learn from our
history, and this is an event that
we can all take a lesson from. If
we were to forget the ignorance
this man put forth, history would
only repeat itself.”
Muslim students extend an
invitation to learn more about
their religion and beliefs.
“People who are interested
in learning more should seek
answers. The cure to ignorance
is asking questions,” said Yassin.
“As Muslims, burning a holy
book is something we would
never do. We value tolerance and
understanding.”

The secrets and danger in WikiLeaks

BY MICHAEL CORIO
The Internet age has spawned a culture
in which information is rapidly assimilated
and distributed around the world every
second of every day. WikiLeaks, an
organization that exposes classified
information, has caused much controversy
in recent months.
The documents that WikiLeaks publishes
are leaked by individuals in corporate,
religious, and government organizations.
  The WikiLeaks organization states
on its website that its mission is “to
protect whistleblowers, journalists, and
activists who have sensitive materials to
communicate to the public.” In effect, it is a
site dedicated to the exposure of classified
information and asserts a message that
advocates for “better accountability by
governments and other institutions.”
“The Internet is wonderful but
increasingly problematic. Sometimes we
are kept in the dark for a reason. I would
not want retaliation against innocent people
due to the release of such information,”
said Stephanie Howell, a communications
professor.
“While I do appreciate exposure
of government, implications can be
problematic and people can be hurt when
the whole story isn’t told.”
In late July 2010 WikiLeaks released
77,000 documents pertaining to U.S.
military operations in Afghanistan,
followed by an additional 15,000
classified reports leaked illegally by
Private Bradley Manning. Entitled the
“Afghan War Diaries,” this collection
of highly sensitive military information
paints a comprehensive picture of past
and ongoing efforts of the war, including
possible evidence of war crimes and
military misconduct.
This included the release of a 2007
video entitled “Collateral Murder,” filmed
from the cockpit of a U.S. Army Apache
helicopter. The video displays a lethal
airstrike resulting in the deaths of a group
of Afghan citizens and two Reuters news
journalists, allegedly based on the premise
of one man’s possession of an artillery
weapon. Various human rights groups and
media organizations have lodged their
support for the site, and despite some initial
criticism surrounding the leak of names of
Afghani informants, organizations such as
Reporters Without Borders have pledged
“support for WikiLeaks, its work, and its
founding principles.”
Critics have argued that the indiscriminate
disclosure of intimate details on the war
threatens both ongoing military operations
in Afghanistan and the safety of its Afghani
informants.
Opinions are sharply divided along
ideological lines in the U.S., outlying
the struggle to balance national security
interests with First Amendment rights.
Benjamin Cosic, a senior majoring in
communications and business, is in favor
of WikiLeaks as long as it does not put
peoples’ lives or well-being in danger.
“WikiLeaks must take into account the
ethical consequences of releasing such
information to the public. However,
websites like WikiLeaks could be
revolutionary in terms of contributing to
a more neutral, informed public,” said
Cosic.
“Most major news outlets are for profit
corporations and possess a bias based on
the need to present information in a way
that turns a profit.”
This debate has intensified with the
Internet’s capability of providing an
anonymous forum for opinion and a venue
in which to share information. With the rise
of such technology, the notion of privacy
and confidentiality, in the traditional sense,
is rapidly changing.
WikiLeaks reflects a struggle between
the right to free speech and the necessity
to protect information critical to corporate,
government, and organizational security.
The question posed to modern-day society
”
WikiLeaks must take
into account the ethical
consequences of releasing
such information to the
public. However, websites
like WikiLeaks could be
revolutionary in terms of
contributing to a more
neutral, informed public.
“
Benjamin Cosic, senior
is how to draw the line between Internet
freedom and necessary secrecy.
“If an open society means that people
have to censor themselves, I believe
people will be more cautious about what
they put online,” said Paul Booth, an
assistant professor in the College of
Communications who specializes in
technology and new media.
“It’s hard to say if the majority of people
have a favorable opinion of WikiLeaks,
but I think most people are in favor of
open dialogue and debate. They don’t want
to compromise the safety of others, but
they want to have as much information as
possible.”
 Nation & World. September 20, 2010. The DePaulia 11

This Week in World News

8 WASHINGTON - Federal
regulators are set to propose new
rules that could make it harder for
financial firms to disguise their
level of debt.
The expanded disclosure re-
quirements would apply to banks'
practice of temporarily trimming
their debt at the end of quarters
to make their financial statements
appear stronger. The practice is
legal, but regulators say it can
give investors a distorted picture
of a bank's debt and level of risk.
Lehman Brothers used so-
called repurchase agreements as
an accounting trick in the months
before its collapse into the big-
gest bankruptcy in U.S. history
two years ago. The demise of the
Wall Street titan triggered a panic
in financial markets.
1-- PopeEDINBURGH, Scotland
Benedict XVI waded
into the hostile atmosphere
Thursday of highly secular
Britain, admitting the Catholic
Church did not act decisively
or quickly enough to remove
priests who molested children
in his strongest comments yet
on the worldwide sex abuse
crisis shaking his church.
The pope, facing opposition
to his papacy, paid an
unprecedented visit to the
country to speak agaisnt
"aggressive forms" of
secularism. The German pope
recalled how Britain had stood
against "Nazi tyranny that
wished to eradicate God from
Pope Benedict XVI admited the church failed in sex abuse scandals.
society."

7France's
BRUSSELS, Germany - 2 MEXICO - Mexico's bloody
deportations of Gypsies drug war can be traced to seven
are "a disgrace" and probably cartel-related conflicts, the Mexican
break European Union law, the government recently reported.
EU's executive body declared
Tuesday in a stinging rebuke that
j A Texas-born drug kingpin recently
arrested in Mexico, Edgar "La Barbie"
set up a showdown with French
President Nicolas Sarkozy's
m p Valdez Villarreal, said Juarez was the
flash point for the fighting.
conservative government.
In recent weeks, French
l o The government report, titled

authorities have dismantled k q "Information on the Criminal

Phenomenon in Mexico," says 80
more than 100 illegal camps percent of the drug-related homicides
and deported more than 1,000 (22,701 out of 28,353 ) took place in
Gypsies, also known as Roma, 162 communities, Juarez among the
mainly back to Romania, in a highest.
crackdown that has drawn The biggest number of drug-related
international condemnation. deaths involves Joaquin "Chapo"
France could ultimately
be slapped with a fine by the
n Guzman Loera's battles against four
other drug-trafficking organizations.
European Court of Justice if its
expulsions are found to have
breached EU law.

5key breakthrough
SANTIAGO, Chile - Rescuers achieved a
in efforts to rescue 33 trapped
miners on Friday, reaching the caverns where
they are imprisoned with a bore hole that will
now be widened so that they can be pulled to
freedom.
Atacama region Gov. Ximena Matas said the
T130 probe had reached the mine area near
the chamber where the men have taken refuge
some 2,300 feet (700 meters) beneath the
surface.
Officials say rescue, though, is still more
than six weeks away. Workers will now fit a

6ClintonJERUSALEM
wider bit on the drill and start boring a 26-inch
- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham (66-centimeter) hole wide enough to pull the
says Israeli and Palestinian leaders are already men to the surface.

"getting down to business" in tackling the key issues at the
heart of their conflict.
But Clinton gave no indication Wednesday that the sides
are any closer to resolving the most immediate stumbling
block to newly relaunched peace talks: a Palestinian threat
to quit the negotiations if Israel doesn't extend a curb on
West Bank settlement construction.
Addressing reporters, Clinton said they already have
"begun to grapple with the core issues" in their conflict. But
she made no mention of the settlement dispute.
That effort will require the miners themselves
to help by shifting tons of debris that falls
through the hole as it is widened.
Two dozen companies with operations in Chile
have made more than 1,000 job offers to the
trapped miners.
On Thursday, the miners celebrated Chile's
bicentennial of independence with beef and
empanadas, and they decorated their chamber
with a plastic Chilean flag.
3
DELAWARE - Conservative Christine O'Donnell pulled
off a stunning upset over nine-term Rep. Mike Castle in the
Republican Senate primary in Delaware Tuesday, propelled by
tea party activists into a November showdown with Democrat
Chris Coons. After a primary season shaped by economic pain
and exasperated voters, the grass-roots, anti-establishment
movement can claim wins in at least seven GOP Senate races,
a handful of Republican gubernatorial contests and dozens of
House primary campaigns, and it influenced many others.

4overwhelmingly
PARIS - The French Senate on Tuesday
passed a bill banning the burqa-style
Islamic veil on public streets and other places, a
measure that affects less than 2,000 women but that
has been widely seen as a symbolic defense of French
values.
Many Muslims believe the legislation is one more
blow to France's No. 2 religion, and risks raising the
level of Islamophobia in a country where mosques, like
synagogues, are sporadic targets of hate. However, the
law's many proponents say it will preserve the nation's
values, including its secular foundations and a notion of
fraternity that is contrary to those who hide their faces.
Photos and news compiled from MCT Wire services and The Associated Press