‘U.S. Singled Out’

The commentary offered by critics in The New York Sun’s May 26 story on the release of the Amnesty International Annual Report was flimsy and baseless [“U.S. Singled Out in New Reports on Rights Abuse,” Benny Avni, Page 1, May 26, 2005]. A critic complained, for example, about credibility of sources and political filtering of human rights issues. Because of our unceasing opposition to human rights abuses in brutal dictatorships and democracies alike, among America’s allies and detractors, in all regions of the world, concerning all forms of government, challenging AI’s impartiality is misguided and ludicrous.

The images of mistreatment and torture that emerged from Abu Ghraib are, indeed, most credible evidence. Their publication engendered shock among our citizens and the international community. They still do.

TODD SCHWARZ
New York City area coordinator
Amnesty International
Manhattan

‘Chairman Shortell’

I’m glad President Kimmich’s letter [“Chairman Shortell,’ Christoph M. Kimmich, May 25, 2005] suggests a realization that tenured professors’ abuse of their own academic freedom by trampling others’ – that of students in particular, but possibly that of future faculty as well – cannot survive the light of day. Sadly, though, the school’s reaction to this seems too little too late. Had the sociology department and its neighbor, the political science department, hired a truly diverse faculty in the first place, and not solely the Marxists who dominate them, chances are that this entire embarrassing fiasco would have been avoided. More importantly, it would result in a situation where students at least would get to hear more than just this type of approach to society, including those students who agree with Professor Shortell’s views.

The chairs of the two departments, by the way, co-administer a controversial, mandatory class with a mandatory textbook at Brooklyn called: “Core 3: People, Power and Politics,” which – no wonder – forces students to view America exclusively from the typical leftist class-race-gender mind frame. Putting aside the fact that non-leftist instructors are practically not allowed in these departments (in the name of “diversity,” of course), it is impossible to teach the class as it is without a politically activist slant. Allowing Mr. Shortell to chair the sociology department translates into changing things for the worse, rather than an attempt by the college to rectify this already ongoing scandal. And this is not because Mr. Shortell’s views are “offensive,” but because there is no reason to believe he can lead the department fairly.

ELDAD YARON
President, Brooklyn College Students for Academic Freedom
Brooklyn

As the sociology chair, Mr. Shortell, along with the political science chairperson, Sally Bermanzohn (currently a self avowed communist), will have complete control over the curriculum of a course known as “Core 3,” which is required of all students in order to graduate. Given his stated views, is it at all acceptable for this man to have such power over the fates of Brooklyn College’s many devout Jewish (and other) students? Is this kind of hatred what we New Yorkers want our tax dollars to support?

ADRIENNE SCHOLZ, J.D.
Brooklyn

‘Zarqawi Mystery Deepens’

It would be one of those unparalleled ironies in history if it is finally proven that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has indeed been mortally wounded [“Zarqawi Mystery Deepens,” James Tarabay, Foreign, May 26, 2005]. Just think: The most prominent warlord of the Islamic Jihad against what he claims is a Christian-based imperialism unleashed on Islam by the West, confronting a death that would only serve as a confirmation of one of the founder of Christianity’s oft-quoted and profusely misapplied dictums: Those who live by the sword shall die by the sword.

MIGUEL A. GUANIPA
Whitinsville, Mass.

‘Marketing Fake Realities’

Re: “The Game of Marketing Fake Realities,” Tina Brown, On the Town, May 26, 2005. Three quarters of the story was devoted to Tom Cruise and company and their antics. Suddenly, out of left field, Ms. Brown started to attack President Bush. She compared him to Britney Spears? Ms. Brown then threw in an entire litany against everything President Bush is sort of involved with. I’m still shaking my head.

ETHEL SCHER
Riverdale, N.Y

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