Practice democracy at Penn
To the Editor:
On March 1, 2004, The Daily Pennsylvanian published a story on the Graduate Employees Together-University of Pennsylvania strike ("Strike ends with little disruption," DP, 03/01/04) where University Provost Robert Barchi is quoted as saying, "Of the 1,000 graduate students initially declared eligible to vote in last year's [National Labor Relations Board] election, in fact fewer than 200 actually voted to strike ... I believe this furnishes further evidence of the lack of general support among our graduate students for this unionization drive."
With all respect to Provost Barchi, wouldn't the best evidence of the level of support of the unionization effort be to count the votes? I find it incongruous that this nation can fight a war halfway around the globe to bring democracy to the people of Iraq, but the University of Pennsylvania refuses to practice democracy in West Philly. I will continue to withhold my financial support for the University and Law School until the votes are counted.
Michael Di Genova
Law '96
Focus on Jesus' life
To the Editor:
As a Christian, I am extremely critical of any movie focusing on the last 12 hours of Jesus' life and am insulted when told that Mel Gibson's movie reflects the basic tenets of Christianity ("Daring to insult Christianity," DP, 03/01/04).
For justice-seeking Christians, the focus is on Jesus's life (that challenged domination system and status quo hierarchies) and his teachings (exemplifying the spiritual power of a radically engaged love). The disgusting brutality and violence at Jesus's death is neither the source of my hope nor the locus of my salvation. And I am a Christian.
Similarly, Phillip Gommels ("Accepting, not approving," DP, 03/01/04) informs us that his view is Christian. However, I find his view neither compassionate nor just, and his methodology of loving the sinner and hating the sin is highly suspect. It assumes that gay people are sinning by being who they are and that they are so love-starved that they will settle for friends who maintain that ultimately they are an abomination to God. That kind of death-dealing theology has been the impetus for more than one suicide, and I want no part of it. And I am a Christian.
Rev. Dr. Beverly Dale
The writer is the executive director of the University of Pennsylvania Christian Association.
