Friday, October 13, 2000
Conjoined twins will separate and save the life of British officials made the decision to separate the twins but will most likely result in the death of the weaker which may end both lives if not separated protruding from each side. Jodie is the only one with a functioning heart and lungs therefore Mary depends on her for oxygenated blood. Mary has also suffered brain damage and is unable to eat on her own. She is incapable of independent existence. If they remain as one, both girls are expected to die within sixmonths because supporting two bodies is weakening Jodie. If they are separated, Mary will die while Jodie could have a chance at a fairly normal life after extensive surgery. Sadly, in a way this case imitates the movie "Sophie's Choice" where Meryl Streep's character had to choose which of her children would remain with her
By Magda Liszewska
British Court of Appeal judges made the right decision ruling that the case of conjoined twins came down to an issue of self-defense and the right of the stronger girl to be released from a sister who would eventually kill both of them. The twins were born in Manchester on Aug. 8. To protect their identities, they have been given false names Jodie and Mary. They are joined at the lower abdomen with a set of legs
and which one would be sent to instant death at the World War II camp. However, unlike the movie character, the devout Roman Catholic parents said they can not sacrifice one daughter for the other and asked that the girls be left in their current state. The parents were quoted saying: "Everyone has the right to life, so why should we kill one of our daughters to enable the other one to survive? We cannot begin to accept or contemplate that one of our children should die to enable the other one to survive. That is not God's will." Apparently they believe God meant for it to be that way, but if he meant for babies to die in such a way, he would
not have given people the intelligence to come up with ways to conduct a successful surgery and save at least one of the girls. At a time when medicine is advanced enough for a successful procedure, it is inconceivable that the parents would just watch as both of their children die when they are offered an opportunity to save one of them. Either way, Mary will die, not because she will be intentionally killed but because her own body cannot sustain her life. It is tragic but inevitable. Mary is beyond help and the surgery is more like removing someone who has no chance of a normal life from the life-support system rather than killing. It makes no sense to let Jodie die with
her sister. The situation is extremely difficult for everyone involved. Separating the twins is not a tough choice to make; it's a matter of saving one life as opposed to losing two. However, it is a very difficult choice to live with. The doctors will have to watch Mary die as they separate her from her sister. One day, the parents will have to explain to Jodie that her sister was killing her and they did not want to interfere. They will have to re-live the whole situation remembering that the right to make a decision about their own children was taken away from them. The case has caused a lot of con-
troversy. Pro-life supporters called the decision to proceed with the surgery "infanticide" and "a green light for further attacks on human life." However, watching Mary slowly suck the life out of her sister seems like a useless waste of an innocent life. The court came to the least detrimental decision, the only right one in this situation. —Magda Liszewska is a Daily Titan Staff Writer
Letters to Wen Ho Lee’s targeted due to backthe Editor
Major newspaper publishes alleged espionage and only days later arrest of Taiwanese man is made By Darleele Barrientos
Get it together
Usually while on campus, I pick up The Daily Titan every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday hoping to see and read something worthwhile.‑ I am still, however, disappointed.‑ Articles on love and bad hairs days are some of the stories that I recall are far from thought provoking.‑ Get some writers who are willing to use this forum to debate social topics, election information and valid news.‑ — unhappy reader
Keep the Arboretum The Arboretum has many functions, not just environmental benefits. It provides education, through classes, tours, historical reproductions. It is a great study area for people working in biology and ecology as well. It serves the community with an area to stroll, to learn, to hold events, etc.
— Jean Turner
A Place to Rest
I don’t think that we should replace the Arboretum. I like the sense of peacefulness I get from it. I haven’t found any place like it. I respect those who do like its environment. The only way I know about it is through my biology lab class last semester and it’s something different. I like CSUF because of its diversity as far as people to meet and places to go. I think that we might need a little help on parking, but I did like our stack parking.
— Christina
On March 6, 1999, the New York Times published a shocking story of espionage and the theft of nuclear weapons technology from Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. This article detailed the apparent leap in nuclear weapons technology by the Chinese government and although they didn’t name a perpetrator, they did say the suspect “stuck out like a sore thumb.” That suspect was eventually identified as Wen Ho Lee, a 60-year old Taiwan-born nuclear physicist, who was indicted on 59 counts of allegedly transferring top-secret nuclear weapon data with the intent of helping a foreign country. Lee was arrested on Dec. 10, 1999, and sat in jail until August 2000, in solitary confinement, denied bail. All this without having been formally charged with espionage and the FBI turning up nothing at Lee’s home, even though these particular searches were almost legendary in their thoroughness. Though I know the Times, who recently published a statement defending their reporters and their tactics, had nothing to do with the arrest and indictment of Lee, I believe that their article sparked fear and hysteria of Chinese espionage. According to the authors of the initial article, the Chinese government, up until recently, did not
have the capability to miniaturize its bombs until they had stolen “the crown jewels” of the United States nuclear program, Lee’s employer until March 1999. In addition, the government, according to the Times, has been investigating this case of espionage since 1997. Almost too coincidentally, Wen Ho Lee was arrested nine months after the article in the Times came out, even though the government had been conducting their investigation for more than three years. In the past, newspapers have been used to call citizens to arms, to shed light on government conspiracies and to expose crooked – and indiscreet – politicians. It is a sad state of American civil rights if newspaper articles are now directing our justice system. Every person involved in the Wen Ho Lee fiasco is under fire: the two FBI agents who interrogated Lee, and warned him falsely that he had failed his polygraph test. Notra Trulock, then director of counterintelligence at the Energy Department, who continued to insist that a Chinese spy had ransacked Los Alamos. Bill Richardson, U.S. Energy secretary, who pushed for prosecution even in the face of limited evidence. It seems almost like a situation that they could have seen as trouble from a mile away, yet these people did nothing to defuse it; rather, they fueled the hysteria and the hostility towards Lee. For me, an Asian American journalism student, it is a bizarre and confusing situation to try to comprehend. Even though he is pleading guilty to one count of mishandling nuclear secrets, Lee’s
solitary confinement seems incredibly unfair, and I’m sorry to say, racist. I say his solitary confinement is unfair because another prominent figure, John Deutch , former CIA director, was also found as having mishandled classified information by storing intelligence secrets on unprotected computers at his home. When comparing the two cases, prosecutors have contended that Lee was intended to harm the government, while Deutch was merely “sloppy.” But again – where’s the proof that Chinese American Lee ever intended to harm the United States? And, yes, I will say that I believe Lee was targeted because he was Chinese. But anyone who knows anything about Asian Americans knows that being from mainland China as opposed to being from Taiwan is a big difference, even though they are all ethnically Chinese. If Lee is originally from Taiwan, an island which remains capitalist, why would Lee seek to help out the Communist mainland Chinese? Although I believe the FBI had every right to interrogate Lee because they suspected him of downloading information to an unsecure computer, I won’t accept any rationalization that because he is Chinese, it was necessary to hold him in solitary confinement for nine months without any chance of bail. If I did, it would just sustain the stereotype of Asians and Asian Americans as being “foreign.” No matter the land of birth, no matter the vow of citizenship.
Courtesy of MS NBS.com
Wen Ho Lee may be the base of a racial case. Reminds me of a situation dur- scientist who wished to go fishing ing World War II, when Japanese after being freed to be incarcerated Americans were herded out to for so long and with such restricremote areas in the interior of the tion? American West Coast, during a I will also ask – if his actions war against Japan, Germany and were so dire that Lee , why is he Italy. being freed on just one count as It didn’t matter that one bat- opposed to the original 59 counts talion made up of only Japanese of downloading secure information Americans was one of the most to unsecure computers and data decorated battalions during the tapes? war. It just mattered that they These are questions that I don’t were different. That they looked think will ever be answered. “foreign.” Instead, I will ask – what was —Darleene Barrientos is the so intimidating about a 60-year-old Daily Titan Asst. News Editor
Roits of Palestine seem to have no end in
Horrible images of Rami Durra seconds before being shot and killed are just some of the images reaching the United States
By Terry Jolliffe
What began last Friday as a walk to Starbucks after a day at the Art Institute of Chicago ended me up in the middle of hundreds of American Palestinians protesting the recent violence in the Middle East. With heavy police presence, one protester told me it was their third demonstration, with another planned for Wednesday, in front of the Israeli Consulate on E. Wacker Drive. “The fact that I can demonstrate in front of the Israeli Consulate is a blessing,” said Manal El-Hrisse. “Our
people are still dying. Are we not worth anything?” The Jews have been through the Holocaust and it’s ironic that they are committing another Holocaust against the Palestinians. We will continue to demonstrate until the killing stops. As American citizens we don’t want our tax dollars supporting the murder of our people. We are infuriated by right-wing Israeli leader Ariel Sharon’s visit to the Temple Mount-he was putting it in face-the disrespect! There will never be peace,” said El-Hrisse. Several small Palestinian children carried protest signs. Others carried pictures of 12-year-old Rami Durra, the 12-year-old boy on the front page of most newspapers, with indescribable terror on his face, clinging to
his father seconds before he was shot to death, taped by a French filming crew. The protesters were peaceful and women and children in full Middle East attire were very high profile. Cars and trucks traveled up and down busy Michigan Avenue honking their horns and waving colorful Palestinian flags out their windows. “We’ve had no problems with the demonstrators. They’ve been very polite and law abiding but the people driving their cars in this traffic might have a problem with them,” laughed Officer Gibson, Chicago Police. One observer, Fred Kravitz, active in his Jewish community in Brooklyn, New York, said, “The fighting and killing has always been from both sides. Neither the Palestinians nor the
Courtesy of Raiders.com
Ariel Sharon’s visit to the Temple Mount or the Baitul Muqqaddis, also known as Dome of the Rock was a futile attempt to shore up his dying political future.” “His action has led to the death and injury of thousands of Middle Eastern people and has placed the Middle East peace in great jeopardy. It is worth remembering that Sharon was instrumental in the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982. While Israeli soldiers looked on from the outskirts of Beirut, thousands of Palestinians in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps were massacred by the pro-Israeli Lebanese Maronite faction,” said Shamim.
jected ourselves to start rooting for other teams. I grew up a Ram fan and I still am one. I attended one Ram football game in my life. The game was rowdy with everyone talking trash to each other. In retrospect it was a great experience and I really miss it. “ I loved going to the Raider games and drinking a beer,” said Junior Daniel Saenz who majors in graphic design. “ On the day before work being out in the sun and rooting for the Raiders was great. Even though their gone I still root for them but it’s not the same.” What I remember is that mostly everyone in this city where mainly Raider fans, I guess cause they had more tradition. But I think it was because the Raiders had cool colors and signified toughness. The Rams on the other hand, where blue and yellow and had a lot of losing seasons. The Raider fans dressed up as pirates and the Rams fans put watermelons on their heads.
“ I blame the fact that we don’t have football anymore on Al Davis and Georgia Frontiere,” said Senior Nancy Jones, Psychology major. “Also the fans never really supported those teams while they where here. There were always more fans of the opposite teams then the home teams. So the fans should of went out more instead of complaining about it now.” I remember the only time the Rams where good was in 1989 when they entered the playoffs as wild card. They beat the Eagles in Philadelphia and the Giants in New York to advance to the NFC championship game against San Francisco 49ers. That team had Eric Dikerson, Jim Everett, and Flipper Anderson. Of course my most hated team, the 49ers, with Joe Montana slaughtered them. They did get to the Super Bowl against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1980 at the Rose Bowl but lost the game. The Raiders have always had good tradition until the 90’s where the Chiefs and Broncos have owned them. But to
—Terry Jolliffe is a Daily Titan Staff Writer
Letters to the Editor should be brief and are subject to editing. They should also include a signature and telephone number. Editorials are the opinion of the editorial board, comprised of the Executive Editor, News Editors and section editors. Columns are the personal opinion of the writer. They do not reflect those of the university, the faculty, or the student body.
Still waiting for pro football to come By James Moya
Football no longer a trademark in L.A.
Israelis are completely right, and neither is completely wrong. No, I do not see peace happening in the Middle East,” Kravitz said when asked. “The archives of the holy temple are underneath Temple Mount. Jews have every right to go there to view the documents,” Lou Levy, of Deal, New Jersey, said, referring to Arirl Sharon’s visit. “Ariel Sharon is a provocateur. He is facing grave threat to his leadership of the Likud party now that Benjamin Netanyahu is thinking of making a political comeback following his acquittal,” said Dr. C.M. Shamim, Professor of Political Science at California State University Fullerton, “According to all polls Netanyahu will be able to easily oust Sharon from the leadership of the Likud party. Thus
Daily
Once upon a time football roamed the land of Los Angeles. Fans packed the Big A and the Coliseum when the Rams and Raiders played here. Touchdown passes where thrown and mayhem filled our Sunday afternoons. It seems that something is missing for the Angelinos on the weekends. The Raiders originally hailed from Oakland, then moved to L.A. then back to Oakland. The Rams were from Cleveland, then moved to L.A. then moved to St. Louis. Los Angeles lost a chance of having a franchise when the NFL voted the new franchise to be in Houston. Currently we have arena football, college football, and the upcoming XFL but it’s just not the same without pro football. Most of us have sub-
all those former Raider fans who now know that the Rams are the defending Super Bowl Champs and probably will win it again this year, while the Raiders continue to underachieve in Oakland must really hurt. It also hurts that the Rams didn’t get to do it here. “ I root for the 49ers now because there is no team here and the Chargers are no good,” said Sophomore Jay Sanford, Chemistry major. Sanford added,“I always been a Ram fan but I can’t identify with them now with their new city and new uniforms. Come to think of it, the 49ers are not that good either.” It feels good for the Rams to be unstoppable. But Los Angeles really needs a team because we are a big market.” Sundays aren’t the same anymore without the rowdiness of beer and football in our weekend lives. —James Moya is a Daily Titan Staff Writer