Spring Break
Letters to the Editor
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: Forum
Response to Wozich
Didn't find the satire funny
I found Wozich's column from Tuesday to be very offensive. I realize he was trying to be funny and produce a satire. However, I could not read it as such because extreme details of how to torture people disliked for small details is just NOT funny. I found it to be a "tirade" and personal tirades don't belong in newspapers. I hope future articles of this "style" are proofed regarding how the audience will receive it.
Jessica George
Junior, interior design
Maha's courageous story
Domestic abuse awareness
I want to thank Maha Albarjas for her courage in coming forward and talking about her experiences in the article "Saudi faces threats to funding, family," on April 23. Talking about domestic abuse is not an easy thing to do, no matter where you are from.
Most cultures are still not as supportive as they could be of survivors of domestic abuse, and in her case, she comes from a culture that places a lot of taboo on speaking publicly about issues that are considered "private." Although I am not Saudi Arabian, I have studied the culture enough to know that Maha is up against a lot of challenges and could face ostracism from her community for speaking out about her experiences. Maha will surely want to take care of herself, her son and her unborn child during this time, and the last thing she needs is to be put in more stressful and harmful situations.
I want to encourage everyone to think about how domestic abuse affects communities and how we, as the OSU community, can be supportive and effective advocates against domestic abuse. I think it is appalling and shameful that her scholarship and financial support was taken away from her. I truly hope that she is granted asylum and her scholarship is returned to her. Although I commend the Barometer for publishing this article, I have one concern. The author wrote that Saudi Arabia is a country governed by the Qur'an, which I feel may be misleading. For the sake of not perpetuating negative stereotypes about Islam, I want to state that there is a difference between a country governed by the Qur'an in general and a country ruled by Islamic Sharia law, which is based on a human interpretation of the divine. My thoughts are with you, Maha.
Didn't find the satire funny
I found Wozich's column from Tuesday to be very offensive. I realize he was trying to be funny and produce a satire. However, I could not read it as such because extreme details of how to torture people disliked for small details is just NOT funny. I found it to be a "tirade" and personal tirades don't belong in newspapers. I hope future articles of this "style" are proofed regarding how the audience will receive it.
Jessica George
Junior, interior design
Maha's courageous story
Domestic abuse awareness
I want to thank Maha Albarjas for her courage in coming forward and talking about her experiences in the article "Saudi faces threats to funding, family," on April 23. Talking about domestic abuse is not an easy thing to do, no matter where you are from.
Most cultures are still not as supportive as they could be of survivors of domestic abuse, and in her case, she comes from a culture that places a lot of taboo on speaking publicly about issues that are considered "private." Although I am not Saudi Arabian, I have studied the culture enough to know that Maha is up against a lot of challenges and could face ostracism from her community for speaking out about her experiences. Maha will surely want to take care of herself, her son and her unborn child during this time, and the last thing she needs is to be put in more stressful and harmful situations.
I want to encourage everyone to think about how domestic abuse affects communities and how we, as the OSU community, can be supportive and effective advocates against domestic abuse. I think it is appalling and shameful that her scholarship and financial support was taken away from her. I truly hope that she is granted asylum and her scholarship is returned to her. Although I commend the Barometer for publishing this article, I have one concern. The author wrote that Saudi Arabia is a country governed by the Qur'an, which I feel may be misleading. For the sake of not perpetuating negative stereotypes about Islam, I want to state that there is a difference between a country governed by the Qur'an in general and a country ruled by Islamic Sharia law, which is based on a human interpretation of the divine. My thoughts are with you, Maha.
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Be the first to comment on this story
Comments by registered users are approved by default.