I have a real problem with the article about Rahim Akir Alem in Thursday's edition of The Daily Reveille, as should any red-blooded tax paying American. I completely understand and respect the decision he has made in his life to be who he is and in the future to make his money doing something he believes in. I was really loving this article, this guy and everything he stood for until the line "…I'm an African, not an African-American." If you are so ashamed of calling yourself an American, what are you still doing here? If you're an "African" then you are more than welcome to visit, but you're not allowed to stay and enjoy the perks of being an American, African-American, Italian-American, etc. because you said you're not. That would be illegal. In a speech from 1907 (yes 1907!) by President Theodore Roosevelt he said "We have room for but one flag, the American flag." If you're an African-American, you should enjoy all the rights and freedoms this country has fought for 200 years, but I'm fairly certain we did not fight for the rights of Africans.
Chris Cali Senior Finance
Holiday of Sukkot ends.
Hillel at LSU, the Jewish student organization on campus, would like to thank the University community for quenching your curiosity. We built a Sukkah (temporary shelter) in front of the Union, and many students asked our members about its significance.
As the holiday of Sukkot draws to a close, we wanted to remind you of its relevance to life today in Louisiana. The holiday symbolizes the aspects of hope and community that endure through hard times. At this time of the year, we reach out to our fellow community members, invite them into our homes and help them recover from hardships. This holiday is a great reminder that evacuees from New Orleans still need our support, and we should continue our efforts to welcome them into our community in Baton Rouge. At the same time, we should look beyond our borders. In the Darfur region of Sudan in Africa, famine has led citizens to join militia groups in order to survive. Yet the government of Sudan has not done enough to end the bloodshed and to provide sustenance for its people. We must urge our senators to urge our government to urge the government of Sudan to take care of the plight of its people.
Moshe Cohen Interim Program Coordinator Hillel at LSU
Let me first start off by saying that I played football for years with black people, attended a rival high school a few blocks away from St. Augustine with many black students, I was a part of a fraternity that scheduled an annual party with Omega Phi Psi and Alpha Kappa Alpha, two black Greek organizations, and that I listen to rap music. With that being said, Rahim Akir Alem is nothing but a racist.
Alem states that he is not an American, much less an African-American, but only an African. I am guessing that he makes this statement based on our country's history. If he does so have this view on America's past, which is an inexcusable past in our nation's history, then I wonder why he even calls himself an African. It is well known that Africa's own tribal leaders sold their own people into slavery. He obviously does not recognize this fact. Also, genocide is currently taking place in the Sudan between Africans amongst themselves. In spite of this horrible past and the millions of deaths in the Sudan, Alem either overlooks or downplays these events. Every country on this earth does not have a clean slate. Alem should look at where we started to where we are today and understand that this country has come a long way. Give credit where credit is due. These statements are coming from a person that chose to attend the only all-black high school in the Catholic League. I would love to know how Alem has reached out to other races and cultures and made an effort to understand them when he has secluded himself from white people his entire life. I find it hard for The Reveille to not take offense to Alem's statement "...white people are going to be white people..."
He talks about diversity and his anger towards steryotypes, however, he generalizes an entire race in this statement. That is racism at its finest. Let's not forget that this same individual took part in a fight at the Rec last spring during a pick-up basketball game. Alem should not have gotten a free pass to make those statements without further questioning from The Reveille. If these statements were from a white athlete along the lines of "...black people are going to be black people...", there would be a massive backlash and possible suspension for the player. Alem is not helping his cause or other African-Americans by statements like these. These statements will push us further apart from each other.
Micahel Pomes Business Major New Orleans, LA
I am writing in regards to the article published Oct. 12 titled "New name, new game." I am deeply troubled by reading this article. This article is about a football player now named Rahim Alem who has changed his name from Al Jones Jr. His name changed is not bothersome neither is his stance about the confederate flag. However it bothers me when he mentions that he is an African and not an African-American, and it is bothersome for him to say that American will never accept him for what he is. If this were the case why is he even playing football at a major Division One University in the South. If this bothers him so much and he says that he is African and not an American why is he still even in the United States? Much less playing a sport here? Freedom of speech is one thing, but to say you are not proud to be an American or at least this is how he sounds like he is coming across is a disgrace towards the people (the men and women) who have fought for our country. When saying he is an African only adds more fuel to the fire of a continuing problem which is racism in my opinion. He also categorizes white people as a whole by saying white people will remain white people. If he wants people to stop criticizing people such as him, I don't think he should do the opposite in return.
Caleb John Beraud Graduate Student Non Matriculated
I am stunned by Josh Davidson discouraging people from attending an attraction that he was kicked out of and did not complete, especially since he was thrown out on a charge of sexual harassment. Can he not see that he is in the wrong here and not the haunted house? Last I checked, people still find sexual harassment lewd and offensive. Perhaps next time Mr. Davidson attends a public exhibition he'll keep his belt on. The 13th Gate Haunted House is a show, but unlike other theatrical productions the actors of the house sweat under heavy costume and makeup for countless hours a night to entertain and frighten their audience. Now, Mr. Davidson, and your friend, whoever the "harasser" was, would either of you attend a play and then proceed to ask one of the actors for oral sex? Not that I would expect someone like you to attend a play without it being a class requirement. Perhaps though, you should consider the fact that you and your friend found it amusing to harass the guy playing Michael Meyers from the Halloween movies. Is there a difference? What happened to manners? What happened to class? What happened to common decency? Thousands of people a night go through the 13th Gate and obviously this is because it's doing a good job. Perhaps it fulfills what it promises, a good scare. Please be aware that Josh Davidson determined that the 13th Gate was a rip-off after being kicked out at the second gate, neglecting to inform his readers that there are 11 more themes to walk through and at some point people are bound to be creeped out. The 13th gate attacks every phobia from clowns and claustrophobia to spiders and murderers. If it's not scary, then why are people escorted out of the house every night and I'm not talking about those thrown out for belligerence? Most people attend the haunted house to be frightened, to get an adrenaline rush. And clearly they're getting what they paid for; however, most people don't attend the 13th gate with intentions of verbally raping Michael Meyers. And lastly to clarify one more issue of truth in Davidson's column, he called the security guards "gothic hookers." Right. Security staff at the haunted house wear 13th Gate T-shirts and blue jeans. You really can't get much more risqué than a company logo shirt and a pair of Levi's, now can you? J-Dub, your cockiness and arrogance and your so-called "charm that could make a gorilla cry," make me nauseous. If anyone learned anything from your experience, it's how not to act like you. Thanks for being Goofus instead of Gallant.
Kd Amond English senior
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