Letters to the editor

Bill Maher, no stranger to controversy

I am writing in response to Mike Baker's Feb. 24 column ("Some intolerant speech left unaccountable"), in which he claimed that liberal commentators, and Bill Maher in particular, are not held accountable for their words. I would like to ask whether or not Baker has even a passing familiarity with Maher's career. Does he not remember the controversy Maher drew post-Sept. 11, 2001 for remarks that were taken out of context? How major sponsors like Sears and FedEx pulled their advertising? And how his show Politically Incorrect was cancelled by ABC shortly afterwards? I'd like to suggest that The Daily hold Baker accountable for his gross misrepresentation of the situation.

-- James Pedersen

Senior, Danish and comparative literature

Reexamining brotherhood

It seems each year readers find themselves confronting yet another article on hazing in the Greek system. I take issue with the current allegations against the Zeta Psi fraternity ("Fraternity council: Zeta Psi status 'pending'," Feb. 25). Regardless of the result of the investigation, I would like all in the Greek system and outside to reexamine what the term brotherhood means. I do not know where these men grew up, but where I grew up brotherhood was not about humiliation and abuse of presumed authority. It was not about how far you can push people before they break and it is not about verbal, physical or emotional abuse. That is not the sense of brotherhood that I want to impose on others or that I want imposed upon me. If we all stopped to look at how we want to be treated as individuals, it would get us closer to the true ideas of brotherhood. Brotherhood should be about building up, not tearing down. It should be about common ground, not a power differential. I am not anti-Greek, but I am anti-abuse of power. I have friends and family who are members of the Greek system, and I would hope that their brothers and sisters spend time deciding how they will work with their community to make a positive impact on those who need them, rather than thinking about how they can stick it to next year's pledges.

-- Nicole White

First year, medicine