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ILLINOIS INSTITUTE If
OF TECHNOLOGY

 

opinion@technewsiit.com

TechNews I Tuesday, September 13, 201 1

    

Providing Libyan aid shows humanity still exists

By Sneha Seraf
TECHN EWS WRITER

With all the things that have been
going on in Libya for the past few months, I
know I should be glad that the tyranny of the
Gadhafi regime is finally being challenged.

However, instead I’m more skeptical
about the Libyan rebels , are they any better
than Gadhafi’s loyalists? What are their intene
tions, besides overthrowing their government?
Can we even trust them? And, once the rebels
accomplish their goals, what sort of govern,
ment would they set up, and how?

Second, I find myself ashamed of
many fellow Americans. Over the past few
months that I’ve been reading about the war in

Libya via the internet, I have inevitably come
across user comments which I’ve taken per,
sonally

Often times, these people vent out
their frustrations , “Why should we help the
Libyans in their war?" “Don’t we already have
problems of our own to take care of?" I won,
der, whatever has happened to humanity in
this world? Those people aren’t any different
than we are , they’re still humans like the rest
of us.

When I was little, I would hear
stories of how even the poor people in India
would give whatever they had to their neighe
bors whenever they desperately needed it.
Those selfless people didn’t care much of their
own plight, so long as they were able to help
others. What makes this any different, besides

the magnitude of the situation? Many Libyans
are crying for freedom and democracy , why
shouldn’t we lend them a helping hand, in the
name of humanity?

The people I am most worried about
now are the civilians themselves. In the midst
of this war, they will suffer no matter which
side wins. I understand that innocent lives will
always be lost whenever there is war; but how
much of this sacrifice is too much? Houses get
destroyed, families get separated, and there’s
always a constant fear in the hearts of these
civilians. Is anyone listening to their cries for
help? And if there is, why don’t we pitch in to
support the cause?

If there is anyone out there who can
answer all these questions ofmine, I would be
very grateful.

 

Fresh in the cllTy: an alternative perspective

By Pranamee Sarma 8: Utsav Gandhi
TECHNEWS WRITER & CAMPUS EDITOR

Chicago breathed into my life a kind
of rare genesis of frenzied outdoor planning.

Starting from my first day in Ianue
ary when the city was covered white, trees were
bare and the sun was hidden, I was already in
the mood to prowl for action and merriment.
Chicago’s downtown is considered to be a
beauty and I love it even more for its forever
charming affair, including my personal favor,
ite , Millennium Parkl The park has so much
to offer, even during the chill of the year with
everyone’s favorite , ice skating, “Cloud Gate,"
the famous art showcase in the park inspired
by liquid mercury, and the lights.

You have to be there to feel warm
and excited even in the dull winter under the
aesthetic sense of life at the park I stretched
from this part of the city to the ‘Magnificent
Mile’ which has gala elements with big shops,
food joints and obviously the Marilyn Monroe

 

statue which is about 26 feet tall. The rest of the
ohesoefamous places in and around the Mile
are a must visit in everyone’s itinerary in Chi,
cago, but frankly, I’ve only just visited them
myself

Spring is a season to feel and see the
colors changing all around. Flowers bloom,
ing, trees bearing white, pink and red, tulips
of all colors all over Downtown, amazingly
distributed with stylish artificial addeons in
their horticultural treatment. Then flows in the
Summer of Chicagol Everything seems to be at
its best with the season of warmth flowing in
after May When I was in India, the summer
season seemed to be the longest period to bear
but here my notion has completely changed , I
don’t want it to end so soon.

Summer here brings in not only the
good weather but also an assortment of activi
ties: carnivals, movie weeks, festivals, shows,
events and lots of cycling. The best place to be
during this time is the lake, the beach and of
course Navy Pier But you need lots of energy
and motivation to actually enjoy this period.

My help came in from my friends and a new
IIT venture called Bicycle. Just $25 for the en,
tire school year and I get to ride the bike eve
erywhere in bikeefriendly Chicago, especially
the photographic lakeside, the grand Navy Pier
and the tranquil beaches of the city There’s so
much to explore, not only in this part of Illie
nois but all over the state.

IIT is also doing a lot to make the
students always on the run for funl The week,
ends, with events such as Fresh in the CIITy for
the freshmen, Taste of Chicago with yummy
brownies and pizzas, the We the Kings cone
cert specially for the IIT students, and soon
we shall see Homecoming week with so much
more to do. Fresh in the cIITy was held last
weekend with groups of teneodd freshmen
paired up with one or two upperclassmen as
they enjoyed lunch at great restaurants and
navigated the city completing fun challenges
set up by the Leadership Academy It’s left the
students awaiting more days of fun and activi
ties till we finally bid adieu to the wonderful
summer in a wonderful cityl

welcome.
to

ch own

Photos courtesy ofAn drea Rivera

 

What's your angle?: Euthanasia's pros, cons

By KiraVincent
TECHNEWS WRITER

“Hey Charlie, did you read the news,
paper this morning?"

“Good morning Angie, and no, I
didn’t; I had an early class. Why was there
something interesting?"

“Interesting isn’t the word I would
use for it. There was this really scary article
about this doctor on trial for literally euthanize
ing one of his patientsl Can you believe that?"

“Well it isn’t really that surprising.
The debate on whether or not it should be
legal for a doctor to provide assisted death to
patients has been going on for a long time. If

someone is really sick and in a lot ofpain and
there is no cure, don’t they deserve the choice
of ending their suffering earlier?"

“But you can’t be sure they won’t
find a cure or some sort of treatment. What if
someone has a year to live and decides on eue
thanasia, and a cure comes out in six months?
That situation can seem hopeless and a really
sick person may not see that there is always a
chance for a cure and make a rash decision"

“True, but that is a rare example.
There are so many patients in hospitals that
have a reallylow quality of life because they are
literally just waiting to die. Many patients have
said that if it was legalized they would opt for
euthanasia. It’s sad, but if it was legalized there

would be more space in hospitals and more
medication available for other patients."

“That does make sense, but what
about people who are depressed and don’t
want to live? Do they have the right to go to
the doctor and ask to die as well, even though
there is a treatment and they aren’t actually dye
ing? And if you aren’t going to give them that
right, where do you draw the line?"

“That’s a really good point. I guess
the reason this issue is up for debate so often
is because with all the different ways you can
look at it, there really isn’t a right or wrong an,
swer."

What’s your angle?
thoughts to peds.iit@gmail.com

Send your