A controversial message

If someone tried to wear a cross, the ACLU would be on them so quick

it would make your head spin.

It’s about time we realize that there’s an elephant in the living

room. It’s not that they shouldn’t have their right to do or say what

they think, but they should be looked at very carefully, and we

should consider very carefully what’s happening around the world and

just monitor the situation. But it’s not right.

CLINT MOSES

Newport Beach

Of course Irvine officials were correct in allowing students to

wear their shahada stoles. God forbid we start behaving like an

Islamic nation.

STEVE LEACH

Newport Beach

The 1st Amendment, I believe, provides the UCI officials with the

correct grounds in allowing these Muslim students to wear their

disputed stoles. The 1st Amendment protection on free speech should

definitely apply to all religious groups.

Our forefathers rightly agreed that our government would not

endorse any religion but would guarantee freedom for Americans to

believe in their own chosen form of worship. This right must be

carefully guarded. We’ve seen a number of attempts in various forms

to restrict this freedom over the past few years. We all understand

that there must be limits to free speech. For instance, you cannot

yell fire in a crowded theater. Parties on all sides of the issue

should learn that even if they disagree, each side has a right to

express their opinion. When officials begin to restrict this kind of

speech, it contradicts our basic freedom.

I also wonder how those same graduates would feel if confronted

about my personal beliefs that are in opposition to theirs, that in

these last days God has spoken through his only son Jesus Christ of

Nazareth. I wonder now if eroding any of these freedoms or caring on

any of this dissention can really improve our country or county or

even our graduates’ futures.

In conclusion, I think that our Constitution is more important

than our personal feelings in the future of our country.

FRED RAWLINS

Newport Beach

I think that at the least, it is very insensitive for these people

to wear these scarves with the word shahada, which can mean to die

for Islam, when an American was just beheaded and died for Islam.

I think that the chancellor of UCI will be known as the man who

allowed this. Anything else he does is going to be overshadowed by

this. And the Jewish students and the Christian students are not the

confrontational ones -- it is the Islamic students.

LINDA PRIMROSE

Corona del Mar

UC officials were absolutely wrong in allowing them to wear the

stoles. What would they do if a Jewish student wanted to wear the

cloth that they wear for their ceremonies? No, no, no! The graduation

gowns should remain as they are. The gown and the cap and nothing

else.

LYNN MERLES

Costa Mesa

I do not think that it was correct for the UC Irvine officials to

allow the Muslim students to wear the stoles at this time, when there

is a focus on separation of church and state, and crosses are being

removed from city emblems because of separation from church and

state. And in particular when there is such extreme tension.

I don’t think it’s helpful for the officials to allow a symbol

that is controversial to be worn. And especially in light of murders

in Saudi Arabia, I think it’s totally inappropriate. I’m sorry that

my tax funds are being used to support that.

CARL DREWS

Newport Beach

I think it’s a disgrace that these Muslim students are allowed to

wear these stoles over their graduating gowns. They should be able to

wear it but underneath the gowns so it’s not on display.

And I don’t think that either side should be allowed any political

verbal abuse of the other or any political anything. They should not

be allowed to display. The Muslims shouldn’t have had the cardboard,

whatever it was they put up last month, and now they shouldn’t be

allowed to wear these stoles outside of their caps and gowns.

JEAN WILSON

Corona del Mar

This is a graduation ceremony from a state-supported school, not a

religious ceremony. Self-proclamations of any sort other than

graduate honors should not be allowed to be worn. The chancellor is

wrong to allow it.

BETTINA DEININGER

Newport Beach

My first reaction is that just as they deny the ability of the

Crips and the Bloods to wear their bandana gang indication in the

school districts, I think that they should not permit any kind of

associations that can be anything contributory toward people’s

inclinations to ban, whether a positive or a negative. Just deny all

of it. And that’s the best way to do it, rather than to accord

favoritism to one or the other.

The Jewish students are making an association that is problematic,

and that’s not fair of them to do, and it’s unfair of the other folks

to stand up in support of terrorism, too. It’s just a crazy

situation, so just deny everybody.

CHRISTINE MCKINNEY

Corona del Mar

I never thought that I’d live to see the day when the leader of an

American university would use “free speech” to let himself look the

other way when students want to frighten and demean Jewish students

on campus. How sad that UC Irvine Chancellor Ralph Cicerone failed to

take a stand.

I wonder why this problem between Muslim and Jewish students

wasn’t worked on before graduation. Certainly, UC Irvine will not be

a consideration for my children. I plan to talk to other parents.

More importantly, I hope the university’s major supporters will now

think hard about the security of their children and their friends’

children before they consider writing another check to the

university.

JODI GREENBAUM

Newport Coast