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Apology to Readers
The Maine Campus regrets to inform readers that instances of plagiarism have been identified in several political columns written by Pardis Delijani. Thirteen of her 15 columns contained varying amounts of lifting from national and international news sources. The writer declared these instances to be unintentional.
A reader brought to the newspaper’s attention one occasion of plagiarism in a Delijani article published in February 2011, and an investigation by staff members of The Maine Campus revealed others.
Delijani has been removed from her paid columnist position but plans to contribute to our opinion pages on state and local issues. Senior political science student Ben Goodman will replace her in the Monday political columnist spot.
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My note-taking strategy during the State of the Union address was to focus on quotes Congress stood up and applauded for. However, this strategy soon began to crumble.
Regardless of party, cheers were given when President Barack Obama stated, “Celebrate not only winning the Super Bowl but winning the science fair”; that we should stop the health insurance industry from exploiting patients; that 100,000 Americans can leave Iraq with their heads held high; and that there is “not a person here who would exchange places with any other country on earth.” This is all well and good, but I would have rather heard a speech that tackled the “pressing issues,” such as the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, rather than motivational commentary.
President Obama dodged around the controversial questions, which was, of course, deliberate. The president was too polite and cheated the American people of his specific vision for the future of the country. It was evident he wanted this meeting with the new Congress and its Republican newcomers to be no more of an unpleasant experience than necessary, despite the fact the president encouraged debate and stated it is a valuable asset for Americans to freely state their opinions.
There were many things missing from the president’s address and every American can take his or her pick as to which was the most significant. I was completely bewildered as to how he barely discussed Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan when we are fighting at least three bitter “wars of choice.” No matter what he does, the harmful poison of these wars will linger in the minds of Americans.
These are the hopeless conflicts that will eat American blood, morality and wealth alive, in which American presence only serves as increased propaganda to create more al-Qaida and Taliban terrorists. Then again, American citizens themselves care so little about these wars, it should be no surprise that congressmen and women would either.
President Obama’s rhetoric regarding the elections in Sudan and his support for democracy in Tunisia, as well as around the world did not sound so different from that of former President George W. Bush’s goal during his two terms of presidency.
What is most upsetting is President Obama’s skewed definition of democracy: “The United States of America stands with the people of Tunisia and supports the democratic aspirations of all people.” But Egyptian protestors are unsupported by the United States due to the fact this country is in alliance with the dictatorship nation.
Then there is the citing of a “deficit of trust” in government by the American people, in which President Obama’s address urged Congress to diminish the influence of special interests and work together to confront the nation’s most pressing problems.
The president offered a plea to end the partisan stalemate in Washington and work for the common good. Americans “don’t understand why it seems like bad behavior on Wall Street is rewarded but hard work on Main Street isn’t. Or why Washington has been unable or unwilling to solve any of our problems,” Obama stated. “They are tired of the partisanship and the shouting and the pettiness. They know we can’t afford it. Not now.”
Ten years after 9/11 destroyed our idea that America was protected in the world and about three years after the 2008 financial collapse that destroyed many Americans’ faith in the governmental system, Americans are trying to figure out what is wrong and what is right. The president may not have covered everything to the extent that it should have been covered, but he is trying hard to start with the issues both parties can undertake together.
Pardis Delijani is a third-year international affairs student. Her columns will appear every Monday.
