To the editor
In last week’s Beacon, Bob Fenster, the co-adviser of the high school’s Amnesty International Chapter took issue with a letter I submitted for the Beacon’s Feb. 6 edition citing "misperceptions," and "incorrect implications" associated to my concern for balance, after an assembly featuring Swore Omoyele, a former Political prisoner from Nigeria and representative for Amnesty International.
As an example, Mr. Fenster stated that I inferred tax dollars were spent in association to the fee for Mr. Omoyele, who spoke to approximately 100 high school social studies students on Jan. 6 in which he closed his comments reprimanding the United States for the current posture towards Iraq, Iran and North Korea.
I’d ask Mr. Fenster to review the sentence that read: "I’ve confirmed Mr. Omoleye’s fee was derived from the high school’s 10-member Amnesty International chapter."
The reference to Hillsborough’s "tax dollars" associates the facts that this speaker spoke during the course of a school day, to a student body, whose attendance was created by those social studies teachers choosing to bring their class to the assembly.
We supported (from a tax standpoint) the forum just as we would support a forum provided for the Hillsborough police department for an assembly discussing driving safety or saying no to drugs.
As far as Mr. Fenster’s assertion that it’s clear Mr. Omoleye’s words included his opinions and that our high schooler’s questioned him vigorously, I say, right on!
But that does not represent balance as he suggests. I have no issue with the expression of this individual’s obvious opinions as far as his representation for Amnesty International in the context of human rights. I believe it was perfectly legitimate, and productive to have provided our students with his real life experiences and blend them with the agenda of his organization but only to a point.
When Mr. Omoleye asserted that the United States, based on our current situation in Iraq, is in the process today of "committing human rights violations because Iraq is not a military equal to the U.S.," and suggests that "we as Americans, lead such leisurely lives people don’t think about human rights in this country," and "we need a global movement to change the world," he crossed a line.
Mr. Fenster did not comment about any of these statements, only my observation that it seemed to be a defense of Iraq reprimanding American policy in the context of a human rights theme and a contradiction or hypocritical viewpoint in light of what is taking place in Iraq.
As stated in my Feb. 6 letter, there is an offer from Congressman Mike Ferguson to come to Hillsborough. In fact, the congressman’s office has confirmed contact from the high school to schedule a visit.
Rep. Ferguson is our current United States Congressman, Hillsborough’s conduit to the House of Representatives. I applaud Dr. Mike Rossi, District Social Studies Supervisor and the high school administration for following through on their commitment so to not miss out on this important opportunity to hear more about the United States’ initiatives to promote human rights.
Hillsborough

