Editor,
In this country, we pride ourselves on our jurisprudence.
We claim that a person is innocent until proven guilty by due process. Unfortunately, there are individuals who fail to make their case and merely assume guilt.
Medical students protesting the human body exhibit at Coronado Center have not provided sufficient evidence that the bodies on display have been acquired by illegal means.
Had they provided such evidence, there would certainly be reasons for the authorities to take action and begin criminal proceedings.
The claim by Amanda Lo is that there is a "violation of medical ethics by displaying people's bodies without their consent."
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While consent is necessary to perform medical procedures on a living individual, I do not know of an ethical standard which addresses the display of human remains.
I suspect funeral parlors are in violation of Lo's medical ethics when they display a corpse in an open casket. Perhaps, all caskets should be closed unless the individual gave prior approval for his or her body to be displayed.
The real issue here is not one of criminal activity or medical ethics. The issue is based on personal ethics. Unless Lo and company can prove that a crime has been committed, they should refrain from infringing on the right of Lynx Industries to engage in this business venture.
If Lo and company do not believe that this exhibit is in sync with their personal ethics, they should not go to see it. This activism is merely one group's attempt to force all people to comply with its agenda.
We see this mentality in those who protest abortion and gay rights. If your personal ethics prohibit you from having an abortion, then don't have one. If your personal ethics restrict you from being gay, then don't have sex with someone of the same gender.
Since the medical students are planning on circulating a petition at local churches, I suspect they are approaching this from a Christian ethics perspective.
If you wish to base your ethics on godly principles, then recognize that Biblical morality is based on ratified law and is binding only on the parties involved (Exodus 24). This covenant is not meant to be binding or imposed on outsiders.
I want to make it clear that my comments are not meant to be anti-Christian, but I do not believe this gives me, or any other Christian, the right to impose a belief system on others.
Frankly, I'm tired of other people, groups, religions and government telling us what we can and cannot do. If an infringement on the inalienable rights of others has not been committed, then please refrain from concerning us with your personal convictions.
Richard Garcia
UNM student
