Editor,
I have to say that after reading Andres Saenz's letter in Thursday's Daily Lobo, there are a few contentions I have.
Many have deeper philosophical inferences and require more elaboration space than I can use, but I'll try to touch on the basics.
My first question is, what mandates that when two people have sex, they be bound emotionally and spiritually to each other for the rest of their lives?
I'm not sure if he meant it literally, but there are many people who get divorces, end relationships or are in abusive relationships. They would say they don't have emotional or spiritual ties with their partner.
While there may be some form of bonding, it is by no means permanent or a consequence of having sex with the other person.
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One might be able to make the argument that from a biological perspective, humans, like most animals, are not meant to be monogamous for better procreation and gene spreading.
Further, the comment about "carrying around the spiritual and emotional baggage" of women and the analogy of women as "dogs fighting over the same bone" is degrading, demeaning and portrays them in a sexist, negative stereotype as crazy, emotional beings who have no self-control or rational capabilities.
I would like to think that our society, at least our campus, has moved beyond such fallacious beliefs.
If Saenz wants to make his point, some rephrasing and a different analogy is definitely in order. As for using biblical references for a moral guideline, its validity has been debated in many previous letters.
However, if one were to use that as a standard, then Saenz runs into problems at the mention of David, Abraham and Solomon, each of whom have had multiple wives but are still venerated in the Bible and many church histories.
Finally, some people might contend citing extreme and unusual cases. But when all is said and done, they are just that.
Now, after reading my response, one might start to wonder if I personally practice polygamy or believe that it's right.
The answer is no. Personally, it's just not my bag. However, what I do believe in is tolerance of other nonviolent religious beliefs and not pushing my religious beliefs on others as morally superior.
Wes Garcia
UNM student
