Editor,
Over the last few days I have read letters that not only were written like 11th-grade argument papers, but most importantly seemed to have a decidedly conservative tone.
One complained about the Sex Week lectures provided by the Women’s Resource Center; another claimed that, unlike Christianity, paganism is not a supported religion; and the one that really hit home was the letter that stated they could “scientifically” prove that homosexuality is unnatural.
The first two letters that I refer to were, in my opinion, harmless and laughable. It’s not unusual to hear conservative Christians bash sexual education that provides current and necessary information designed to keep people safe and free of disease and unwanted pregnancies, not to mention learn to be respectful of their partner as well as have fun.
I am also not surprised to see yet another person whine about paganism. I’m not a pagan, but really? Who cares?
The letter that inspired this response was the one about homosexuality. The “science” behind their theory is that which was popular in the late 1800s. At around the same time, “scientists” were “proving” that anyone who wasn’t white was actually physically inferior.
Would you print a letter written by someone who used that same “science” to offer irrefutable evidence that people of color are not the same species as white people? No, you wouldn’t, because not only is that absolutely ridiculous, but to do so would be terribly irresponsible and hurtful to a huge community at UNM. I believe publishing that anti-LGBTQ letter was equally irresponsible and hurtful to a community of UNM students.
It’s not okay to be controversial just for the sake of controversy. This is a University publication, and therefore it has a responsibility to its students to ensure that inflammatory, hurtful and absolutely scientifically inaccurate information is not published.
It’s hard enough for the LGBTQ students to feel accepted, supported and a part of the UNM community without the Daily Lobo giving anti-LGBTQ people fuel (no matter how crazy) for their negative feelings. I would really like to see an apology posted to the LGBTQ community at UNM.
I think it’s okay to publish differing opinions regarding topics. Perhaps, though, in the future the editor could take a more egalitarian position in the letters section. Go ahead and post something that is against sex education, paganism, fossil fuels or fixed-geared bikes, but at the same time perhaps offer a contrasting opinion. Bashing people or groups, however, is never okay. Not ever.
Tracy Close
Editor’s note: It is the policy of the Daily Lobo to publish all letters from readers, except those that do not include a name or contact information or incite violence. Opinion pages are designed to grant readers a forum for discussion on a wide range of topics, and we publish these regardless of the staff’s or advertisers’ personal views on the opinions offered.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
