Opinion

Comprehensive education reduces sexual prejudices

Editor, June is recognized as a month of pride for those who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Putting any and all prejudgments aside, focusing on comprehensive sex education should be an integral part of the celebrations. When young adults do not receive proper sex education, including views on alternative sexual identities, harmful stigmas are allowed to continue to the detriment of society.

Cruel live animal projects should be banned at fairs

Editor, Max Ashbrook Fitzpatrick's call for continued animal suffering at UNM "because it serves as a reminder that our government tortures humans" is as perverse as it is nonsensical. To his credit, Fitzpatrick does correctly parallel the physical and mental wartime trauma suffered by humans with the pains endured by mice at UNM's laboratories.

Bush continues tradition of war

Five months have passed since President Bush announced the New Way Forward in Iraq, a misnomer perversely contrary to Iraqi and United States public opinion.

Editing mistake in letter conveys wrong message

Editor, Among the several unnecessary and unapproved changes made to the letter of mine printed last week, the most egregious resulted in conveying a sentiment I did not intend. The Daily Lobo printed UNM "should be firm in not hiring administrators who are trained torturers.

Abuse of lab mice reflects U.S. acts of human torture

Editor, Recent revelations that UNM scientists tortured mice in a laboratory have caused an outcry from local animal rights groups. The torture techniques should continue - not necessarily for research and educational benefits - because it serves as a reminder that our government tortures humans, and also because torture is in line with the thought and practice of UNM leadership.

Olympic boycott needed to stop Tibetan genocide

Editor, I strongly agree with Gov. Bill Richardson's innovative idea put forth during the New Hampshire debates in view of the general silence among nations vis-Ö-vis China's violations of human rights, especially toward Tibetans, and with its dozens of prisons which, for Tibetans, are like Auschwitz and Dachau.

UNM needs safeguards to collaborate with church

Editor, I was initially excited when I read that the UNM regents had approved an arrangement with the Archdiocese of Santa Fe to co-sponsor a new faculty chairperson in religious studies focused on Roman Catholicism. The prospect of the University getting financial support to hire a first-rate scholar of religion seemed like an important addition to our curriculum.

U.S. instigating civil war, not spreading democracy

Editor, Is the United States still hunting for 9/11 conspirator Osama Bin Laden in its "war on terror?" After the United States failed to find Bin Laden in Afghanistan and weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, we, the American people, were told that we were fighting for democracy and freedom.

Family planning programs need government support

Editor, On April 23, Joe Moser from the staff of Rep. Heather Wilson met with members and supporters of Population Connection in her district to discuss the importance of comprehensive sex education and voluntary family planning programs worldwide. I attended the meeting and would like to express my concern to Wilson for not supporting the Responsible Education About Life Act and the Global Democracy Promotion Act.

Graduate teachers often more devoted to students

Editor, As a UNM alumnus, I know that my degree is most valuable when it represents a rigorous and thorough education. Courses that are either too easy, or too poorly taught - whether by graduate students or tenured faculty - undermine the University's reputation.

Q & A: Eugene Bird: president of the Council for the National Interest

by Matthew Chavez Daily Lobo columnist Last week marked the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, a watershed event that revolutionized Israeli power in the Middle East and created the longest-running military occupation in modern history. The Six-Day War also transformed U.

Choose leaders by merit, not by family's reputation

Editor, Birthright is defined as a right, privilege or possession, such as property, to which one is entitled by birth. In his article, "Taking Luck Seriously," Matt Miller suggests that birthright results in the "... inherited package of wealth, health, genes, looks, brains, talents and family.

Suits raise questions of fairness, privacy

The move by the Recording Industry Association of America to file lawsuits against 16 UNM network users for illegally downloading music on the Internet raises disturbing questions about music, its commodification and the role of the Web as a carrier to distribute music.

Morocco should take initiative

It is in the interest of Morocco to assist the process of enabling the population of Western Sahara to achieve autonomy in the socio-economic development sector.

U.S. war machine causes shortages in resources

Editor, I am not shocked that Sens. Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman can't see the large drain on the United States oil supply caused by the armada of war machines the president has deployed in Iraq and around the world. All those tanks get about 5 miles per gallon; jet planes get even less; and Humvees are horribly bad, too.

Graffiti art more attractive than billboard advertising

Editor, Joe Buffaloe's May 7 article on the virtues of graffiti was right on. The author Ian Shoales said it too, adding that he didn't ask for gigantic lurid billboards and pervasive product advertising to be put in public view either. Property owners have a right to resent messages or artwork put on walls or vehicles.

Grad student instructors lack proper teaching skills

Editor, Students have a problem in lower-level math classes such as math 120 and math 121. I received a D+ for the math 121 class. When I approached the department, I was told, "Oh, we are doing you no favor if we pass you." The department has these classes taught by graduate students, most of whom do not know how to teach.

Disaster response reveals political finger-pointing

Editor, The small town of Greensboro, Kan., was ravaged by a tornado that struck with a velocity in excess of 200 mph. In a world where people swear by the ideal of ensuring the well-being of most people, one would expect that people in positions of authority would use their time and energy to provide as much assistance as possible to the people who lived in Greensboro before the tornado destroyed it.

America needs to abolish Bush's imperialist policies

Editor, I commend you on publishing the two letters on May 2 by Juan Carlos Holmes and Isaac Padilla. They allow us to recognize that the student population, unlike ASUNM, understands the predicaments of our times and sees the need to actively participate in politics, as they affect students directly.

Ed toons