Editor, In response to Scott Darnell's column in Tuesday's Daily Lobo and the letters that have followed about Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, I would like to add that many on the left support Chávez because of the good things he has done in Venezuela. We do, however, also have reservations about his recent actions.
Editor, I was watching the news the other day when I learned that talking on a handheld cell phone while driving is now illegal in Albuquerque. I agree that measures should be taken to prevent traffic accidents, but with bad drivers everywhere, does a cell phone ban solve any problems? A Washington Post article mentioned a study in which rubbernecking was found to cause more accidents than cell phone use.
Editor, We are so blessed to have the privilege, and good reasons, to embark on our nation's annual celebration of Black History Month this February. As I work with businesses throughout our communities and teach adult students who are connected all around the globe, it has become increasingly apparent that knowledge and skill with cultural diversity has become more and more critically important for those who desire to be truly successful managers, organizational executives and good global citizens.
I don't know how the pioneers crossed the Plains in their covered wagons. They didn't even have cell phones. What if Pa was awaiting an important call from his dentist back in Des Moines, Iowa? Or poor Junior - what if his friend George needed to tell him about a new game for some primitive, 1800s version of the Nintendo?
Editor, Why, in the year 2007, do we still have to justify our celebration of Black History Month? Why should African-Americans have to justify anything we do? Obviously, the need for education is still present. Black History Month is for everyone. Its purpose is for all to recognize that black history is American history and should be woven into the quilt of American history.
Editor, I must say I really enjoyed the hypocrisy in Gerardo Saenz and Aaron X. Lenard's letters in Monday's Daily Lobo regarding Saddam Hussein's execution. Clearly, both are religious men, and I respect that. However, like many Christians, they quickly and easily contradict the very fundamentals of their personal savior's message by applauding the execution of Hussein.
Editor, Daily Lobo columnist Scott Darnell tells us Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is a dictator. At the legislative elections on July 30, 2000, the party that supported Chávez won 76 out of 165 seats in the National Assembly. The same day, Chávez was elected president with 59.
A little more than two weeks ago, Gov. Bill Richardson announced he was running for president. I just stopped laughing. Richardson has little to no chance of winning the Democratic candidacy, much less the presidency. He believes he has much to offer the people of the U.S. But I'm not so sure.
Editor, New Mexico Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino's bill to ban aspartame in New Mexico may end up being scuttled this week in the Senate Public Affairs Committee because of an analysis by Assistant Attorney General Zach Shandler. The analysis essentially throws in the towel, agreeing that the Food and Drug Administration's approval of aspartame pre-empts and prevents any state-level legislative ban on aspartame.
Editor, February is Black History Month. It's a time dedicated to remembering African-American history and struggles. It's a tradition that, in my opinion, is anti-American and anti-equality. Equality is the state or quality of being equal. Why do we praise a single race for one month out of the year and not other races, too? Why do we need a special month to recognize great American moments and great Americans? Can it not be done throughout the year? Why is black power considered OK while white power is considered racism? Black History Month creates segregation, not unity.
On a recent television and radio show, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez remarked about the U.S., "Go to hell, gringos." His tirade came after concern was raised by the U.S. State Department about the Venezuelan National Assembly's plans to give Chávez full authority to pass a series of socialist laws over an 18-month period. Chávez also referred to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as "missy," this some months after calling President Bush the devil while speaking at the United Nations.
Editor, My concern for UNM and my fellow students grows considerably when people like lecturer Joachim Oberst are allowed faculty status at UNM. It is quite clear after reading his letter in Friday's Daily Lobo that he has little to no experience with the Bible or the teachings of Christ.
Editor, Mercy is defined as the act of forgiving or pardoning someone for his or her wrongdoing. Furthermore, grace is defined as clemency, or an intuitive sense of right and wrong in fulfilling a punishment. Justice, however, occurs when the crime fits the punishment, when someone is accountable for the consequences of his or her actions.
Editor, Never, in our four years of attendance at the University of Wyoming, did we ever think we would be ashamed to wear the colors of brown and gold. After Tuesday's Wyoming-New Mexico men's basketball game, we were extremely sickened, not because of the 91-83 loss, but because of the brawl that occurred in the last 1:10 of the game.
Editor, Of the 13 million children in our country who grow up in poverty, fewer than half of them will go on to graduate high school. Those that do will, on average, perform at an eighth-grade level. The existence of this achievement gap has been deemed our nation's most pressing issue.
As George Bush heads into his sixth year as president, he has filled us with false hopes and empty promises to fix our problems.
Editor, Like Pilate delivered Jesus to the Jews, President Bush handed Saddam Hussein over to the Shiite puppet rulers of Iraq. Like Pilate, Bush was hoping to appease Shiite Iraq into compliance with this gesture, away from Iranian influence. Like Jesus, Hussein was mocked, ridiculed and taunted in his final moments.
Editor, The morning-after pill proves we live in a society that attempts to avoid the consequences of its mistakes. Can we avoid the consequences of living for the moment? Can one night of passion be wiped away with a single pill? It is sad to think that we can justify the frivolity of our lives by simply erasing the consequences of our actions.
Editor, I'm looking forward to President Bush's war with Iran. I'm looking forward to paying $5 a gallon for gas. I'm looking forward to generation 9/11 being drafted. If Iran is meddling in Iraq, then what do you call what the U.S. is doing in Iraq? Maybe the best way to stop the blowback of terrorist tactics would be to stop meddling in other countries.
Editor, I am appalled at the ignorance of some people. Don Schrader left some intelligence to be desired in his letter in Tuesday's Daily Lobo. He claimed, with no proof whatsoever, that the U.S.'s nuclear arsenal terrorizes whole countries. This cannot be the case when thousands of people a year attempt to enter this country.
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