Editor, I am responding to the letter by J.P. Farish in the Oct. 20 issue of the Daily Lobo. I must admit, on election day, one is tempted to settle down in front of the television with a delicious Frito pie, telling oneself that corrupt politicians will feel the wrath of the nonvoter's statement.
I was casually walking back to the building where I work on campus after enjoying the cool weather and having lunch, when I saw the words "Heather the war whore" written with chalk on the sidewalk. Generally disgusted with political slander already, I proceeded to look up to a class of school-aged children playing near one of the water fountains here on campus.
Editor, My first reaction to the display by the anti-abortion organization Justice For All was that it lacked good taste. However, I find the censoring of information coming out of Iraq to be much more horrifying. Americans are too desensitized to the real horror show - not abortion, but this mess of a world.
Editor, Eligible voters younger than 25 typically don't vote today, and in my mind, like being uneducated or driving drunk, this isn't something to brag about. But it goes deeper and becomes more practical than that. Do you know why politicians go on and on about the price of prescription drugs and about Social Security benefits, not making a peep about Pell Grants, the price of textbooks or student loan interest rates? It's not because student issues aren't important; it's because student issues aren't important to people who vote.
Editor, Many people get confrontational about the emotional nature of the debate surrounding a woman's right to choose, but it's a public finance issue as well. The Bush administration has spent public funds in ways that push an anti-choice agenda, and the public hasn't had much to say about it.
Editor, Anyone who watches even a little bit of television knows it's election season, as the attack ads air back to back between your favorite shows. Once again, character, ethics and honesty are touted as the cornerstones of the candidates' positions. Even with the very minimal amount of television I watch, I keep seeing Attorney General Patricia Madrid, a candidate for the House of Representatives from New Mexico's 1st Congressional District, in conjunction with an image of her face caught in some unnatural position linking her with all of society's ills.
Editor, Some of the Christians that want to educate gays on the Bible could use a bit of educating themselves. For centuries, people have picked out the parts of the Bible that they want to pay attention to and ignore the rest. Some Christians have chosen to take Leviticus' supposed ban on homosexuality and ignore its rule against eating shellfish.
Editor, A few weeks ago, my wife and I went to UNM Hospital to have an ultrasound. My wife is pregnant with our fifth child. After two consecutive miscarriages, it is difficult to not expect the same result with this pregnancy. There is a mixture of hope, worry and unexpressed joy for fear of disappointment.
by Steve Painter Daily Lobo columnist With the gubernatorial election on Nov. 7 quickly approaching, there are some things voters need to know about Gov. Bill Richardson. Specifically, Richardson has paid little attention to the problems of New Mexico during his trips around the world for his own benefit.
by Mario Hernandez Daily Lobo columnist Although the beat is addictive and the music moving, the song "Won't Get Fooled Again" by the Who is not just meant for dancing. It has a political message that cannot be overlooked and, strangely, has relevance to our political climate.
Editor, I must take exception to something Peggy Spencer wrote in her column Wednesday. She says that if a guy has had drunken, unprotected sex with a woman, he is likely to only be worried about diseases he could have contracted. While that may be the case, it shouldn't be.
by Matt Martinez Daily Lobo guest columnist An exhibit by Justice for All - a nonpartisan, nonreligious organization - is now in the last day of its stay at UNM. The group's goal of creating dialogue about the issue of abortion was a success, as hundreds of students engaged in critical thinking about a sensitive and under-discussed issue on campus.
by Peggy Spencer Daily Lobo columnist Dear Dr. Peg, I'm freaking out. I went to a great party last night and had a fantastic time, but I guess I had too much to drink, and there was this really attractive person, and one thing led to another, and we had sex.
Editor, On Monday, I watched a comedy on a major television network in which the main character said she didn't want to go to church because Christians hate gay people. I found that disturbing. Of course, there is the occasional fringe group, but the great majority of Christians don't hate gays.
Editor, I have been hearing on UNM campus and seeing in the Daily Lobo a lot of foolishness vis-a-vis voting or not voting in the upcoming election. The 2000 election showed that individual votes matter. In retrospect, it also showed that there is a huge difference between a Democrat and a Republican victory.
by Ambrosia Ortiz, Marshall Martinez, Gail Houston and the Rev. Karen Ballou Daily Lobo guest columnists UNM Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Justice and the New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice have joined many other community groups this week as part of a Reproductive Justice Fair, sponsored by the Women's Resource Center.
Editor, Medical study after medical study - from the Journal of American Medicine to the New England Journal of Medicine and beyond - show conclusively there is absolutely no link between abortion and breast cancer. There is no debate about this within the medical community.
Editor, I believe in U.S. citizens' constitutional right to free speech. The right to speak freely is an important, integral part of any democracy. I do not oppose having people with different viewpoints publicly express their views - it is good to have a healthy discourse on a variety of topics with a variety of points of view.
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