Opinion - The Daily Lobo

Opinion

Letter: Europe needs international intelligence agency

March 28

If there is now a vitally necessary path to world government, it is this: The recent bombings in Brussels reveal a dismal lack of sharing of intelligence among easily crisscrossed Europe’s various, mutually stand-offish spy agencies and police forces, with their turf wars much in the manner of jurisdictions among fire trucks from different towns when there is a big wildfire, with one chief telling another who is offering help, “Don’t bother joining forces; we can handle it.” Europe does not even have anything like the FBI to transcend boundaries and surveil.

Opinion

Letter: Replace the Dogwood trees on campus with something nicer smelling

March 24

If you have walked north out of Zimmerman library you have probably noticed a distinct smell in the air. That smell comes from the Dogwood trees, which are the white trees that are along the sides of the walkway exiting the library. Along with the smell, you can hear the comments about how the trees themselves smell rather funky from those who have passed them.

Opinion

Letter: U.S. government cares only for wealth, power

March 24

How would we feel if another nation overthrew our government and installed a brutal dictator who murdered and tortured many of us? The C.I.A. overthrew the government of Iran in 1953 and installed the brutal Shah. His secret police murdered up to 60,000 Iranians and tortured many more. President Carter preached human rights, but Carter hypocritically called the Shah “our best friend in the Middle East.”

Opinion

Letter: Trump heralds the new facism

March 24

Soon after 1920, Hitler, who wanted “to make Germany great again” following Germany’s humiliation in World War I, privately formed a group of goons who would break up any “disorder” at his Party gatherings. Sound familiar these days? Yes, witness what is happening at Trump rallies.

Opinion

Letter: Modern healthcare is dangerously overcomplicated

March 21

There are out-of-network doctors, especially radiologists and anesthesiologists, billing huge amounts directly to consumers for services provided, where the patient is literally unconscious when it comes to which provider is providing what, like in the O.R. This can happen with the most cover-all insurance plan you think you may have gotten. It is like sand shifting under an already sick or injured patient’s feet to learn that the reason they got this or that bill is because a certain doctor who was formerly in-network went out of network, especially when the lines around a network are changing as a result of deals and counter-deals in that most dangerous of casinos: Wall Street.

Opinion

Letter: Protect privacy of fetal tissue researchers

March 21

On March 11, an article appeared in which Students for Life expressed support for subpoenas of the names of faculty, students, and staff at UNMHSC and Southwestern Women’s Options who are involved in fetal tissue research. In opposing abortion, this pro-life organization has mistaken privacy and safety for secrecy. Abortion opponents want such names in order to shame people, if not harm them. Patients are another group at risk. I’m an alum (Ph.D., American Studies, 1983) who has done research on abortion since 2009, when Dr. George Tiller was murdered in Wichita by an anti-abortion activist. I wrote a paper about his 6-year prosecution by the State of Kansas, which found no wrongdoing in 35 years of practice. Former Kansas attorney general Phill Kline lost his law license for misconduct and unethical practices in Dr. Tiller’s prosecution. Kline now teaches at Liberty University.

Opinion

Letter: Trump's strong rhetoric is necessary

March 21

I have given much thought to those candidates running for office. I pledge to no particular affiliation in terms of Democrat or Republican. I only see what I believe is the most intelligent way for our country to go. I have seen how the LEFT attempts to steal our rights to free speech by trying to turn the Chicago political rally into Tiananmen Square. Who could be blind to this?

Opinion

Letter: Eat only raw, healthy food

March 10

I went to a local free food distribution. I saw NO healthy food! No wonder the epidemics of diabetes, cancer, obesity, alcoholism, mental illness and crime! Now age 70, I have studied health for 40 years. Hundreds of articles, books, documentaries, speakers, conversations, my own experiences... Always more to learn and to re-learn!

Opinion

Letter: West created Middles East crisis

March 10

The Middle East will only become stable once Western white powers leave the region. They have been colonizing, ruling and now occupying and generally brutalizing the lives of people there for a century; And a salient example is Iraq.

Opinion

Letter: Stem cell research needed to keep US competitive

March 7

Editor, Our nation can debate the ethics of fetal tissue research all it likes, but discoveries and treatments based on such research from even organ harvesting of dead embryos will continue in many countries abroad that have no associated compunctions, and be chalked up as one more loss to us in the global race to patent and implement cures through biotechnology.

Opinion

Column: ASUNM making itself more accesible

Alexandra Cervantes | March 7

As promised, ASUNM has some scholarship updates for the week: First, we are happy to announce that we had 32 applications for our most recent $1,000 scholarship and those will be awarded shortly. Thank you to everyone who applied and continues to follow our executive team’s tireless efforts both through the Daily Lobo and our social media accounts.

Opinion

Letter: We can vote to end refugee crisis

March 7

The unfolding tragedy of masses of desperate Middle Eastern refugees turning up on European shores is a tragic calamity to all morally decent people. However, we must understand the cause and effect that has brought this unfortunate event about.

Opinion

Letter: Criticism over Senator's remarks is unwarranted

March 3

This letter is in response to the three letters from concerned students affiliated with various conservative student groups on campus that were published in the last printing, regarding the failure of Resolution 3S on the Senate floor on February 24. We are writing to state our support for Senator Cooper and to clarify the remarks for which he is so harshly being criticized. ASUNM Senators have a duty and responsibility to represent the students’ interests with mechanisms for communication that are in place through our senatorial responsibilities.

Opinion

Letter: How could people not see mass shooters coming?

March 3

In the immediate aftermath of all these mass shootings stateside, have you noticed how family and friends and neighbors of even shooters who are college-age, and especially high schoolers, claim they had absolutely no clue, no idea and are in total shock and surprise that this particular person could commit such a heinous act?

Opinion

Letter: When Bernie fails, go Green

March 3

While I am sympathetic to the democratic socialism of Bernie Sanders, I do not believe that he will be the eventual Democratic presidential nominee. Sanders does have the support of many young voters, and young voters are about as reliable as drunkards. In the event that Sanders is eventually defeated by that darling of Wall Street and warmonger Hilary Clinton; I ask Sanders voters to consider supporting the presidential candidacy of Green Party's Jill Stein.

Opinion

Letter: Terrorists don't support human rights when the source is the enemy

March 3

Four Air Force veterans, who officially operated U.S. drones assassinating people in other countries, have spoken out. They wrote to President Obama, “We came to the realization that the innocent civilians we were killing only fueled the feelings of hatred that ignited terrorism and groups like ISIS, while also serving as a fundamental recruitment tool similar to Guantanamo Bay. This administration and its predecessors have built a drone program that is one of the most devastating driving forces for terrorism and destabilization around the world.”

Opinion

Letter: Administration prioritizes profit over safety

March 3

It seems to me the epidemic of mass shootings the last few years, including many at public institutions, has become, like climate change, an inconvenient truth that many choose to ignore.

Opinion

Letter: Administration mishandling the University

February 29

Yet again, the upper administration is underestimating the University community and the state in general. When asked when the University would start investing in the human capital here, President Frank’s flippant response (that hinted at a threat) was that we have to “make sure we can keep our doors open.”

Opinion

Letter: ASUNM senator dismisses students groups

February 29

At the most recent ASUNM meeting, I was proud to represent the UNM Young Americans for Freedom and speak in favor of Resolution 3S. This resolution would have called for the University to allow stun guns on campus for the purposes of self-defense. Ultimately the resolution failed to pass. We accept that it is a part of the democratic process for senators to vote against resolutions if they feel that the students they represent do not support that piece of legislation and, indeed, that was the stated reason of a number of senators who voted against it. We applaud their honesty and commitment to representing their constituents, even if we disagree with their decision.

Opinion

Letter: ASUNM undermining student safety

February 29

On Wednesday night, ASUNM voted against a resolution that would have made the UNM campus safer by expanding options for self-defense items for students. I am disappointed that many of the senators do not see the need to improve safety on campus and to allow students their right to protect themselves. Many in ASUNM who voted against it had either voted for or supported last semester’s pro-pepper spray resolution, which was passed unanimously, but couldn’t successfully defend why they would want students to continue to feel unsafe this semester. Student safety is more important than a vote from ASUNM.