Opinion - The Daily Lobo

Opinion

Letter: Lack of diversity in STEM programs not due to racism

March 31

I recently read several articles in the 28th of March edition of the Daily Lobo and I have several rebuttals to make. The first being to the divisive Ted talk that just took place. I am a white student in a STEM program and want to point out many of the fallacies and bigoted thinking that permeated this article. First off, if you’re not white, you can still be a racist. Look up the definition of the word. Secondly, I’m fairly certain I didn’t get lost on my way to African studies and wind up in the Engineering complex by mistake. It was a personal choice, the same personal choice that most students have in which educational route to take.

Opinion

Letter: On-campus parking should be free for students

March 31

Not that I don't love getting tickets for parking in crappy, pot-hole-riddled, mostly empty lots two miles from my classroom, but I’m starting to suspect that UNM's parking enforcement program doesn’t make any valuable contributions to the learning process at UNM.

Opinion

Letter: Religion is an infection, unification its cure

March 31

The huge number of Christians killed and maimed recently on Easter Sunday at that public park in the cultural capital of Pakistan makes the global battle lines between Christians and Muslims stand out in stark relief.

Opinion

Letter: Cut recreation to ease tuition costs

March 28

Once again, as the school year is coming to an end, there are tuition increases to look forward to. During my time at UNM it seems that every year tuition and student fees are increasing because of football coaches, IT needs, infrastructure, or less money from Santa Fe. Instead of raising student costs, the University should focus on its primary goal of being an institution of education.

Opinion

Letter: Pro-life movement stands against violence

March 28

It is important that subpoenas for the names of faculty, students and staff at UNMHSC and Southwestern Women’s Options who are involved in potentially unlawful fetal research be supported by our community. This is an internal congressional investigation, and the names of the people involved will be given to the congressional panel, an extension of the government. Avoiding the release of these records is not unlike telling the FBI you’re not going to comply with handing over the names of people you know so that you can protect them from any violations of the law that they are being investigated for. The names will never be disclosed until after the investigation is complete and someone is found guilty.

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.