Letter-writer off base
I feel that Mr. Nelson (author of last week's "Sex Laws Were Never Enforced, Oppressive" letter) is missing something. I do not know of any particular cases I can site, but I know that as a lesbian (and until August, a criminal) if I am on anyone's shit list, they could site and get me arrested under these laws. I know of no policemen who are supposed to stand by people's houses just to make sure this activity does not happen.
But since it is a law, it can be enforced if the wrong people get it in their minds to do so. There is always the threat of being charged for this if you are gay. These laws make it criminal for any man or woman to have sex or even cohabitate with another human being. Because of the wording of these laws, being gay is a crime. If you have a bigot enemy who wants to see you in jail, they can just site this law. These laws may not be enforced on a regular basis, but the danger still exits for us until these laws are completely off the books.
Kirsten Jorgenson
Theatre Arts Senior
Travels abroad getting to Spiller's head
I am glad to see a semester abroad has shown Cory Spiller just how backwards and oppressive the Unites States is. It just makes me wonder how many hash bars you have visited in your time overseas, or how many times you watched Pulp Fiction before you thought it would be trendy to head on over after being educated by John Travolta on European drug policy.
I am content living in this oppressive society you describe, because - guess what? - drug laws only directly effect people who abuse drugs, and I like it that way! Our laws weren't forced on us by a dictator or king, they were either put into effect by leaders that were elected by the majority, or put in to effect by the majority itself. With this in mind, I am guessing the reason we punish drug abusers and pimps is because most of us want it that way.
It is so refreshing to know that as I type this letter with my University of Arizona diploma hanging over my head, my alma mater sends impressionable young students overseas to compare and contrast the drug dealer and hooker populations of the U.S. and European countries. Where do I send those alumni donations again?
Craig Davidson
Class of 1999
AIMS test unfair to minorities
I'm really to say sorry because I am one of those people out there who think the AIMS test is not fair. As many Americans say, you have to be in someone's shoes to understand how they feel. This situation is the same thing. Many foreign students came over to America to study and - at least - to get a high school diploma. But because of their English, and their reading comprehension, it's not fair for them to take the test at all. They will automatically fail the AIMS test, including myself.
I have read through the paper that you had wrote · and I found this phrase that said, "If Arizona minorities are doing poorly, it means that they aren't
getting a good education." That is not true at all.
I have been to a lot of schools and my friends and I agree that the teachers are doing very well for their students and are preparing them very well. So are the schools. Everything has been setup to "execute" the minority.
Hieu Tran
Tucson
Spiller's liberal agenda disgusts readers
I was disgusted at Cory Spiller's latest promotion of the liberal agenda
in last week's edition of the Wildcat. Once again, he has urged us to ignore morality and decency in favor of a more 'free and open' life while he entirely ignores the consequences of such actions. I admit that I am jealous of his opportunity to experience cultures other than our own supposedly close-minded one, but was it ever considered that without the rules and regulations our country has it would descend into chaos and ultimately become just another social democracy placating its citizenry with stupifying drugs and sensual pleasures. If he likes it so much, then why doesn't he just stay in Europe? He could rescind his U.S. citizenship and then claim asylum as a social persecutee! And just to clear up a few facts: If Holland had a population the size of ours, based on statistics, it's murder rate would be almost 19 times greater than that of the U.S.
It's pretty shocking to me that a country that restricts guns could still have such dark side. Maybe it's because of all the druggies they have running around! It's all about proportions, Mr. Spiller. Perhaps we should stop comparing apples to oranges and face facts. Despite its shortcomings, the United States has more of its act together than any other nation on earth. While the rest of Europe stagnated in its own stubbornness, our forefathers brought forth a new nation, different from all others, and I - for one - am glad the great experiment worked, no matter how it turned out.
My greatest fear would be living in the world of 'Harrison Bergeron'. I guess Vonnegut feared it too...
Jacob Lauser
Tucson
