Editor:
Congratulations to John Keisling on another outstanding column ("Liberals lose on 'Reality Check,'" Nov. 8). Out of all the columns I have read this year in the Wildcat, I have to say that Mr. Keisling's was the best one so far. The combination of wit, humor, and the truth conveyed a message that may be (is) hard to accept for many "bleeding-heart" liberals at this campus, other campuses, and everywhere in this country: government programs such as affirmative action have gone further than just ensuring equality; they have become a way for some to claim "super" rights and take advantage of the system. And once again when a conservative exaggerates and creates caricatures of liberal fanatics as a literary technique to make a point, those same liberals change from reactionaries to over-reactionaries.
Alan Jessen's letter ("All-new game of 'Reality Check,'" Nov. 10) exemplifies this. His example of an 18-year-old mother and her need of health care for her children unsuccessfully attempted to mimic some of what Keisling did. Obviously, Keisling would not be opposed to health care for that mother and other people in her situation who made mistakes and are trying to come back and make a decent life for themselves, but the girls who get pregnant for the sake of increasing benefits should not be encouraged by receiving increased welfare checks.
Myriad circumstances surround each situation and generalities have to be taken for what they are: generalizations not meant to be taken literally and applied to every situation. And who wouldn't hire Joe over Pete? If Joe was from India or Africa or Korea while Pete was from the good ol' USA and as white as they come, Joe would still be my choice because he has a personal link to me Ÿ he goes to my church. A better relationship between Joe and me would most likely develop than between Pete and me for the simple fact that we (Joe and I) have more in common and would be engaging in social events together.
It is clear that the two sides are too polarized to ever agree completely on all of the issues, but bashing by either side will never accomplish anything; conversely, it will only widen the gap between left and right.
And yes, Mr. Jessen, "the truth is out there, somewhere," but it isn't as far away as the philosophy teachers at this and other secular universities would like you to believe: It's as close as your nearest Bible.
Robb Brunansky
Piano Performance Freshman