April 14, 2008
Daily Lobo Letters to the Editor:
* It's time to move on; stop debating the flag incident
Editor,
Can we simply drop the flag debate?
Peter Lynch tore a flag and got punished for it. The end.
There is absolutely no reason for a debate on racism, a term that is too easily used these days.
Although I can see how it started - Lynch is white, and the people he offended aren't - if any "ism" needs to be discussed, it should be nationalism.
El Centro de la Raza has every right to be proud of its heritage, but it should still respect the fact that this is America. I wouldn't fly an Irish or a German flag and not expect to get hassled about it.
And if someone tore it up, it wouldn't get this much attention. In fact, I'll go so far as to say that person would be applauded, not reprimanded. Everyone needs to just take a deep breath and move on.
Noah King
UNM reader
###* Pedestrians must be alert when they cross the street
Editor,
As I sit outside Popejoy Hall every afternoon waiting to go home, I notice that the majority of people violate one basic rule: Look both ways before you cross.
It is as simple as that, and yet I have seen maybe only three people this week even look both ways.
Just because pedestrians have the right to walk across the street to the Bookstore does not mean you should throw out all common sense and cross the road assuming that the oncoming cars will stop.
I have seen instances where a car that had stopped for quite some time began to move. A student suddenly came along and crossed the road when the car was half way through the intersection.
The student walked right in front of the car. The driver had to apply the brakes immediately, and the pedestrian never even realized that he could have been hit.
Yes, even the drivers should be cautious, but pedestrians need to do their part and look both ways. Not just out of common courtesy, but also for their own safety.
Jennifer Edwards
UNM student
###* Demonizing white males is not true multiculturalism
Editor,
I don't get to read the Daily Lobo as much as I'd like to. However, I did see some letters in the Friday issue regarding the issue of flying the flags of foreign countries and about the desecration of the Mexican flag episode.
I can see the manner in which Peter Lynch removed the flag was sub-optimal, but why would UNM fly the flag of another country on campus to begin with?
I realize the academic and college population are required to furnish these opinions and perspectives. But diversity often seems to be worn as a mask on campus in support of the ever-popular U.S. bashing.
Demonizing white males is not true multiculturalism and diversity and, in and of itself, not necessarily a positive goal. Acceptance of diversity by itself is not the societal panacea some seem to think it is.
Accepting diversity is valuable in that it supports unity. Additionally, promoting a diverse society, which does not support unity, is no better than bigotry or prejudice.
It's important to publish various points of view on this topic, and I appreciate your willingness to furnish this section of the newspaper as an outlet for opinions. It would enhance the value of your publication for many of us if you would consider adopting the informal goal of bringing people together.
Dixon Duval
UNM student
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