Letters to the editorDo unto others...
Editor:
Although I am neither Christian nor homosexual, I was disturbed by the
advertisement that the Students, Friends and Alumni of Campus Crusade for
Christ at UCLA so piously purchased on page 28 of Thursday's Oct. 12
issue.
Their sponsored idea of a program to "cure" homosexuality is ridiculous.
Programs of this sort are the worst type of deceit, for they make two lies.
First, that homosexuality is a negative thing that one should do his or her
best to get rid of, and second, that it is in fact possible to do so. It is
as possible to "cure" homosexuality in the same way that it is possible to
"cure" being, say, Japanese or left-handed - that is, not at all, and why
would anyone need to anyway?
All this ad does, by further highlighting the absurdity and ignorance of
infantile, right-wing nutcases like the Students, Friends and Alumni of
Campus Crusade for Christ at UCLA, is to take credit away from the many
caring and tolerant Christians who have accepted the fact that homosexuals,
bisexuals, and others, are, in fact, a valid minority.
The refusal of many right-wing religious groups to accept homosexuality
as a valid lifestyle has caused immeasurable trauma and thousands of
suicides among people struggling to accept what is a difficult enough task
to accept for a more secularly-raised person. For any Christian who is
struggling with his or her own sexuality, I recommend the book "Stranger at
the Gate: to be Gay and Christian in America" by Mel White.
What's this group's next big project, a seminar geared at proving that
the earth is flat and at the center of the universe? It's too bad we can't
develop a program aimed at "curing" intolerance, ignorance and stupidity
and run the Students, Friends and Alumni of Campus Crusade for Christ at
UCLA and anyone else behind this advertisement through it.Jonathan D. Petersen
Second-year
Undeclared
Jailbird president
Editor:
I call it nothing but an embarrassment for undergraduate student body
president York Chang to be arrested. Militancy is not the answer. The only
thing Chang accomplished, as captured by TV cameras, handcuffed and dragged
by officers, is tarnishing the respected name of an elected officer at UCLA
and the name of the students he represents as well.
These so-called "grass root" ways of Chang and other members of the
victorious "Students First" slate are ridiculous. Which students are put
"first" when York Chang is in prison? Nothing is resolved by being
arrested. How long has it been since a member of USAC was arrested? How
about the president?
Let us focus on what needs our attention. I don't know how much our
president can accomplish from behind bars, but I do know that no one who
voted for Chang can tell me either.
Let us grow up and conduct business like every other successful person
does - with civility, integrity and intelligence. Chang is the official
representative of the undergraduate student body, of me and you. I am
embarrassed.Mahtab Darvish
Junior
Political Science