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Show Wednesday, February 10, 1993 The Daily Utah Chronicle Library article offered erroneous statistics Editor You are sure to receive a number of letters regarding the latest in a long line of recent erroneous figures. (Remember trying to calculate 1 percent of the student population?). I refer to the Feb. 8 front page article on the expansion of the Marriott Library ("Marriott Library will soon go subterranean"). The opening paragraph explains that the library's space shortage will be eased "with 210 square foot expansion now being designed." What the writer - andor proofreader apparently do not appropriated during the 1993 realize is that 210 square feet is the area of a bedroom (14 feet x 15 feet), hardly the kind of space that would alleviate the library's fair-siz- ed shortage. I am also perplexed with the math (or lack of it) in a later Chronicle writers, editors and proofreaders to perform the simplest math operations. It is paragraph in the same article. The , writer explains that the "State Legislature 1y legislative session." Does anyone understand this? The way I read this, the project is still in need of $24 million, not $2 million as stated. These errors and others like them reflect an apparent inability of appropriated- $10 iii sloppy journalism. - million of a requested $34 million, with the remaining $2 million to be A. Glade Ellingson, PhD For the past few weeks, several letters to the editor regarding the ban on gays in the. military have used an argument that is particularly worrisome, the argument has also been used around the country regarding gay's rights, in general, and similar issues. The argument goes like this, "We should protect people from discrimination against color or race (things that one is born with cannot change), but there's no need to enact laws protecting people's behavior, (thing's that are 'changeable'). Behavior is a' matter of choice, and individual's should therefore accept the consequences of their choices." ' While this argument may seem outwardly logical, it is tragically flawed. A large segment of Utah's population should be particularly sensitive to this flaw considering that during the 1800s they were chased out of the country into this desert, and then still harassed because of their choices and behaviors. Mainstream America, at that time, or nature, whichever you prefer) and we as a society certainly shouldn't allow our government to selectively protect (or for that matter, encourage) matters that are personal and considered homosexuals. The Constitution established the freedoms of speech, press,' religion, voting, etc. all of which are behaviors, therefore there is certainly a strong precedent regarding legislating the protection of behavior. No doubt, the comparison of religious freedom to sexual freedom will seem response to Christopher Degn&-JStf("Traditions 'and unit morale B King of Clubs t) r MALE Revue Showtime 9 PM No Cover Charge TOMORROW NOGHT 1DDD discrimination is one that applies to us all, since somewhere along the line we are all minorities in one way or another. offensive to many, but it's not - anyone's place to judge (except God x Wynn John 1993 Sugar Bear Search junior geology Prizes to be given away: Gay men are not the equivalent of women; judge soldiers on merit, not sexual status 2 I'm ; writing-a- n u is Ladies Night! . as violent or dangerous behaviors, that don't need protection, and societal norms do have a place, but we should be constantly mindful of the tables turning. While I personally think the issue of gays in the military is one more of principle than practice, I think the larger issue of them to due threatening (and easy prey much like sentiment), many popular minority groups today, including politicians 7 TONIGHT. individual. There are obvious exceptions, such . found their "practices" offensive, and Page Seven A Private Club For Our Members Punishing behavior of gays, lesbians not constitutional because law to protect all Editor. - Everyone present has a chance to win! 2 tickets to NBA All Star Game 10 tickets to the NBA Jam Session 10 Snowbird Ski Lift Passes and many CD's and tapes! less than nothing to another gay I feelihe person, or vice-verssame towards Mr. Deguiffiis of the United States and supporting the government through active service, what's the big deal? My a. point is the same as Mr. Clinton's: letter reflected his genuine feelings mottg' reasons to prevent gays, If these people choose to serve the on this topic and he meant no 'iesbians from enlisting,"; Feb. 3). United States as a member of its malice, then I fully support his . Mr. Degn presented his case with great "military machine, and they right to express his views. ; tact and eye of the precision, albeit one sided. are willing to obey the same code c Homophobia is in the ' :; " . 1 believe that he is correct when he of conduct as the other members of ; beholder.. ' I . - . : . u states that "they ; (Ms ; polled the force, then whyjMrt? Alex Thompson compatriots don't want gays in the I If a rnanharasses; molests or ' ; he I while is woman also ; he is believe that a ; serving rapes military." ' Lesbian and Gay Student Union correct when he states that he" has An the armed service, he is subject to punishment by the military. If a been left out of the decisiorf-makirifar man harasses, molests or rapes process.But, that is as : I another man; should he not be .v his as .can firmly agree witri ".;;. 'article. subject to the same punishment? Mr. Degn came across as being Law is law. It applies to everyone d in his article, equally. The people that are rather so I hope that he will understand serving should accept that ideal or : v out of the kitchen. of it. of First criticism all, get being my a gay man does not mean that I am ' My last point is one that Mr. a woman, that I want to be a Degn hammered in himself. It's woman, or that I feel like a woman. about homophobia. The best way (Not having been a lesbian, I can to explain my position is to use the .only speak from my own gender example of my sister and her experience, but I think that they feelings towards same sex probably feel the same way about marriages. My sister is a hell and brimstone being compared to men.) I am a man. I grew up playing hockey and preaching Christian. She feels that soccer with some of the meanest a marriage ceremony is a covenant and toughest people in my between a man, a woman and God. neighborhood, not excluding She says that if God had intended members of my own family. I had for men to marry men and women would just as many street rights as a child to marry women, then he and said to talk have I lived so, and simple. plain as most people n acts But, she also feels that same-se- x about them. (But those don't really mean anything because attraction does occur and that it is I'm still gay and always have been.) valid, so it's necessary for to enact some sort of Anyway, I resent the numerous government"make it lawful civil to connotations that Mr. Degn made scheme throughout his article to support marriages, perhaps. My feelings towards this is that his claim that gays are like women loves all of his children and God and life when it comes to military Christ spoke a message of that that I activity. Dare compare love and total forgiveness civil complete the to rights comparison asked with sincerity. who those to his in he posed question- that But, even though I do disagree with letter? Secondly, it doesn't matter how her on this particular topic, my or when lesbians and gays got into sister is far from homophobic. In been my strongest the military. They did. The fact, she has friend for many best and be supporter I I question that I think should her beliefs and are those But, are '' I you years. raised is "what kind of job to them invalidate I no have " right fI doing?" not "who did you sleep with last night?" If these people are in any way. 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