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Show MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, THE DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE Advocate of Utah's Adoption Bill Exercised Faulty Logic Editor: writing in response to Nathan Lassig's Feb. z column, "Adoption: A Public Issue," concerning the proposed bill to limit adoption to married couples only. I vould like to make a couple of points. Mr. Lassig first states that is I ann "self-righteou- s" "what the Southern plantation owners called the Northern abolitionists in the last century." A few paragraphs down, he reminds us that "millions, even billions" of people believe that a nuclear family consisting of a married male and female is the "best environment in which to raise children," and that to go against this would be to "defy centuries of experience." There are two arguments I have with this. First, a logical leap. He starts by that the were right to overabolitionists implying turn "centuries of experience" and end skvery. Of course, most of us would agree with him. But he then implies that, in terms of raising children, we should not dare to go against these "centuries of experience." What's trie difference here? Obviously, it's Mr. Lassig's personal opinion regarding nuclear, married, parents, and nothing Mr. Lassig "commits more. I would argue thzt there are aiso many people who do not feel that raising children in a nuclear family consisting cf a married male and female necessarily the best way. In fact, the nuclear family as we knov k is only about fto centuries old, and remains a particular peculiarity of Western, industrialized cultures. I fear ibat Mr. Lassig is exposing his own cultural bias when he implies that "most cultures of the world" have, embraced and lived in this fashion for many cexvruries. Mr. Lassig states that, "Ali that adoption agencies require is the commitment that they will stay together and form a lasting family. Is thai too much 0 ask?" not married. They can't marry because they are gay (no homophobia there, of course). So, Mr. Lassig, would you support legalizing gay marriage as well as outlawing adoption by unmarried couples? Lassig states he believes, "It is wise of us to wait longer, and gather more information, before assuming that to raise children outside a nuclear family is just as effective as within the nuclear family." How much longer will you have the children wait, Mr. Lassig? No independent study carried out to date, to my knowledge, has found that marriage is the one factor which creates good parenting and a solid family. No study has found that children of gay parents turn out, as a group, any different than children raised by a male and female. No study has found that single parenting, as a causal agent, creates problems for children although, granted, because single mothers are often status levels forced to live at lower and experience more stress, children often suffer. Mr. Lassig speaks of the Jeffersonian notion that "all men and women (sic) arc created equal." Now, of comrse, most of us know that when these words were wiittcn, they included Caucasian men and no one else. This, to my mind, is not the greatest concrete example of "morality." Instead, it bespeaks of a nation that is constantly changing and revamping its ideas in the i?ce of new evidence and experience. Slavery was ended. Women got the vote ar.d the iight to own property (among other things). year-old boys going off to fight for thdr coun-ti- y wcie finally given a say in how things were run. Segregation was seen for the horror it was. Now, perhaps, it is time to realize that children need loving homes, and thsre are many more children out there than homes available to take them in. Mr. Lassig, would you be willing to take in those children who will be denied a home because of this bill? I hope you have a large house. socio-economi- c Nineteen-- Well, no, but since gay marriage is still lllegil, that puts gay couples who wish to get married in a particular bind. They can't adopt because they are TRINA SEEXEl&T Master's Student, Psychology n people are camps. The afraid that, little by little, their rights will be taken away until we become an unarmed populace guarded by a military state, which is controlled by a powerful federal government that has absolutely no accountability to the people it governs. Trie anti-gu- n people are afraid of being gunned down in the street by some Rambo wannabe with an assault weapon. I personally do not want to be caught in cither one of these scenarpro-gu- continued from page 6 she believes a disarmed society would be a safer one. If our safety is to be valued above our freedom, why not lock everyone "safely" away in little, padded rooms? been has Watkins Perhaps deceived into thinking that guns cause people to kill each other, and that people would quit killing each other if you took away their guns. The sad fact is that people will continue to kill each other with or without guns. This brings us to the real problem: human nature. When selfishness, hatred and greed get out of control, people kill. When a person commits murder, the person is to be blamed. That person's choice of weapon is irrelevant. For example, in the recent news story of the boys who were having a sleep-oveone killed the other with a knife. Not one word was mentioned about banning knives. Watkins also made it sound like only gun activists were being motivated by fear. To an objective observer, there is r, EDUCATION ios. Perhaps we should treat the gun issue like wc treat the alcohol issue. Both items can be used responsibly; both items can be abused. Wc should haye the right tc possess both, and any abuse resulting in the death of an innocent party should be quickly and severely punished. Keeping in mind that thousands cf innocent people die every year as a result of those who drive drunk, perhaps I should entitle this letter "Alcohol Prohibition Means Safer Society." Try getting that law passed! MICHAEL PEARSON U Hospital Employee continued from page 6 requirements are finished. To make matters worse for the U, Boyd Garriot, from the Legislative tion requirements, is often greater at a community college if a student has the self control and will power to seek it out And it is much cheaper. n However, when it comes to classes in the student's major, the professors at the U can't be beat. So theoretically, students actually get a better general education at a community college than at the U. Of course, classes are often more difficult once a student surpasses a particular class level at the U. But this n happens after the Fiscal Analyst's Office, has suggested that the U increase its already ridiculously large class sizes in order to pay its overworked professors more than the 90 percent of their market values many currently get. So right now, perhaps those students in their freshman and sophomore years should give a second thought to community colleges. The Utah State Legislature is giving them no incentive to stay at the U, and, as new research is increasingly discovering, education really is what you make of it. upper-divisio- high-quali- ty for Sftudjy M$mad The international Center and the Undergraduate Council can help make studying abroad this summer more affordable. Would you like to have a substantial international experience as a part of your U of U education? Visit the International Center in 159 Union Building to see whether you qualify for one of these scholarships! Eligibility Requirements: Intellectual - Minimum GPA - 3,0 Matriculated, undergrad status Deadlines Explorations Study Abroad mid-Februa- ry Scholarships 1 a i T. '! i' f t t M W I X Run July 20 - August 19, 2000 Courses taught in English Study with the faculty of the Free University of Berlin Live and study in one of Europe's most vibrant capita! cities Earn credits in Political Science, Film, History, Art History, Language, or Creative Writing Scholarships up to $1,000 Cambridge, England - July August, 2000 Study at one of the world's oldest and most prestigious universities 3, 4 and 6 week program options Earn credits in Literature, History, Political Science, Architecture, Art History, Sociology, English Culture, History of Science & more Live and study with students from all over the world Scholarships up to $1,000 7 at least a little fear from both GUNS general-educatio- $diarsMps 2000 Scholarships up to $1,500 Summer, semester and academic year programs ru nncp frtir cHtAir ctrc ill Avr fir--ir- For More Information Contact The Intematiorial Center 159 Union Telephone: 581-58- 49 ICiNFO(safT.utah.edu 1 |
