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Show Reach a Compromise and Stop Polarizing Issues Along time ago, in a kingdom far away, there was a group of people who were dissatisfied with their lives. They wanted to choose for themselves what taxes they paid, what religion they practiced, what lifestyles they led. They were sick and tired of the oppressive monarch, and decided to leave it for good. So, they all piled on a ship called the Mayflower, and the rest is history. Ever since then, people have flocked to America because of its freedoms. The Statue of Liberty has, for many, become a symbol of new life, freedom from oppression and poverty. She invites the tired and poor, the huddled masses (sob!) yearning to break free. . . etc., etc., etc. . . So many people live in hope offinally reaching America, so that they can have the freedom they never had before. Well, sorry folks, but that freedom may be a thing of the past. Now, you might ask, why do you say that? You must be one of those ungrateful liberal anarchist flag burners who doesnt know a good thing when she sees it. Maybe so. Or maybe everybody else is an overly patriotic, conservative Republican Bush worshiper who is happy with the status quo. Thats just fine with me, but the status quo theyre working with is from 1950. Hmmmm. But 111 quit my soap-bo- x rambling for a moment and get to the issue at hand. This country may be the land of the free, but I tell you, our freedom of choice has been contested from day one, and even now itis under some sortoflegislative movement to control or abolish it. Now forgive me if Im wrong, but isnt choice the premise that our nation was built on? I wonder where I can find a boat. A pilgrimage may be nice Take Madayln Murry OHairs little stint. She seems to have the delusion that gospel reading on the radio and Christmas programs on television are a threat to the nations atheist population. Shes D.C. to ban all petitioning Washington, signs of Christianity in the media. Get real. Ifyoure an atheist, you dont have to watch Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer when it comes on. You do have the power to change the channel. No one is holding a gun to your head. And speaking of guns, how about gun control? Now I dont necessarily believe that there should be a gun in every home, and it would be nice if some compromise could be met on gun laws, but Im sick and tired of hearing the pro and anti-gu- n extremists scream. Cant the common person just exercise his freedom of choice, instead of entitling everybody else to his opinion? Well, what about criminals? you ask. What about them? Theyve sneaked guns before, and they always will, regardless of what we do about it. Just leave well enough alone. Ahhhh. Abortion. Now theres a really good one. In this corner, we have the prolifers, screaming how many children have you killed today? In this comer, we have the pro-chcers, screaming you kill hundreds of cells per day just scratching an itch, whats a few more? Lets just ring the bell and watch them fist fight a few rounds. That boat just keeps looking better and oi ' Like many people on this campus, I consider myself an environmentalist. I recycle my cans, plastics, glass and newspaper. A few months ago I wrote a letter to the editor urging the other students and faculty members of Westminster to do the same. What happened was opposition to my ideas of how to go about turning our campus into an environmentally conscious group of people (i.e. stopping the use of plastics and styrofoam.) Now 111 be the first to admit that my ideas did not have a strong basis, but the purpose of coming up with ideas is so that better ideas can be sparked. What I found out was that everybody wants to get at everybody elses ideas and tear them down. pro-choicer- s, What we should be doing is helping each other come up with one idea that will work. We all want to help save our environment, but in order to do that we need to be on the same side ofthe rope. The that we are having isnt doing anybody any good. With the twentieth anniversary of Earth Day coming on the 22 of April we all need to start thinking about what we can do to save our Fair Sister, the Planet Earth. We should, as Chris Madding says, get pissed off. But lets get pissed ?ff together and do something about it. Every little bit tug-of-w- ar counts. Ryan M. Smith babbling about the opinions of a handful of extremists and start some constructive action, such as a healthy compromise. Just a reminder, for all of you who seem to have forgotten, compromise means the pros give a little and the antis give a little. Got it? That means that each of us gets a little of what we want, and the others still have the right to choose whats right for them. I hope that America figures this out soon, instead of wasting all its time in front of the Capitol Building screaming its lungs out. I cant really afford a sailing ship. But then again... Anyone wanna go to Gilligans Island? Jennifer Richerson Junior, Biology Turn This Page Upside Down Fornie Answers To Your Seriously now, ladies. If abortion remains legal and without the restrictions theyre trying to tie onto it, no one is going to go suck out your baby without your consent. If you dont believe in it, dont do it. Just dont tell us about it. And you men Student Loan Questions. explain the differences IWho can the Stafford GSL), (formerly PLUS (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students) and SLS (Supplemental Loans for Students) loans? 2 Which bank offers all three types of student loans? 3 Which bank lets you apply for your student loan at any branch in the state? And lets you check up on your balances, loan status, etc. with a toll free Student Hotline Environmentalist Stumped by a term paper? Need help or ideas in getting started on your research? Unsure about which resources the library has? Unlock the mysteries of the card catalog and printed indexes by coming to the library. For more information, contact the Reference Librarian, Oresta or call 488-427Esquibel, weekdays 8-- 5, I dont wan to And you hear it from you either, and I know that you guys have a tendency to gloat. It takes two to tangle, and you are just as extreme as the Rights for the Unborn. Why dont you just lay off the opinion struggle and let the individual decide for herself? The government, and even the people themselves are constantly trying to take away our freedom to choose, regardless of the issue. Now, Im not saying shut up, because we all have the freedom to speak; but I am saying lay off a bit. I realize that opinions must be heard, but hearing the same things over and over again can be tiresome and aggravating. Lets stop better. Joining Forces, Answer to Environmental Problems Editor: Until you start getting not its any of your business. pregnant, stay out of it. this time of year. Editor: 4 Where should you get your student loan? . OTCTd Jaquiaw 'MlSuwDApuautrj Inilinjinoagz 2SJMJ An Equal Opportunity Lender 9. April 10, 1990 Issue 22 |