TUE 12 OCT 2004
Letters to the Editor
Homosexuality destructive to society
Dear Editor,There appears to be a large number of public misconceptions regarding homosexuality, as was tragically illustrated in the last Argonaut. There are numerous studies that reveal the consequences of homosexual behavior in society. The following were taken from the Defend Marriage and National Council on the Family Web sites:
Homosexuals are much more likely to contract STDs.
Homosexual relationships statistically are shorter-lived.
Most homosexuals don’t raise their own kids.
Domestic violence is nearly double among gay men than heterosexual men.
Sexual fidelity is 75.5 percent of married heterosexual men, 4.5 percent of gay men.
The majority of homosexuals do not even believe in living a monogamous life. Their intent to redefine marriage has very little to do with sexual commitment and raising kids.
“About 30 percent of homosexually active men and women have serious drug and alcohol problems, much higher than the general population. They also suffer a much higher incidence of mental illnesses.
“While less than 3 percent of the population is homosexual, 30 percent of all pedophilia cases involve homosexuals.”
Dutch researchers report that marriage in the Netherlands, which has legalized same-sex marriage, is declining. The percentage of births out of wedlock has risen spectacularly.
Homosexuality and all other forms of un-wed sex is undermining our ability to raise children in stable homes. The normal, traditional family is fast deteriorating in society. In conclusion, unless we oppose homosexuality, as well as other non-marital sex, terrorists will never have a chance to destroy our country; it will be destroyed from the inside out.
Joshua Fusselman
Junior
Landscape architecture
Media needs regulation
Dear Editor,CNN reported Monday that Sinclair Broadcasting Group (SBG), a massive media conglomerate, will air a scathing and commercial-free anti-Kerry movie next week. SBG has television stations in a quarter of the country including Fox, WB, ABC, CBS and NBC stations. It is one of the largest media conglomerates in the world and it is using its power for the political gain of the Republican Party.
The movie primarily takes the claims of the Swift Boat Veterans for “Truth” PAC and expands upon them.
There are two primary problems involved here. First and foremost, the claims of the movie and SBVT have been shown to be false over and over. The claims are shameless lies concocted by petty attack dogs. Kerry served honorably and was awarded for his actions in Vietnam. Attacking his record is roughly equivalent to pissing on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.
The second problem is a more over-arching one — the obvious danger of powerful media conglomerates and the loss of independent media. The deregulation of media groups in the United States by the Republicans in Congress and in the Executive is a dangerous and this is proof. More and more people are getting their news from five sources: AOL Time-Warner (Ted Turner’s group, which includes CNN), Fox Media Group (AKA News Corp. and Rupert Murdock), CBS, Walt Disney (includes ABC, Discovery Channel and ESPN) and NBC/Microsoft (MSNBC, CNBC). Americans are at the whims of five media groups to find out what is going on and there is nothing protecting us from a merger of these media giants.
John Kerry is against the deregulation of media groups which makes it obvious why SBG is attacking him with this movie. Regulation protects us from media giants like Sinclair, News Corp. and Time-Warner. Americans should vote for regulation and the de-monopolization of media in the United States.
Josh Studor
Senior
Political science/Philosophy
Tom Trail’s campaign off base
Dear Editor,Tom Trail, candidate for the Idaho House of Representatives, recently sent a letter to Latah Republicans. After reading this letter, I realize that Trail is unfit to represent Moscow.
Trail seems to have taken lessons on running a campaign from our national leaders. Rather than stating how Trail can help Idaho, he repeatedly takes immoral pot shots at Mark Solomon, a Democrat running for the House. In paragraph two, Trail calls Solomon an “extremist environmental activist” while providing no facts to support this claim. In the third paragraph, Trail writes, “Solomon has his own extremist agenda […], not the best interests of Latah County.” Trail uses inflammatory rhetoric to scare away voters without providing evidence to any extremist activity from Solomon.
Trail continues, “[Solomon] will have substantial support from extremist groups that see Latah County as an easy target.” Trail also mentions that Latah County voters “have short memories.” Trail implies that Latah residents are extremists and that students who moved into the area recently won’t research this election and therefore will make poor decisions.
Shouldn’t someone who supports Latah County appreciate the people who live and vote here? Trail is afraid of the very people he wants to represent. Trail concludes by stating he has “a record of trust and integrity.” This is a lie as Trail’s letter shows. He’s willing to throw integrity out the window while providing zero evidence in the name of raising money and votes.
I recommend a vote for anyone but Tom Trail.
Sean Prentiss
Graduate Instructor
English Department
UI Argonaut, 301 Student Union, Moscow, ID 83844
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