In reference to the Fiesta Gazette insert, I would like to commend the Frontier Fiesta Association for the articles full of spelling and grammatical errors.
As a supporter of Frontier Fiesta, I am embarrassed to be associated with an organization that cannot take the time to run a spell and grammar check on an advertising publication.
I have fought long and hard to promote Frontier Fiesta as more than a beer-drinking party. However, the Fiesta Gazette is the epitome of why the University of Houston is deemed "Cougar High." The scholastic ideal behind Frontier Fiesta is to promote scholarship. Yet it is very hard for other students to take this event and the university seriously when the committee does not place emphasis on its own scholastic agenda.
Shamed Frontier Fiesta supporter
In response to Shane Gibbons' Tuesday letter to the editor, I would like to commend him for a unique vision of our history. You state that we should run our country on only excise taxes and tariffs. Never mind that modern economists agree that these types of taxes strangle the economy and, more importantly, don't raise very much money.
Contrary to what you claim, our Constitution began a government that was already in debt, and the states did not pitch in to bail it out. You claim that the Bible says the only legitimate purposes of civil government are defense and justice, but the Roman government that Jesus commanded his followers to support financially did a lot more than just provide defense and justice, including extensive social programs.
You may not like the fact that our government supports social programs, though I believe that that position requires a profound ignorance of reality, but can you deny that our government was set up to do more than provide defense and justice? How else can you interpret these words: " ... in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity ..."
In case you were wondering, Mr. Gibbons, that's the United States Constitution.
Michael Redman, second-year law student
I am compelled to make a rebuttal after reading the guest column by G.E. Fittipaldi which states that Frontier Fiesta is useless to UH. It is the same complaining about Frontier Fiesta that was presented last year: Someone pulls a bunch of little nuggets of facts about genocide from their head and attempts to transform a community-oriented, university-sponsored event into a celebration of slavery, discrimination and genocide.
Some of these facts about the Old West (slavery, Indian massacres) are, without a doubt, true. However, these events took place many years ago before the advent of civil rights.
How many people are going to Frontier Fiesta with these facts as their primary reason for participating? Basically, nobody. When will there be a time when we can celebrate as a unified community without bringing up dirty laundry from each other's past? Every culture has skeletons in the closet that they do not desire to be relived. If we continue to focus on the past, how can we move into the future?
Forget about political correctness for at least once. Open your eyes and see the diversity that already exists. If you want creativity, take a look at the hard work put into creating Frontier Fiesta. Go see some of the variety shows that are scheduled. As far as your arguments that this is "an occasion for a narrow segment of the white population at UH" and "one that does not take into account the diversity of cultures," forget about them. They are weak arguments.
Many cultures will be represented at Frontier Fiesta (take a look at the programs scheduled).
In closing, I would like to say: Have fun! Go drink (soda or beer, your choice) and eat some barbecue (beans and potato salad if you are a vegetarian). Enjoy the presentations, and do not let opinions like Fittipaldi's instill anger in you that will prevent you from going and having a good time.
John Taylor, senior chemistry major
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