In response to certain of Jonathan Mower's about Ed de la Garza's letter Wednesday column July 13, I would like to make a few comments of my own.
De la Garza's professed views are not based upon the actions of extremists (or at least, I did not get the impression that they were); he was pointing out the inconsistencies of the extremists' actions and then presenting his own views on the subject.
To disregard the extremists, as you are asking us to do, is to ignore the most dangerous faction of any organization, and that is not something that most intelligent people are willing to do.
I will agree that, for the adopting family, adoption can be a beautiful gift. However, to make the blanket statement that "adoption is a beautiful thing" and that it is "the only decision that leaves a mother without a lifetime of regret" is puerile and immature.
I personally have several friends who have given up children for adoption, and in no wise had the decision been easy for them. Even with the adoption several years behind them, they are still obviously pained by having made that decision. If you are confused by that, Mr. Mower, allow me to point out a few things you may have forgotten.
It takes nine months to make a child. Nine months is around 270 days, or two-thirds of a year. Are you getting some idea of the commitment that entails, especially for a child you do not intend to keep?
Childbirth is a painful process that can take hours or days. Women die during childbirth. Babies die during childbirth. Even carrying the child to full term is not a guarantee of a healthy birth.
Certain diseases, most notably AIDS, in the mother can drastically reduce the life expectancy of a newborn, sometimes to a matter of days. Would you say that it is more fair to condemn the child to a few painful days or weeks, or to finish the matter in the span of a few minutes? I know that seems a harsh way to say it, but the truth is sometimes very harsh.
Thank you for your time, and I look forward to the hate mail. Please direct it to my e-mail address, begedy@bayou.uh.edu.
Brian Christopher Egedy,
sophomore music major
We would like to address this letter to Fabian Vaksman. While we understand (but don't quite agree with) the current situation you have with the university administration and the history department, we would like to know why you feel you have to drag us, staff members on this campus in a department that has nothing to do with you or your situation, into your problems.
You see, we received a fax of a copy of a memo you sent to Eduardo Aguirre, Chairman of the Board of Regents, titled "DEATH to the Utah Fascist!," and we have to tell you that we were totally offended. For those of you who would like to see this very offensive memo, we have given a copy to The Daily Cougar.
You feel the "pen is mightier than the sword;" so be it, but do not involve us in your little war. We do not want to read or have the opportunity to read your offensive and derogatory memos and letters.
You talk about your First Amendment rights and how you want to test them. Well, let us tell you mister, you are stepping over our line by sending these faxes to our department.
In the future, we would appreciate it if you would refrain from including us in your situation. In other words, do not send these faxes to us ever again.
Staff in the College of Hotel and Restaurant Management (names withheld by request)
Letters to the editor are welcomed from all members of the UH community. Letters should be typed and must include the author's name, telephone number and affiliation with the university. Anonymous letters will not be published, although names may be withheld upon request. Letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, grammar, profanity and personal attacks.
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