Readers speak out on relaxation techniques, abortion
God isn’t only way
James McIntyre’s letter (DN, Dec.
8) criticized new relaxation and im
agery techniques because they did
not deal with a problem directly. In
his opinion, people who use such
techniques are simply avoiding real
ity, and wasting time just fooling
themselves. For someone so “open
minded,” this argument is idiotic!
Those relaxation techniques are
meant to help a person deal with a
problem, not to solve it for them. I’m
sure everyone will agree it is easier to
solve a problem when you are calm
and thinking clearly, rather than in a
frazzled and confused state.
As for God’s plan being the only
“proven” way to reduce stress —
good grief, talk about “avoiding real
ity!” I’ve seen no proof of those
stress-reduction abilities, in fact, I’ve
seen only evidence to the contrary.
A plane explodes over Colombia.
Was it a terrorist’s bomb? No, it was
“God’s will.” How about all those
who died in the recent California
earthquake? Was that ‘ ‘God’s will?”
If those are the sorts of plans God has,
I’m not relaxed! Did all those people
deserve to die? Even those who were
devoutly religious and God-fearing
people?
Although McIntyre is careful to
deny he is forcing his religion on
anyone, he is inclined to tell us that all
views unlike his own are somehow
lacking in intellect, or open-minded
ness. Is that an open-minded assump
tion in itself? Of course not. By the
way, schools don’t avoid teaching
Christianity because they’re afraid
students may realize their “sinful
nature” and turn to Christ for salva
tion. Schools are afraid of people who
will cry “foul” as soon as equal
consideration is given in the curricu
lum to Islam, Judaism and even sci
ence.
Keith Richter
sophomore
anthropology
Don't teach dogma
God is the real solution? This is the
caption that ran over James McIn
tyre’s letter about the methods of
stress reduction taught in the public
schools. He asserts that these meth
ods of self visualization, taught to
students to help them realize their
goals, is just a fantasy. The stress that
creates the need for them still has to
be dealt with. Despite the possible
positive psychological benefits of
such techniques, McIntyre asserts
that apparently, there is only one
proven way to relieve stress: realize
that God is in control of everything
and that he has a plan for you.
Well, isn’t that special? What
does dear old God have to do with the
teachings of our children in public
learning institutions? Will belief in
God help a student when he is faced
with the reality of a paper being due
or when his parents are fighting any
more than relaxation techniques?
No!
While I have little knowledge ol
these techniques for coping that the
public schools are teaching, I’ve
heard this religious rambling for long
enough!
Why do these alleged followers ol
Christ insist upon forcing their be
liefs on others? Why is it hypocrilica
of the public schools to give students
a week off t^ celebrate the Christmas
holiday? A piece of historical truth,
among the misinformation put forth
by Christians about the actual birth
date of this dude called Jesus. How
about the zany antics of the forerun
ner of Santa, St. Nicholas? If you
really are concerned with the educa
tion of the children in public schools,
McIntyre, then let’s teach them the
real truth, not the dogma based on the
teachings of a scroll found in a cave
half a world away.
James A. Zank
junior
arts and sciences
Choice isn't issue
I understand that the pro-choice
view stems from the belief that no
one, government or otherwise, has
the right to tell a woman what to do
with her body. The woman has the
undeniable right to choose to have a
baby or abort it.
After reading the letter printed in
the Nov. 5 issue of the Daily Nebras
kan, I understand the pro-life view. A
group is in cahoots with mastermind
George Bush who intends to exploit
and control both rich and poor
women forever. This pro-life move
ment holds no compassion for
women in general, and forces women
to carry a child to term and give birth,
without considering the hopeless
existence predestined for this child.
This bogus depiction makes me
sick. And because I do not appreciate
insult and being dubbed a i.ypocrite, I
respond with this letter. I will not
write now about the horrors of abor
tion nor will I wave a sign in your
face, instead 1 will only write the
following.
Abortion takes the life of a child
for convenience’s sake. This fact is
the core to the entire issue. Hours of
excuses and reasons will not justify
the termination of an unwanted, ex
pensive, or devastating pregnancy; it
is a matter of life. Ignoring this bla
tant truth and parading the issue as a
matter of choice is the real crime of
abortion.
Ann Dorenbach
sophomore
art
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