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JLAiPllJL ¥ A "ebraskan, 34
Nebraskan
readers say: I
icavionainy
It took more than half a page to
exhibit Thomas Eads’ repertoire of
racist points of view (June 22,1995).
And it takes considerable effort to
understand why this person (future
political scientist!) was granted such a
valuable space.
Five policemen are involved in the
arrest of a gun-free, drug-free, alco
hol-free man. In this scenario, the man
dies.
Basic math and logic tempt us to
speculate about why it would take five
policemen to subdue a man in his
conditions. But let’s wait for Justice to
do its job.
According to Eads, however, there
is nothing to wait for; this tragic event
happened because Mr. Renteria lacked
what the Eads calls “a rational mind.”
In other words, let’s blame Mr.
Renteria for his unforgivable lack of
rationalism during the very common
situation of five armed policemen try
ing to tell you something in a language
you do not understand.
Eads also blames the director of
the Hispanic Center for what he per
ceives as “irresponsible” comments.
Should we interpret that Eads’ com
ments are the “responsible” ones?
Finally, Eads blames the whole
Hispanic community for fanning “the
flames of racial injustice.” Suspi
ciously enough, he neglected to men
tion that similar voices have been heard
from non-hispanic sources.
Of course, there is not racial injus
tice (or injustice of any kind) if you are
committed to systematically ignore it.
I would like to think Eads does not
understand the nature of cultural mix
ing and doing so, he is unable to write
a decent, respectable, intellectually
honest column.
In his messiahism, Eads wants to
show us how civilized societies work.
In my ignorance, I am more interested
in understanding how societies com
pensate the costs of tolerating the atti
tudes derived from reactionary minds.
Gustavo Delhon
Graduate Student
Veterinary and Biomedical Sc.
Gone too far
Well, it looks like the Lincoln Po
lice Department has gone facist. No
wonder they blew up the federal build
ing in Oklahoma City.
Government control of everything
has gone way too far. LPD has be
come Ben Nelson’s SS.
Freddy Bailey
Bike etiquette
UNL students are not too swift in
safety on bikes. About six of us walk
down the city streets and bikers come
up to one’s elbow before honking or
saying excuse me.
Even hurrying to work, bikers sel
dom use proper signals to cross the
highways. Helmets should be manda
tory as they are for motorcycles.
Please take this as constructive criti
cism. College students are not exempt
from courtesy.
Let’s all try to use signals so the
drivers can know which way we arc
going. And beep or say “Excuse me”
more than three yards behind a person
walking.
Thank you
, Patience Kellogg
Interpretation
In support of his position that a
fetus is equivalent to a child, Richard
O’Heam (June 28,1995) used a Bib
lical citation: “He has blessed your
chi Idren within you.” (Psalms 147:13)
His interpretation is out of context,
as is seen by reading one verse before
and after the above. The word “you”
clearly refers to the city of Jerusalem,
not pregnant women.
Actually, the Bible doesn ’t specifi
cally mention abortion, so we have to
see what it says about some of the
arguments used. Opponents of abor
tion say that: (a) human life, for moral
purposes, begins at conception and
(b) human life is sacred.
The idea that human life begins at
conception just isn’t supported in the
Bible, and the idea that human life is
sacred is contradicted all over. So
people who consider abortion to be
murder might be shocked to learn that
they are thereby in disagreement with
the Bible!
In several places the Bible defines
life as breathing, and I found no place
where it defines life otherwise. For
example, Genesis 2:7, which also de
fines the entrance of the soul: “and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of
life, and man became a living soul.
Since a fetus doesn’t breathe, it isn’t
1 i fe and doesn ’t have a soul, according
to biblical definition.
Additional evidence that a fetus is
considered to be less than a human life
is that the biblical penalty for causing
a miscarriage is only a fine to be paid
to the woman’s husband. While for an
injury to a bom person, it is life for a
li fe, eye for an eye, etc. (Exodus 21:22
25, Leviticus 24:17-21).
Even an infant under the age of one
month is considered to be worth a lot
less than an adult (Leviticus 27:1-8,
Number 3:15,28,34,39,40,43).
Also, God once punished David by
killing his newborn son (II Samuel
12:14-19).
The sanctity of life, bom or “un
born,” is denied in many places. Two
examples: “Now go and smite Amalek,
and utterly destroy all that they have,
and spare them not; but slay both man
and woman, infant and suckling.” (I
Samuel 15:3), “They shall fall by the
sword; their infants shall.be dashed in
pieces, and their women with child
shall be ripped up.” (Hosea 13:16)
A lot of the discussion on abortion
has to do with “illegitimate” pregnan
cies. An adulterous woman is to be
killed (Lev 20:10). Presumably this
means even if she is pregnant.
And “a bastard shall not enter into
the congregation of the Lord; even
unto the tenth generation.” (Deut. 23:2)
So according to the Bible, neither
the fetus nor the bom child is worthy
of much consideration.
Note also that Jesus talked of being
“bom again.” He didn’t say “conceived
again.”
Edgar Pearlstein
Professor of Physics
Emeritus
YOU WORK
WE PAY
The UNL Department of Housing has great
summer employment opportunities!
•Positions available for Renovation projects.
•Guaranteed 40 hours per week, with
overtime opportunities.
•Flexible Schedules.
•Experience in painting, carpentry, electrical,
and/or plumbing helpful. Great opportunity
to experience a variety of building renovations.
Apply in person at 1100 Seaton Hall
for an interview appointment.
"Til1] M
You arc invited
to attend an i
ice cream I
social honoring *
Chancellor
Graham Spanier.
a farewell on the
Wednesday, July 12,1995
Green Space north of
Broyhill Fountain
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
City Campus
}:}op.m.-5p.m.; program at 4 p.m.