letters
Not justified
In responding to William
Moore's letter (ODE, March 4), 1
would like to remind him of
other acts of violence besides
abortion; those that leave
women pregnant with a rapist’s
child. I, too. find the right to
live as one chooses to be one of
the most cherished rights we
have. Every child bom should
be wanted, nourished, loved,
and clothed by caring parents
who want the best for their
child. Unfortunately, the
number of unwanted children
born daily help to create a sad
population of people who have
never experienced parental
love, a crucial aspect of the
childhood experience.
I believe birth control
methods should always be used
to guard against unwanted
pregnancy before the option of
abortion should be considered.
But let’s face it. it’s men out
there doing the raping, and it’s
men who are making the laws,
so until ail men learn not to
rape, how can we justify a law
against abortion?
Timothy Swillinger
English
Work together
Studies in criminology and
psychology show a strong rela
tionship exists between por
nography and sexual deviance
such as rape and child molesta
tion. Michael Cross listed,
several studies and the
, testimony of psychologists in
his article, “Pornography Link
ed With Sex Crimes" (ODE, Jan.
14), so 1 won’t bother wasting
time refuting Wilmer Boesel’s-.
. letter (ODE, Feb. .16) by listing
dozens .of studies .showing this
link does exist.
The point I’d like to make is .
this: if people truly desire, to •
. combat pornography., then they •
must learn to work together. •
After." all, pornographers ' are .
small in number, but they have
money and can also count on
so-called “civil- libertarian”.
• groups to come to theft defense.
Rhetoric like "pornography is
men exploiting . women’" will
only polarize the sexes • and .
work to the benefit of defenders
of pornography.. Ever hear the
term “divide and conquer”?
We must be cognizant of the fact
that pornography exploits both
sexes.
Successful movement
resulting in laws to protect the
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public’s interest while
upholding the original intent of
the Constitution have generally
started on the grass-roots level
and have stressed the involve
ment of men and women. Since
the Supreme Court has made it
clear that local communities
have the right to restrict por
nography, let’s have some con
structive ideas and proposals
put forth and then unite behind
them. By working together
against a common threat we can
make our community a better
and safer place to live.
Kevin Wesner
Students Against Rape, Porn,
and Exploitation of Children
More aware
Perhaps it is healthy that we
have been reminded, recently,
of diversity and variety of par
ticipants in certain aspects of
campus life. The response to the
display in the EMU emphasized
the fact that young children are
a part of the University com
munity. As one who is concern
ed about quality of experience,
especially as it relates to this
population, i would hope that
what children take from and
give to this place can be as
positive as possible.
1 do not believe it is a ques
tion of right to speak out or
display an individual's or
group’s concerns. 1 would ask,
however, that the campus .
population be more fully aware
of where, when, and to what au
dience you may choose to ex
press these concerns so that the
content of expression reaches
an audience that is equipped to
understand and evaluate such
exposure.
Mary-Curtis Gramley
Child Care Coordinator .
Harmless:
Is pornography harmless?
These quotes from the citizens
for Decency Through Law, Inc.
newsletter might provide an
answer,,' Detective lieutenant
Darrel Pope, vice investigator of
the Michigan State Police Dept,
stated, “So we went to the com
puters apd. in fact, we did some
research and this is what we
found: In 41 percent of all sex
ual assault cases...pornography
was involved just prior to the
act, or during the act. That,
ladies and gentlemen, is fact,
not fiction.”
Lloyd Martin of the L.A.
Police Dept, stated, “Por
nographic material depicting
i 11 fttl ii
children involved in sexual ac
tivities is frequently utilized to
stimulate the child (who has
often been lured with promises
of friendship and reward) and
lower his/her inhibitions. The
suspect continually provides
encouragement to the victim by
telling him there is nothing
wrong with it. If they (the
children in the pornographic
pictures) can do it, you can
too." (July/Aug. 1981).
Sociologist Murray Straus of the
University of New Hampshire
stated, “West Coast states tend
to be high in sex-magazine
readership and rape.” (Jan/Feb.
1984) Sorry 1 can’t list more
authorities, but space limita
tions prevent this. But 1 can
assure you, the evidence that
pornography contributes to sex
crimes is overwhelming
Bob Wagner
SARPEC
Discrimination ?
I was troubled by a certain let
ter to the editor (R. Harper,
ODE, Jan. 30). It was written by
someone who believed in She
women's movement here on
campus. Someone who was
concerned enough by the issuer
involved to try and volunteer
their help in the Women's Task
Force. Yet, the offer was refus
ed. Why? The person was a
man. Do we, therefore, infer
that men are not supposed to be
concerned with the problems
facing women,’ which is what
the task force was organized to
combat? Does it mean we don’t
need their input and support in
the struggle for equal rights and
privileges?
The fight against discrimina
tion based on sex and its.
associated difficulties cannot
begin with discrimination. Mr.
Harper's willingness • to help
was, in effect, .slapped down:
(just as women- have been slap
ped down in the past?}. Change
for the. better. has. to start
somewhere. Why did it not Start
with the organization whose
purpose was to begin bringing
about such change? The exam
ple this action sets for future ef
forts toward equality is poor.
The message it sends out to men
is that their help is unwar
ranted; their concern, un
necessary. I, too, like to be self
sufficient, but when I’m strug
gling, I am not so foolish as to
refuse someone's offer to lend a
hand.
Karla Voget
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