EDITORIAL Condom giveaway good idea for teens AIDS has gotten too big in New York to leave the solution to the federal government any longer, so the state is taking the problem into its own hands. Brooklyn and Manhattan high schools began hand ing out condoms to students last week to combat the spread of AIDS. The giveaways will be phased into all the state's public schools by 1992. New York City has more AIDS cases than any other U.S. city, claiming 20 percent of the nation's cases in the 13- to 21-year-old age group. The handout faced the predictable parental and Ro man Catholic Church condemnations, but the program rightfully prevailed. The biggest problem, said these groups, was that condom extravaganza would encourage and condone teen sex. Of course, we all know most of those teenagers wouldn't have dreamed of having sex until the schools approved of it via the giveaway. The truth is, most twins who received condoms were probably already having sex. Now it will be safe sex. These objecting groups need to face the reality of today's American teen-ager: Like it or not. many teens are having sex. Accepting this fact does not mean one condones it. Acceptance just equips one to do some thing to improve the situation. Giving condoms out is a way to deal effectively with the very real problem of AIDS. By handing the protection out, the schools aren't condoning indiscrim inate sex, but encouraging safe sex. Yes. AIDS is scary as hell, and yes, abstinence (the mode of protection the objecting groups encourage) is the only sure way of avoiding it. But another reality is that most people never think it will happen to them and will not practice abstinence. The kids are already driving. Now give them a les son in defensive driving before it’s too late. The condom giveaway is a great idea. LETTERS POLICY The Orvffnn Daily Emerald will attempt to print all letters containing comments on topics of interest to the University community. Letters to the editor must be limited to no more than 250 words, legible, signed and the identification of the writer must l>e verified when the letter is submitted. Emerald ®:aSs «', tnw J lEAit *e a T3WM0R J LETTERS Scared (aim lining the letters thui appeared lately in the Enu'ruld about the comparison between the KO'IX'. and project Saferide Projet t Saferide hits claimed that they will him imm, hut not as drivers Kehekah Ledwith, {ODE, Nov 20). says that while a woman may fuel uncomfortable In the presence of a man in what should la1 a safe situation, remember she is often not sail p I v u n c o m f o r t n h I e . hut stared She goes on to say a woman's fear "is based on the valid concern that she may lx? attacked at any time without warning " This kind of thinking fits in perfectly with the whole phi losophy of Project Saferide, namely, that women should fear every man, and look upon them as a potential attacker It fosters the idea that no man ran he trusted, anil women are only safe with women This kind of bigoted, prejudicial thinking should he discarded to further end all distriminalion Ron Williams Eugene It sucked For thus*' of you who read Lucas Gutman s review ol Cape Fear (ODE. Nov 22). 1 think you're entitled to a second opinion Thu movie sucked Granted, it had a great cast and supposedly "brilliant di rector However, the film itself just didn't work There is more suspense in u Get Smart rerun than there was In this film The score was repetitive and over-dramatic, the camera an gles were pretentious, and the storv was weakly developed I grieve for Robert DeNiro and am ashamed of Jessica Lange for partaking in this shoddy work However, I will not lei this blemish of a movie diminish my regard for them, as I attribute the repugnancy of this film entirely to its director, Martin Scorsese Don't get sucked in by the large budget advertising! This movie is superficial, at best, and is not worth the three bucks to rent it on video (let alone see in a theater). Karen Wesenberg Psychology Threatened Concerning the Thursday. Nov Issue of the Enwrald, I felt threatened In Abe Hnpner's outliish against the Saferide program provided by the ASt.'O Women have forever been discriminated against by men Now some of these men are crying for their equal rights when in different situations They an- strongly opposed to it If it weren't for a few select men who assault and rape women, this service wouldn’t need to be provided I completely disagree that the Salende program stereotypes all men as rapists. Nowhere, on any Saftrrlde van. flyer, or ad vertisement does it say, "If you're afraid of being raped by a man. take Saferide home!" This program is simply of ferer! to provide a safe way to and from places for women in the evening hours. It's not some taxi shuttle that excludes men b«H ause of their sex if Saferide were a service specifically for students who have drank loo much and need a safe ride home, then it would be more understandable for Hepner to claim discrimination Recently, there have mien nu merous accounts of women be ing attacked in the campus community The fuels ain't be denied If u woman was walk ing down u dark street, it would be more probable for her to be attacked than if she was a man. Until women are able to feel safe while walking the streets at night, I think Saferide is a worthwhile program .is it pres entlv exists Karie kindred Student No joy Yeah um just one ques tion Why does the University Bookstore have a Eurocenlru! holiday display that blindly proclaims a message of ")oy to the World?" Do they mean joy to the white world? (As all the characters in costumes from around the world are white.) Or do they really think that the whole world is white maybe it s just that among all of those beautiful colors available that they found it too much trouble to make a rich bronze skin for the Hawaiian, or other beautiful colors for the Mexican and Jap anese persons as well. 1 didn't notice an African person at all maybe the artist realized that it would be going to far to put a white face under colorful African costume and then proclaim "Joy to the World " Well, i don't want to ruin anyone's holidays, and it may seem supercritical to you, and where Is the "good will” ex pressed by the artist ... or, you know, "lighten up” or some thing However, this is an ex ample of latent racism. The world is not all white. If the University Bookstore wants to wish "Joy to the World." let's talk about the real world Ruaselle Eyre Biochemistry PEOPLE AftE WORRIED ASOur THE ECONOMY, yov'HE OQOPPiNG //Si THE POLLS. AND THE ELECTION IS LESS THAN A YEAR AWAY. V\ ^— vJfe fiE Q6W£w/NG