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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 13, 1999)
Letters to the editor GAP’s comparisons unjust Freedom of speech is a power ful tool in our society, but that is not what we wish to discuss. We wish to discuss the pathetic visu al argument that Genocide Awareness Project brought to the University campus on Monday. Abortion is a choice, if it were forced there may be a compari son. Genocide and systematic vio lence represented by the Holo caust and lynching is not compa rable to the choice of abortion. This argument belittles the tragedy of the Holocaust and vio lent. racism with a choice to abort a fetus. They liken women who have abortions to Nazis and lynch mob members. If these statements seem erroneous, it only illumi nates the holes in their argument. If they wanted to change peo ple’s minds, there are better ways ‘ that do not inspire anger and ad versity. As their propaganda states, “Ungentile. Unwhite. Un born.” We say to them: Unwar ranted. Ungodly. Unwanted. Amanda Krantz English Sara Geoghegan Spanish Protesters of GAP hypocrites I am baffled by Jennie Breslow and her co-signers’ letter to the editor on Monday (ODE, Oct. 11). Not because they used their free dom of speech to invite the cam pus community to join them in a silent protest or because they ex pressed their views on the Geno cide Awareness Project that was displayed in the EMU Amphithe ater on Monday. But to predi cate the letter with a lesson on freedom of speech was hypocriti cal to me. By holding up sheets and blocking the Amphitheater from view, you are essentially censor ing the freedom of speech of The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform . Yes, you can be “silent” and still be censoring. You might not want to hear what they have to say, or see what they have to show. But maybe someone else does. Why try to block what is rightfully mine to see? Maybe the display was disre spected. I don’t know. I didn’t see it. But last I checked two wrongs do not make a right. The protest ers who censored the project in the Amphitheater were disre specting The Center for Bio-Ethi cal Reform. Breslow’s letter dis credited the display before anyone even had a chance to see it and judge for themselves. The protesters took it a step further by trying to block others from seeing the display. In the future, how about you re spect everyone’s freedom of speech, not just your own. Erik Talbert Journalism Message not educational The garish display in the EMU Amphitheater is a shameless at tempt to confuse a political view point. The First Amendment guarantees the deceptively named Genocide Awareness Pro ject a right to express itself. It does not guarantee GAP’s right to restrict student’s access to our own amphitheater and treat us like idiots. GAP’s parent organization, The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform , claims GAP is showing an “edu cational presentation as an advo cacy group with a specific point of view” (ODE, Oct. 12). I am a college student. I know what education is. GAP’s mes sage: “Nazis perform abortions; therefore, by fighting abortion, you’re fighting the Nazis” is not education. At best, it’s sensation alism. At worst, it’s witch hunt ing. It might as well say: “Nazis eat applesauce. Fight applesauce to stop the Nazi agenda!” Hey, do you know who else performs abortions? Doctors! Stop the doc tors! Whoever is responsible for al lowing these people to take over the Amphitheater should make a pubic apology. I have no problem with abortion debates on campus, as long as they present intelligent viewpoints in a reasonable man ner. Michael Medlock Biology Presentation overwhelming My heart is no longer beating fast. I am no longer sweating adrenaline. I am at peace. I am calm again. On Monday, I had an experience I will remember for a long time. It was happening. Pic tures of death, slaughter and abor tion were presented to me. These pictures overwhelmed my senses and delivered subtle emotional blows into my body. I had no ex pectation of seeing them. I felt damaged. I felt pain. And then I felt great anger. I confronted that man. I learned the story. It was to “morally educate” me. But it was only a half-truth. Forgotten and not shown were the horrors of a worse kind. Nowhere did I see pictures of illegal abortions. The true intention was to promote a one-sided political agenda. My world was invaded by selfish and destructive methods. I was assaulted to promote legal legis lation, and it was absolutely legal for them to do so. I want to speak to all my fel low students. I have a message for you as well. I want to tell you that I have the highest respect for you. Your are my brothers and sisters, and we are one. My inten tion toward you is not to hurt you, but to accept and assist you. I assert that your own beliefs are absolutely valid for you. I don’t want to change you in any way. On the contrary, I want to learn from you and grow in the process. You are my friends and I love you. K. Baba Jacob Physics and Philosophy Exhibit inappropriate I am writing in disapproval of the Genocide Awareness Project display. It unfairly subjects stu dents to images that are complete ly inappropriate to be exhibited regardless of anyone’s view of abortion. It is my right to walk through my campus without be ing forced to see these images. I believe that my rights have been recklessly violated. I believe that all students have a right to free speech. Although, I do not think that a four-member student organization is using fair or conscientious judgment by supporting the disgusting display our campus has now been sub jected to. I agree with the GAP organiza tion that abortion needs to be ad dressed, but how can any topic be seriously considered when it is presented along with vulgarity and obscenity? For anyone to be lieve that the environment at the EMU Amphitheater was at all conducive to discussion is almost ridiculous. I am personally pro-choice but am always willing to discuss my viewpoints and ideas with any one. Discussion and debate only help me to see and understand opposing opinions, which lead to me making an educated decision. Yet, to be honest, I left the Am phitheater completely unwilling to discuss anything. For me, the exhibition totally failed to meet its goal or even slightly convince me of its arguments. I would like to commend all the individuals who worked amazingly to preserve our rights for the rest of us students. Abor tion is a very sensitive subject that involves a lot of emotion; any dis play concerning the topic should be presented in a way that is re sponsible and ethical. Michelle Shaw Biology % Patient's B»Ll of rights W. (fUflOJAJI VCRUUn) f' YOUR Blit... >5 IT RlfeMT? ...UNV.. HOW'S t*e test ban Treaty looking TMi SENATE P deja blues 933 Pearl Street 485-4885 "The Friendly Used Levi Store " photo by Chad Boutin mu &IMMA October weekend special! Buy a Jamba Smoothie and get a free slice of pizza at Pizza Planet. Located in the EMU. jomhjG. ^ju-Lcje.. PiZZd PlSHfit Open Sat 10 am - 9 pm Sun 11 am - 6 pm Monday thru Friday 7:30 am - 10 pm Expires Nov. 1, 1999 • No Other Discounts Apply 8
