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
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