Slow Down, Drivers

On Monday night, a car hit my sister and her roommate. It was just after 9 p.m. and they were on their way to the library after FHE. That's not really important to my message except it reminds us that it could be you writing this letter. No one wants to be behind that wheel or under the bumper. Slow down, my friends, especially if it's dark and rainy. We can't blame the poor lighting on streets south of campus because they were hit directly beneath a street lamp, and because we've all seen plenty of near misses during the daytime. Slow down. The hospital had at least seven different cases of pedestrians getting hit that night. If you drive the streets south of campus, or anywhere else, keep your eyes open. Slow down; getting there on time is never worth the risk of taking someone's life. (Both my sister and her roommate, while a little worse for wear, God bless them, will live.)

Dan Johnston

Boise, Idaho

Blatant Display of Racism

Last weekend, we witnessed the most explicitly racist "comedic" performance in our lives. Comedy Sportz claims to be clean improv comedy that avoids lowbrow humor. In one sketch, a "Japanese karate teacher" and a "Korean construction worker" came out in costumes adorned with squinty eyes, buckteeth and ridiculous accents. In response to a question from the audience the Karate teacher said, "Hold on ret me get a better rook at you," and used his fingers to pry open his squinty eyes. The audience roared gleefully, granting the biggest laugh any performer got all night.

It continued when an audience member asked the Korean construction worker what he needed to do to get better grades and the performer responded, "Become oriental." Referring to Asians as oriental is a racial slur. Why was this accepted, even worse applauded? Was this minstrel show really happening here in Provo in 2006? Minutes later, the crowd booed a performer who delivered a banana-themed pick-up line and said, "Nice potassium." What does it say about a society that takes offense at a pun with a swear word hidden in it and not explicit racism?

HoonKu Song

Seoul, Korea

Jon Jenks

Cypress, Calif.

Romane Armand

Boston, Mass.

Society Needs Idiot Tax

In response to "Society needs child tax" (Nov. 15), I propose a fee of $179,001 per citizen for those who are socially and individually irresponsible enough to call themselves Americans but cannot pass a simple test (given every five years) regarding political policies and principles of U.S. government. I am confident this proposed fee will be a deterrent for those who know nothing of how resources are governed from spreading their ignorance and turn their minds to study and learning instead of blind consumption.

The U.S. does a terrific job of maintaining resources, building a strong economy and using its excess to aid other countries that stand in need. It is clear that the author lacks faith in the Creator of this world. In the Creator's own words, "For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves," (D&C 104:17). The problem, therefore, is not in having enough resources to sustain our population. It is having people use their agency to choose properly in providing for those in need and sharing the wealth of the earth.

Tony Nisse

Prescott, Ariz.

Focus on Real Problem

Overpopulation? A fee for parents? Sounds like a letter from red China. Overpopulation is not the source of our world's current problems. The problem is allocation and access to resources. There is more than enough room for people to live, and more than enough food. What we need is a more egalitarian society that makes it possible for people to have access to the vast amounts of resources our world has. Parents are not irresponsible for having large families - most of these parents plan carefully and work hard, providing their children with a good, stable life. Might I suggest that the writer of this letter start with himself in solving the "overpopulation problem" - set the example by getting a vasectomy?

Andrew Gleaves

Monroe, N.C.

Free YouTube, BYU

Does everyone know what Time magazine declared was the greatest invention of the year 2006? YouTube. What did Google just spend $1 billion for? That's right, YouTube. Yet, our beloved BYU Internet commies have declared that you cannot handle YouTube. Forget that YouTube has been used by the government for Anti-Drug Campaigns or used in the 2006 mid-term elections. Ignore the fact it is a place for musicians, actors, artists to showcase their talents to the world for free. Forget the fact that YouTube employs hundreds of people who filter and eliminate inappropriate videos. Why not let us use the invention of the year? We signed the Honor Code, why not trust us? Why not let the students decide if it's so bad? Did you ask us? No, you made our choice for us. And realistically, I saw much more nudity in the MTC showers than I have ever seen on the BYU Internet.

Todd Lagerberg

Orlando, Fla.

Dude, What a Blarney

"Skiers always in boarders' way" (Nov. 15), contained the bad attitude its neighboring article complained about. I've been hearing for four years now why California is so "awesome" (with that "Mean Girls" flair). I have never met anyone who has gone skiing and surfing on the same day in California. In Utah, we can hit up six different resorts in the same day, but no one does it. Why? There's no point, except it makes a gnarly story to tell your bros, i.e., your little brother and the guy at the board shop.

Most snowboarders learn how to ski in the park because that's the only place they ever visit. Are you really going to be trying to hit a rail when you're 40? No, which is why the majority of this generation of snowboarders will be stuck on the greens because they never learned to actually snowboard. Lastly, I bet a creamery ice cream cone that the author couldn't locate the dust bowl region of the U.S. on a map. Just a hunch.

Tim Hassell

Andover, Minn.

Study More Before Test

In response to "Pack a Kleenex," (Nov. 15), I have a better suggestion to help ease your trying times at the Testing Center. If you have to put forth so much effort as to "gouge [your] mind to remember that one enzyme name or formula for that one math problem," and if it's such a distraction for people to sniffle while you're doing so, then why not just avoid the situation by studying more before you enter the testing center in the first place. After all, if you really learn something, is there really such a need for as extreme of a measure as gouging one's mind to recall what you've supposedly learned? No.

If you, therefore, have not truly learned something, isn't it wrong to try and deceive whoever is grading your test into thinking that you really have learned it? I think that's what we call a lie. And that, my friend, is against the Honor Code.

Stephanie Cox

Louisville, Ky.

Where's the ranting?

To start off, I'd like to express my appreciation for The Daily Universe staff. The time and energy that is put into making each edition informative and educational is very much appreciated.

I do, however, have a concern about the quality of the articles that have recently been published in the Readers' Forum. I have found the ratio of good, solid, meaningful articles to be on the rise. This is good, but where are all the articles in which people express their dissatisfaction with the goings on of this university. I say to you, students of BYU, give The Daily Universe your angry, your upset, your offended masses, that they may print, and that I may amuse myself every morning and see just how "great" this university's students can be. Press forward my friends, press forward!

Chris Roundy

Pasco, Wash.

Separation of Snow and Surf

In regards to the viewpoint "Skiers always in boarders' way," (Nov. 15) the "snowboarder" who glorified snowboarding as the one and only sport that could not possibly have any wrong in it, let me say something to you. Keep surfing out of your pathetic sport. Do not try and relate the difficulties of snowboarding with the sport of surfing. Although surfing may seem familiar with the sport of snowboarding, as both sports use a board, it is far more difficult to learn how to surf then to snowboard. I would know; I've done both.

Surfing is the only boarding sport in the world that has the environment move and change while riding the wave. Unless you ride your snowboard in an avalanche every time you go down the mountain, snowboarding does not have this type of difficulty in expecting the unexpected form of nature. Surfing also requires great strength. Half the battle of surfing is getting out to the waves, in snowboarding, the lifts take you up to your destination. Now one may argue that snowboarding has more obstacles such as trees and rocks. This statement is true, but surfing dangers far outweigh this. There are razor sharp coral reefs beneath the surface of the water, waves strong enough to hold you underwater and drown you. Heck, surfing is one of the few sports in the world where you can be attacked and eaten alive by sharks. How many times have you heard of a snowboarder being attacked by a flesh eating snow bunny? The author needs to get things straight, snowboarding may be a hard, but do not ever apply the same principles of the difficulties of snowboarding to surfing - ever.

Stephen Tanner

Carlsbad, Calif.

Check the Facts

I hope the author of "Society needs a child tax" will help save us from overpopulation by not having children, that way his ideas will not be passed on. If he were to pick up a newspaper, he might notice that the population in Europe is decreasing because couples are having fewer children. America is following suit. If the world continues to have fewer kids, and LDS couples continue to have more kids, in a few generations everyone will be LDS, it's simple math. Once again it's a good idea to follow the prophet instead of the world.

Christopher West

Magna

Do Your Homework

To John James: So, after getting absolutely no support for your population control idea from readers of The Deseret Morning News (where you posted a similar letter several days ago), I guess you thought BYU students would be more receptive? Hmm...The logic escapes me on that one. Your unwavering dedication to Malthusian principles is admirable, but I think you're overlooking the fact that none of Malthus' fears regarding overpopulation and the exhaustion of the planet's resources has ever come to pass, thanks in large part to technological advances.

Coincidentally, according to the 2000 U.S. Census, the average number of children under 18 per family in Utah is 1.24. Even if you are looking at families with children under 18, the number is still only 2.21 ( www.census.gov/population). That's not nearly as bad as the four, five, six, seven, eight, or nine you claim Utah families have on average. Feel free to have two children. Feel free also to advocate that others only have two children. But please, do your homework before claiming supreme moral authority on the issue.

Clark Monson

Euless, Texas

'Multiply and replenish'

To the author of "Society needs child tax" (Nov. 15), I would like for you to read and ponder Gen. 1:28: "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth..." I am not one to criticize the opinions of others, especially in a newspaper, but I don't appreciate you saying that following Gods counsel is "socially and individually irresponsible." The world's standard is plummeting, but Gods standard will forever remain constant.

Brigham Fosson Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

Are You Serious?

I don't know if John James was being sarcastic and making fun of the environmentalists (we've seen a couple of those recently - i.e. the pirates letter), but the content of his letter seemed quite accurate. And maybe John James is not LDS and doesn't believe that families are ordained of God, and according to the Church handbook, the number of children a couple chooses to have is between them and the Lord. And maybe he doesn't believe that the Lord said that on the earth "there is enough and to spare" (D&C 101:17). Or maybe he's been taking Hardin's 40-year-old beliefs about the "Tragedy of the Commons" too literally without applying them to a modern context, including all the technological advancements we've made since 1968. Whatever the case, I seriously hope he's joking, because if his suggestion were applied generally, it would eventually lead to the elimination of the human as a species (replacement level is 2.1 children). But then again, if he's more concerned about the environment anyway, maybe that's what he wants.

Adam Buchanan

Bellingham, Wash.

Freedom to Choose

Coming from a family of six children, I was very disappointed to see the attitudes expressed in "Society Needs Child Tax," (Nov. 15). The author of that article may not be aware, but the fertility rate of the U.S. is currently only 2.06, which isn't enough to replenish the population. This is part of the reason Social Security will likely not exist when I have reached that age. Since the elderly often can't work, the argument could be made that we should "abort" them and allow newer, younger people to replace them.

There have been voices in the past that have warned of the "imminent" destruction of the planet. In 1798, Malthus, published "Essay on the Principle of Population," which asserted populations always outstrip their capacity to produce food. In contrast, food production has steadily increased over the past century and there's no reason to suspect technological improvements won't continue in the future. The same can be said for water supplies, as we live on a waterlogged planet. As to education, people who have fewer children can always send their children to private schools. It seems to me those who choose to have fewer children could be considered greedy. Perhaps we also need a tax levied against the rich, who tie up far more resources than a family of nine for themselves.

From an eternal view, there are many spirits waiting for their chance on this earth, and as long as we can adequately care for them, do we really need to make them wait? The freedom to choose is a correct principle in government as well as religion.

David Kirk

West Valley City

No Tube

As a returning on-campus resident, I am upset with the IT department's decision to block YouTube.com. I do not own a television, because I've found the content on YouTube to be a better use of my leisure time than a TV anyway. However, I was disappointed to see a block message appear when I tried to access it Tuesday. I can understand their concerns about pornography, but, in my usage, I've found YouTube to be very proactive at keeping the site free of such content. Ultimately, YouTube is a tool and can be used for good or for evil. I call on the IT department to unblock the site, so the majority of us who use the site properly may enjoy it. If BYU chooses to block YouTube simply because it "could be used for bad," than they may as well just disconnect the entire campus from the Internet.

Rob Sanders

Magna

Up With Furry Creatures

In response to the previously published letter purportedly linking the decline in piracy to the rise in global temperature I must point out that the author's scientific research is missing one very important fact. Millennia ago, Earth was in a state much colder than it is now and even much colder than in the days of the pirates. During this so-called "Ice Age" many large and furry creatures roamed the earth. However, the humans of the day began decimating this population of hair-covered mammals, probably due to their numerous long and dangerous teeth. Since that time the worldwide temperature has increased dramatically and continues to do so. This is obviously because of the loss of hair that accompanied the extinction of those large mammals. If BYUSA wishes to aid in the fight against global warming I would suggest that instead of promoting piracy it direct all available resources to the promotion of hair growth. Stop global warming - grow a fro.

Elise Martin

Boise, ID

Most Overrated College QB

Congratulations to John Beck for becoming BYU's second most passing quarterback. He has had a pretty good season. In my opinion though, despite his seemingly impressive stats, John is just an average quarterback. When there is extreme pressure on the field, he shuts down. His head remains fixed on one receiver, and he scrambles backward. Not once have I seen him throw the ball away. Apparently, he would rather take a sack and lose yardage. Beck also has poor field vision. During the game against Wyoming, I was literally shocked when John actually turned his head to survey the field, not once, but at least two times. Normally, he only looks to one side of the field per play, and if his guy isn't there, he will probably end up getting sacked.

His passing percentage is very high, somewhere in the high 70s, and his total pass yard stats are impressive. Many of his passes, however, are just like a 2-yard dump off to Curtis Brown who, after the catch, accumulates 10-15 more yards. Those extra yards count toward Beck's passing yards, amplifying his stats significantly. If I could venture a guess, I would say that 20 to 30 percent of John's total passing yards comes after the catch, which, in my opinion, shows the ability of the receivers, not the quarterback.

Now, on the topic of receivers. The Cougars' wide receiver captain is Matt Allen. Matt is a very talented individual. However, in the past couple of games he has gotten very few, if any, receptions at no fault of his own. In this past game against Wyoming, Matt didn't even get one ball thrown to him. He was open virtually every play. If you have a player like Matt on your team, one who rarely, if ever, drops a pass and has great speed, he should get the ball. It's sad that although Beck is putting up great numbers, other talented members of the team aren't receiving (literally) anything. I'd like to see Matt get at least six to seven receptions per game. It's not just me that's upset. I have heard fans in the crowd make remarks about it, and even television commentators have mentioned how talented Matt is and how rarely he's utilized.

John, even though many people will remember you as a "great" quarterback, just know that you actually could've been one. There is still hope. You have at least two more games to improve. I challenge you to avoid the sack and, instead, throw away the football. I challenge you to survey the field and make the best choice of receivers. I challenge you to use the talent that's on the team. I challenge you to become one of the great quarterbacks of BYU.

Ammon Cunningham

Three Lakes, Wis.

Copyright Brigham Young University 16 Nov 2006