Enough bad examples

We are tempted by immodesty in fashion all around us; do we really need BYU students giving even more bad examples?! The front page picture of "fall fashions" portrays a dress that is too short by LDS standards (if you disagree, read the "for the strength of the youth" pamphlet or the honor code). I wasn't shocked: back home I saw immodesty everywhere. But I was disappointed (especially since the other outfits were cute and completely appropriate) that an article that could have shown how you can be fashionable and modest at the same time implicitly stated instead that it's ok to cut corners. It's not inherently evil to wear a skirt two or three inches too short, but at BYU as LDS members, we try to raise the bar (and not the hemline) a little higher: Heavenly Father didn't say "thou shalt make efforts to be good, and if Gap doesn't sell longer dresses then it's ok," he told us to be perfect like him.

Lydia Defranchi
Bordeaux, France

Avoid trends

I will be the first to admit that I am not an expert on style; my wife would be the second. However, I do know what makes a woman look attractive and what does not. Fashion “trends” generally do not make women look attractive. They make them look like they are on top of changes in fashion, and that’s about it. Boots outside the pants: functional to keep manure off of your jeans, but not flattering. Skinny jeans? Flattering if you are skinny enough so they fit like regular straight-leg jeans. And those shoes on the front page of the Daily Universe on Monday? They look like clogs, which. This makes your feeoot look like they have a lead weight on them. Not attractive. Don’t go for fads and trends. Go with what makes your body look good. Please.

Brendan Rowlands
Provo

Students’ voice

Starting Jan. 1, 2008 all renters surrounding Seven Peaks Blvd. will no longer be allowed to park on the streets surrounding their complexes. . Apparently the complexes in the area were originally zoned for single- family housing and therefore don't support the extra parking needed for renters. Renters, in this situation, are primarily students attending one of the universities, colleges, trade schools, etc. in the Provo/Orem area.

Two weeks ago there was a city council meeting where the problem was addressed. It was apparent that the members' minds were made up even before the meeting had begun. The measure was voted 7-0 in favor of making on -street parking for renters illegal. This will only relocate the problem instead of resolving it.

What were the solutions suggested by council members? Sell your car and ride a bike, park several miles away and have someone pick you up, sell your contract or try and get out of it (resulting in the possible loss of your $200 deposit), among others.

I was absolutely blown away by the treatment of the student voice. Is this not "Cougartown?" What's the phrase, "One town. One voice?" Where is our voice?

This town lives and dies by the student population and for us to be completely dismissed is disturbing and unacceptable.

Trevor Heaney
Trabuco Canyon, Calif.

Halloween OK

All I can say about the article new convert shock is lighten up. The smiling cartoon skeletons on the walls in the bookstore or a cashier wearing a pointy black hat do not mean that BYU is in defiance of Exodus 22:18. The “dark Halloween paraphernalia” in the bookstore is just part of a tradition, something inherent in our culture.

Think that traditions have no place within the church or anything associated with it? I beg to differ, there’s a great example of the church not only tolerating but partaking in traditions, Christmas. The Savior’s birth was clearly not in December, and this is also widely known historically. Holding the year’s largest celebration in winter was a practice common to many pagan religions.

Celebrating the birth of Christ at this time was a practice instituted by Christians after the apostasy to make it easier to convert pagans. So clearly the LDS Church’s practices of putting up Christmas lights at the temple, or singing songs glorifying Christ’s birth around December is actually worship of Thor, right? Just look at Santa, clearly an anagram of Satan.

Regardless of how our customs regarding Oct. 31 or Dec. 25 started, look at what they are now, a time when people can be creative and receive candy while they socialize, even if this involves dressing up as something besides a Nephite, and a time when people can exchange gifts. If the practice of following traditions is inherently wrong, then perhaps you need to tell the First Presidency to take down their Christmas trees, since they are clearly not blessed with the same understanding of the gospel as you are. Otherwise, let’s just leave well enough alone and have some fun during the holidays.

Dane C. Nielsen
Orem

Halloween opposition

In response to "New convert's shock" printed in yesterday, thank you for making me feel like I wasn't alone in a sea of madness in objecting the dark, evil and immodest aspects of Halloween. I would advise, however, that you ensure that your email address and any contact information be hidden from any online directory, facebook, myspace or the like.

I've received anonymous letters and emails, filled with foul language from BYU students, including those from a BYU ward, objecting to my assertion of opposition, on moral grounds, to

Halloween and the figure of "Santa."

I’m not going to start about Harry Potter. Let me just say I completely agree with his appraisal and applaud the structure of the letter, from a literary standpoint.

Just prepare for more shock in that you're going to be persecuted by members of your own religion for expressing such beliefs, even on scriptural grounds – unless they actually do prayerfully consider those scriptures you listed. But to do so would be admitting they were seriously wrong about a cultural holiday they treasure, which they have a long history of celebrating, with what they suppose to be warm memories. A prideful person would never allow themself to admit they were wrong about something that serious.

Good for the author for using hyperbole, logic, and conviction expressing opinion without sounding whiny and holier-than-thou. I can't imagine I'd be pleased to present myself to the Savior with any speck of Halloween in my home.

Spencer Webb
Naples, Fla.

Sox not Yankees

I had vowed to never to write in about petty arguments anymore, but I have to defend the Red Sox against unjust accusations. In no way are the Red Sox even close to the Yankees. Second highest payroll in baseball? Yes, but it's still half that of the Yankees.

We do have a couple of high priced veterans (note that Ortiz was picked up after being cut by the Twins), but look at all the young players on the team: Ellsbury, Pedroia, Lester, Papelbon, Matsuzaka, Okajima, Youkilis, Kielty, Buccholz.

Of those players, seven came through the Red Sox farm system. The Yankees usually trade good prospects for high-priced mercenaries like A-Rod, Abreu, Giambi, Damon (tragically), and others throughout their history. The unusual number of prospects brought up this year was necessitated by injury, not desire.

Additionally it's important to note team chemistry. If you talk bad about your team in the Red Sox organization, you probably won't be around for long, because in Boston, we're about loyalty. In New York, the disunity and disloyalty come straight from the top.

As for the bandwagon factor, I hate that as much as anyone else, but it happens with any team that wins. Please don't ever make the mistake of confusing the Boston Red Sox with the New York Yankees.

James Eagar
Boston, Mass.

Wait for voucher benefits

“Voucher Math’s” numbers (which we've seen many times and is nothing new or original) are probably accurate for the first year or two. As we make our decision this next week about Referendum 1, let's remember to consider the long run potential of this option. If we keep thinking about the short run only, then we might as well just keep increasing funds towards education without a plan for later.

For the first few years there won't be that much of a change. That is a given. After things get going though, it is certainly possible for positive outcomes in the years to come. I'm voting yes.

Chris Clark
Sandy

Copyright Brigham Young University 2 Nov 2007