Setting an example

This is in response to Monday's viewpoint, "Sexually Explicit Lyrics." As an incoming freshman to Brigham Young University, I had high expectations of the standards upheld here. However, when I attended my first dance I was quite taken aback at the music played, but rather than protest, I simply left and brushed it off, thinking it was just this dance. The next dance I attended was the "Enchanted" Homecoming Dance and again I heard songs that I expected to be played at my school dances back in New York, not here at BYU. After hearing songs like "Sexy Back" and others just as vulgar, I got fed up and left. What I expected to be a fun date, ended up as a waste of time and money. I was disappointed.

I don't understand why a university distinguished for its honor code and clear set of values would lower them just for a dance. Aren't we trying to set an example of righteousness? Back in New York, attending church dances was one of my favorite activities because I knew that, unlike going to school dances, clean music was played and people danced respectfully and still had fun. Here, I refuse to go to dances because I know they will be just like my school dances at home - vulgar music and disrespectful dancing. Thank you to the author of Monday's viewpoint for saying what I have been feeling for the past two months! Hopefully in the future we can have uplifting rather than distasteful music.

ELYSE HARRIS

Syracuse, N.Y.

An animated life

With the passing of John Ahern, animation industry veteran and former BYU visiting professor, I am struck by a mixture of wonder and loss. He won multiple Emmy Awards, worked at Disney on films like "Sleeping Beauty" and "Jungle Book" and then worked for a variety of other companies like Hannah-Barbera, where he made other feature films and television cartoons. He was an advanced skier, rock climber and athlete and most of all, a great husband, father and active member of the church.

Certainly I could go on and on about his professional achievements, but his legacy is greater than that. He imparted both his animation wisdom and moral insight to the students at BYU, and upon announcing his death to my contacts in the industry, I've been amazed at all those who responded to tell me that they had been taught by him as well.

John was an extremely generous and giving man. He was always upbeat, always supportive and always grateful. Certainly I would have loved to have spent more time learning and advancing my own skills under his tutelage, but I am mostly saddened at the loss of a friend. Although generations apart in age, our love of animation and storytelling made us quick friends and our shared hopes and dreams to influence the entertainment industry through training up a skilled and faithful generation of Mormon artists made it a joy to work side by side.

As the animation program moves out of our infancy we will forever be grateful for the time John spent with us and for the legacy he left in industry.

KELLY LOOSLI

Sandy

Inheriting laziness

On Monday, the author of "The deserving poor" wrote that she is concerned about the 35 percent of the poor who are children and are certainly deserving of charity and my tax money, but since when is it a good idea to hand out free money? What incentive does that hold for one to become better? And how do we stop the perpetuation of more adults on welfare?

I recently had a neighbor who was evicted. He lived there for three months without paying a dime. The state paid the first month's rent because he had children. The next three months were a nightmare. He constantly smoked and did drugs. His children slept on a disgusting floor while he never so much as looked for a job and even made his wife quit a job because he didn't want to watch the kids. We wanted to give them a bed, but we found out his last bishop gave them furniture and they left it at their previous home. And once they squatted here for three months, they finally left and, of course, left all their stuff behind again. Are these the people we want to hand money to? People live like this their whole lives, never understanding how much happier they would be if they worked and provided. My gravest concern is them passing that attitude to their children.

TAYLOR CLINE

Frazier Park, Calif.

Behind the curve

The Oct. 30 College Republican argument concerning the environment was an embarrassing display of how far behind the curve the Republicans are when it comes to the environment. The authors did not even address the issue of man's negative environmental impact, but instead wrote about energy (a connected, but separate issue). I am a loyal Republican, but I am afraid my party is simply denying environmental facts. Too many of us are denying climate change and are unwilling to accept stewardship of the planet. Our party is essentially advocating dirty air and dirty water. I am not in favor of the extreme, unrealistic and often faddish policies of the far left, but a practical, realistic commitment to clean air, clean water and environmental protection would be an incredibly useful plank in the modern Republican Party's platform. To the College Republican authors and others, I say it's time for us Republicans to quit running interference on the environmental issue. It's starting to make us look foolish.

KELLEN GUNDERSON

Whitehall, Pa.

Suppress feelings of entitlement

As of late, there have been a few letters to the editor about the idea of "redistribution." First, I think that a comparison of "grade redistribution" to redistribution programs initiated by the government is silly. By that logic, we should stop paying fast offerings. After all, why "take the hard-earned efforts of individuals and give the rewards to others"?

Many of us feel like we are in the "hard-working middle class" when in fact, if your parents' household income is $80,000 or more, you are in the top 25 percent of the U.S. and the top 0.8 percent of the world. Many of us are blessed with much abundance compared to other peoples of the earth. The opportunities we have have little to do with how hard WE work or how smart WE are. Our parents' hard work is largely responsible for our education, clothing, job opportunities, etc. ... not our own work. Similarly, the work of countless church members and other donors across the world are responsible for giving us our great educational opportunity here. We only pay a small portion.

My point is that we all borrow from "the hard-earned efforts of (other) individuals" and should, as concerned citizens and Christians, be willing to give what we have to help others. That does not mean that we should subsidize laziness. But we should try to suppress a bit of our greed and feelings of entitlement to support programs and institutions that aim to lift others to greater opportunities than they can afford on their own.

STEPHEN HASKIN

Lakeville, Minn.

I was born that way

When I go to church, I go to enjoy and partake of the enjoyable spiritual experience there. I only have one problem: I fall asleep easily. I know there are many different things to blame it on. Bishops blame it on getting calls at one in the morning from members with legitimate problems. Many students blame it on having way too much homework during the week. Many older members, well, they've just had a long hard life and are still working on repaying that sleep debt they've racked up during the years.

I feel like I do not fit any of these categories. I am not a bishop nor am I near what would qualify as an "older member." I am also barely taking enough credits to be a full-time student. So why am I so tired? Maybe it's the surroundings I'm in. The building I attend church in has a smaller room and everybody has to sit closer together so the body heat makes it more conducive to sleeping. Maybe it's because at least one of the speakers has a calm, soothing voice that just sings to me like a lullaby. Maybe I just stay up too late.

All of these, in my opinion, only exacerbate the pre-existing condition: genetics. My grandfather, before he died, fell asleep in church. My dad, before, during and after being a bishop, falls asleep during church, and subsequently, I - being my father's son - fall asleep during church. I think I've got it figured out. I've been falling asleep in church since I was 12 years old. I was just born that way. I know some people see people asleep during church and think, "Wow! What kind of person is he? Does he even care about what's happening?" They judge me! I'm just trying my hardest to enjoy the surroundings I'm in and people look at me in disdain thinking I just shouldn't have come in the first place. Don't judge me! I was just born that way.

PATRICK NEAL RHOADES

Modesto, Calif.

Copyright Brigham Young University 5 Nov 2008