Wednesday, March 14, 2001 . The University Daily Kansan Section A·Page 5 Letters to the editor Christianity breeds intolerance Christina Pruitt's defense of a way of thinking important to her is admirable ("Tenets of Christianity remain relevant today," Monday). But that doesn't make her right. You really think that if "man" followed God's rules for sex, there would be no depression or heartache? I don't. For one, the two don't always have to do with sex, and I know many unhappy Christians. Many of Pruitt's assertions are just interpretations of the Bible. Anyone who knows about organized Christianity knows the Bible can be interpreted to support or disprove almost anything. Many churches teach that Eve is the cause of original sin. Many Christians believe "wives obey your husbands" over "the model woman is strong, wise and business-minded." It's nice that Prütt wants to get away from that notion, but that makes her seem to be one of the pickers-and-choosers. She finds what she wants in the Bible and glosses over the rest. That seems rampant in Christianity and is understandable because the Bible's contradictions have been documented for centuries. The Christian tenets that are still relevant are things that most people endorse—such as love and kindness plus one many Christians have trouble with: tolerance. Tolerance means that I, an unwed mother supporting her son, am welcomed into a community for what I can offer rather than deemed a problem. Prout made me thankful that there are so many non-Christians at KU. Jennifer Macy Lawrence graduate student Blame school for race coverage I support both sides of the current confrontation about the coverage of minority issues in the Kansan. On one hand, I have been critical of the racist and sexist environment in the School of Journalism for years — which is why I've been terminated. I've been critical of the media's portrayal of all marginalized groups. On the other hand, I don't believe that we should hold the student journalists of the Kansan responsible. The deans and faculty of the school are to blame. They have created a vacuum where these issues are not discussed. That produces generations of journalists who unknowingly perpetuate problems. To accept those issues would be to accept how what they've done to me and the few minorities they have barely tolerated fits perfectly within the history of racism in journalism. I would have been only the third minority faculty member tenured by this school, the first tenured Hispanic and the first tenured Asian American. And you could count on one hand the number of minority faculty who have taught in this school. When you finally read about what the school has done to discredit me and my work, you'll not be surprised that there haven't been many others. The few civil rights activists employed here have all been run off in some way. University administrators don't tolerate dissent from their employees. They have created an environment in which the victims' concerns are dismissed as rantings of people who deserve what they've gotten. So it takes a great deal of courage and conviction to stand against the attacks on your personality, character and competence. Don't fault the student staff of the Kansas for their lack of social activism or for their apparent insensitivity to minority issues. For decades, they've been taught the kind of journalism that has laid journalism to its state of crisis. Let's work with them to help them develop their own sense of the validity of our concerns. Mike Cuenca assistant professor of journalism Corporatism, missiles unrelated The main reason why Washington is concerned about a nuclear attack is that when the USSR collapsed, so did the security of Russia's intercontinental ballistic missiles. The governments of the former USSR are incapable of keeping track of their vast nuclear arsenal. Potential terrorists who seek to use these unguarded warheads probably do so for many reasons, but I sincerely doubt that any of them have to do with American liberalism. Matthew Reeck, in his March 1 column ("National missile defense won't make world safer",) argues that the only real threat of a nuclear attack we face stems from other countries' ill will toward American corporations. Nike's low wages, he argues, anger its workers so that they support terrorist activities against the U.S. This isn't the case. I'm not sure whether Bush's missile defense system is viable or just another starry-eyed Star Wars program. But we can look at the issue of third world wages and ask: Does this present a threat to foreign relations? workers getting paid miserably by American companies, but no one puts these wages in perspective. What is the exchange rate between the two countries? How much does a local Indonesian baker earn? To get employees, corporations over seas must pay a competitive wage. If businesses pay less than what a worker could make elsewhere, they will have no workers. We've all heard about Indonesian Some corporations strong-arm the government and people of other nations, using physical force to get what is truly slave labor. But let's not confuse this with the practice of paying the prevailing wages. We have no right to take these jobs away. Ben Mohr Colorado Springs, Colo., senior Vote in Student Senate election This is in response to Robert Chamberlain's March 5 column ("Silly campaign tactics mit reforming Senate"). Interning this semester in Topeka, I noticed many of his concerns with Student Senate are similar to problems in Topeka. The most pressing of these seems to be students who run for Senate to build their resumes. This may be true for some, but others intend to make a difference. The same is true for those in Topeka; an occasional Senator or House member is there to add a title to his or her name. But few people would agree that abolishing state government is the answer. This fall, a small, vocal minority believed change could happen and campaigned tirelessly for a candidate who had little or no chance of winning the election (Ralph Nader). Despite voter apathy during the election, the post-election ruckus inflamed many Americans, even those who failed to vote. The outcry against leaders at all levels of government is one constant in our nation. There is one simple solution to the trend of leaders who are more concerned with their resumes than serving the public: Vote. If fewer than 25 percent of students vote, then those in charge are accountable only to those 25 percent. So, this election, vote and disprove what many say about the American voting mentality. We will cross an ocean to fight a war, but we won't cross jayawk Boulevard to cast a vote. Vote, and let those in charge know you want change now. Hays sophomore Delta Force candidate for a Numerack Senate seat representing freshmen and sophomore DrewThomas POST HONEYCOMB & GOLDEN CRISP $3.69 14.5 OZ. 18 OZ. DUAL PAK EA. W Hollywood Theaters FHHS 1 Sweet November** (1:30) 4:20,715; 10:00 2 Findoring Forrester** (1:15) 4:15,710; 10:00 3 Miles to Graceland** (1:35) 4:15,720; 10:00 4 Harribah** (1:05) 4:05,700; 1:55 5 15 Minutes** (1:25) 4:25,715; 9:55 6 The Mexican** (1:10) 4:10,755; 9:55 7 Get Over It** (2:00) 4:50,740; 10:00 8 Down To Earth** (1:20) 4:10,755; 9:45 9 See Spool Run** (1:45) 4:45,725; 9:45 10 Brother, Where Art Out?** (1:50) 4:40,720; 9:50 11 Recess: She's Out!** (1:40) 4:30 also. The Wedding Planner** (1:00) 7:00,730 12 Traffic** (1:00) 4:00,750 54186000 Sat & Sun Daily 1 Cast AwayNC2 (1:50) 4:40) 8:00, 2 Save The Last DanceNC2 (1:50) 4:35) 7:05, 9:35 313 DaysNC2 (1:45) 4:40) 8:00, 4 Snaftch * (2:00) 4:45) 7:10, 9:40 5 Saving Silverman NC2 (2:00) 4:45) 7:15, 9:45 6 Chocolat NC2 (1:45) 4:30) 7:00, 9:30 - NO VIP + PASSES + SUPERSAVERS SHOP FOR TOMORROW ONLY Photo ID required for R movies Questions about majors at KU? MAJORS FAIR Talk to KU faculty, students, and advisors about potential academic majors and careers. 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, 2001 Kansas Union Ballroom 11:00 a.m-3:00 p.m - Register to win an autographed basketball by the KU men's basketball team and coaches. - Door prizes from - The KU Bookstores - Jock's Nitch Sporting Goods - Community Mercantile Co-op - Kansas & Burge Unions final SIA Labral & Food Services - Door prizes from - The KU Bookstores (incl. SUA, Jaybowl & Food Services) - And many more! For more information contact the Freshman-Sophomore Advising Center at 864-2834 or stop by our office at 126 Strong Hall. You may also visit our website at www.ukans.edu/~advising. additional 20% off already reduced clearance items, including Big 12 Tournament Champs tees, hats, fleece take 20% off KU merchandise, supplies, general books IN-STORE SPECIALS FINAL COST AFTER DISCOUNT The Game "Bar" Hat $7.99 Royal Jayhawk Tee $8.00 A CENTURY OF JAYHAWK TRIUMPHS: The 100 Greatest Victories in the History of Kansas Basketball by Blair Kerkoff, Hardcover, Published at $26.95. Now ONLY $70.39 after discount Kansas Union, Burge Union, Edwards Campus Bookstores 864-4840 www.jayhaws.com March 12 - 16