Oh, bother

This letter is in response to the many letters sent in about the abortion issue. The issue of abortion has never been about whether or not a fetus is a life. Furthermore, it has never been about women dying from back alley abortions. The issue has been about whether or not we, as human beings, have the right to make decisions that concern ourselves and ourselves alone. To claim that abortion is murder is a cheap excuse for the real issue; the issue comprises the few who think themselves entitled to make decisions for the masses and believing they have the right to take away our right to choose. Which I might add is an inherently human right. Let’s leave the controversial issues where they belong … in our own homes where they bother no one.

— Zachary Weinstein

Pre-physiology freshman

Domestic terrorists — not in the kitchen

There is no question that the healthcare debate has been one of the most critical debates in our nation’s history. Many of us, including myself, have very strong opinions on this issue and have been vocal about it throughout the past year. For those watching the news, it seems that some people are being a little too vocal. The breaking of windows at the office of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was reprehensible and unforgivable. Same goes for the people who attacked offices in New York and other states. The person responsible for cutting the gas-line of Virginia Congressman Tom Perriello’s brother is just another frightening example.

Given my political leanings, at first I was reserved to believe these were Tea Party attacks against liberal members of Congress. However, today I was proven wrong, as now House Minority Whip Eric Cantor has also been the target of violence. His office in Virginia was shot at. I hope whoever shot at his office is brought to justice too!

There is only one word to describe these attacks, TERRORISM. Those who seek violence against elected officials are committing terrorist attacks against the United States. If we are going to try Al Qaeda as enemy combatants, we must apply the same standard to those attacking members of Congress. These are trying times. We have an economy slowly recovering from the edge of disaster. We have a President who has been the target of countless threats and death jokes. It’s disgusting!

As a university, we should be doing more as people from all political viewpoints to wholly reject threats against our elected leaders. Like it or not, they represent all of us including those who didn’t vote for them. Domestic terrorists are just as much a threat to this country as international terrorists.

— Joel Shooster

Masters in public administration student

Comments from dailywildcat.com

On ‘ASUA denies PIRG funding,’ March 24

What the Senate actually denied with their vote was a chance for the student body to voice its opinion on whether to assess ourselves a fee to fund this worthwhile program. In its short tenure on Arizona’s campus — supported by staff funded by a grant from PIRG chapters at other schools, which runs out this year — Arizona PIRG has registered students to vote, turned students out to public meetings and passed state-wide policy and hosted forums on images of sustainability on the campus. With continued funding, the program could grow to be as high-impact as the students in California whose multi-city press conference tour was cited by Governor Schwarzenegger as being influential in his decision on high-speed rail.

I’m disappointed in the ASUA Senate for denying students a chance to vote on this, especially after having prevented PIRG from getting on the general election ballot by providing mistaken information about requirements.

Disappointed grad student

On ‘Spinsters and bachelors: Two of a kind,’ March 24

If “”women … are fully capable of being successful and happy people despite their free finger,”” then why are people even bothering to study this? Who cares if someone chooses to remain single? If other people have an issue with it, then it’s their problem. If the singletons have an issue being left out or feeling awkward at wedding bouquet tosses, then maybe they’re not so happy after all?

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— Christopher