LETTER: Berthold taught people to think for themselves

Editor,

Regardless of all the controversy surrounding history professor Richard M. Berthold's backing of the recent terrorist bombing, he taught quite possibly the best less of his 30 years. The real reason why the University and community is outraged is in response to Berthold showing that even a professor of 30 years is still human and still searching for answers.

Berthold taught his students, whether he planned to or not, to think for themselves.

Let's not forget the reason for universities - to search for knowledge. This does not only apply to students but professors as well. I like to look at it as students and professors learning from each other and that we share the same goal.

If students take one thing away from college, it should be the ability to think for themselves. It's alright to disagree with another person, even if it includes an authority figure.

Those who say the problem is that the professor's comments occurred in the classroom need to remember that this happened in a history class, one of the more subjective fields where you always have to consider the source's flawed viewpoint. For example, Korean history books have some major differences with those of Japan.

I don't know the professor and I've never taken his class, but I've learned from his lesson.

Daniel Meisinger

UNM student