Editor,
I find it amazing the Lobo would print something as awful as A. Slayton's opinion letter Jan. 31, but I realize that's your job as good journalists in a free society.
Her concept of public censorship flies in the face of one of the reasons, in her words; it is "a privilege to be an American."
The war being planned against Iraq is not a simple black-and-white issue of the good guys go after the bad guys. There are times I wish I could see it like that, but unfortunately the open-mind, which my University education has given me, keeps getting in the way.
If the press does not expose us to the diversity of American thought on important issues, then our country moves in the same direction as Iraq. It is that sort of lock step mentality, as presented in her letter, that has killed many thousands of soldiers and citizens in previous wars and it undermines progress in a modern democracy. God help us if she ever becomes an editor.
I hope she is simply at a young age when it is easy to become confused, frustrated or even fearful of the marvelous spectrum of thought and disagreement on important public issues in our society, particularly on college campuses. I also hope that she will tuck her letter into a drawer for about five years or so, then read it again, so that she can have a good laugh her herself.
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If you are lucky, you'll receive many more letters on the war issue and perhaps you would be able to publish them all. Keep up the good work!
Bill Niendorff
UNM student
