Opinions: Letters to the editor

 published on Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Not everyone voted "No" on Prop 300

(In response to Monday's column by T.J. Shope titled "Crow, ASU slapping state voters in face")

In T.J. Shope's article, he stated that President Crow and the ASU Foundation is slapping state voters in the face because, despite Proposition 300, they are still assisting illegal immigrant students by helping to match them with private donors for their now out-of-state tuition.

Shope is of the opinion that this is somehow the opinion of everyone in the state of Arizona. It is not. There are many people who voted against this proposition because it is not only wrong from a moral standpoint, but it is also inhumane. To punish a child for the crimes of the parent has always been considered morally repugnant. It is no less so for children brought here by their parents illegally who grow up to be good students and decent contributors to the society. There are people who are born with the "privilege" of citizenship who would do well to be as conscientious.

I am sure that someone else would point out that the majority vote is what is carried into law. It is possible for a law to be wrong or even inhumane. No matter what the situation is, if a law or an order is in contradiction to basic human principles, then I think it is our obligation and duty to defy it by any legal means (and sometimes illegal) necessary. Perhaps the "spirit of the law" (as Shope said) is exactly what's wrong. I think ASU and Crow have found an elegant solution that is legal and still rewards students who have worked hard academically. The whole idea that this is taking money from students who are citizens is just xenophobic envy and hate. What are we making of our country? If we are to honor and value education, we must make sure that it is without prejudice — education should be for everyone. And if a student has shown his or her merit academically, he or she is worthy of the support of all of us!

Susan Bernard
Undergraduate

Driven to respond

(In response to Monday's column by Mike Pelton titled "Campus no place for guns)

Having read Mike Pelton's column and hearing other liberal's stance on this proposal, I have come to the conclusion that they are being narrow minded and outrageous. Pelton mentions that it only takes a "basic" gun course to obtain a gun permit, and that these people aren't qualified with that little amount of training.

I ask Pelton, how much training does one get from driving a motor vehicle? Should we ban those too? Driving school is as "basic" as anything can be; yet people are allowed to drive and own dangerous 3000+ pound vehicles everyday.

I'm more worried about getting run over by some kid on his SUV/skateboard/bike who's stoned out of his mind driving like an idiot around campus and parking lots. Or some girl who's texting her friend while making a turn at an intersection into a crosswalk, where pedestrians have the crossing light on, than I am of a law abiding citizen who normally carries a gun (supermarkets, clubs, streets, etc.)

What was once the great state of Arizona, where its residents were proud of the fact that Arizona follows the principles of the Constitution and our Second Amendment rights, is now being overrun by liberals from California and other liberal states, who ironically couldn't get into their respective states' school system, trying to impose their laws on Arizona residents who are mostly in favor of this law.

Abel Rodriguez
Undergraduate