Women need NOW more than ever
As a liberal woman, I need to write an oppoosing view to Betsy Byma’s editorial in the Nov. 18 issue of the University Chronicle (“Do Women need NOW? As much as fish need bicycles”). I will tell you why women still need the National Organization for Women (NOW) more than ever. NOW’s goal is to take action to bring about equality for all women. Women have been historically discriminated against and are still being discriminated against today. Affirmative Action is designed to help those who have many obstacles to overcome in their lives, including financial, geographic and familial, that prevent them from achieving the same level of education and job success as white males. Affirmative Action is not used by every organization in their hiring practices, but it is mandated for those organizations that have been found to discriminate against women or minorities.
I understand that Elizabeth Dole is your role model and I can respect that, but have you thought about the access she has been given to the power and influence her husband Bob Dole has enjoyed as a white upper class male political figure. And how may have helped her campaign? NOW didn’t support Elizabeth Dole because her position as a conservative female maintains the white male dominated society that keeps change from happening. At least her male opponent in the election represented the voice of the people and not the voice of the wealthies one percent of this country.
Our country has a long way to go before we can call ourselves a free and equal society. White women make 75 cents to every dollar white men make. Black women, 65 cents, Latina women, 55 cents. Are these statistics OK with you?
This kind of discrimination is not OK with me. I will continue to fight for equality for all people for however long it takes for people in this country to realize that the Civil Rights movement didn’t end in the 1960’s and the feminist movement is still going strong because we need people fighting for the rights of those without the power in this country.
Tamara Hennes
Graduate Student
Rennecke is unprofessional
I would like to take Andy Rennecke to task over the column he wrote on the men’s hockey program last week (“B-ball gets its turn now,” Thursday, Nov. 14), and the subsequent defensive essay in last Thursday's (University) Chronicle (“Everybody needs a sense of humor,” Nov. 21).
First, Andy, I'm not sure if you one day hope to be a professional journalist after matriculating from this institution (should you choose that path, let me assure you that you've got quite a way to go), but if you do, I would advise against using either of these pieces in your portfolio.
Your column heralding the basketball programs on campus while trashing the hockey team made you come off more like a cheerleader or a PR geek than a sports writer.
Anyone who has so much as leafed through a respectable newspaper before can tell you that a sports writer with any integrity whatsoever doesn't take pot shots at athletes or teams such the ones you did (especially ones that colleagues of yours have to deal with on a regular basis!), whether the intended effect is to express your opinion, openly advertise for one sport over another (which journalistically is another matter altogether), or simply to "be witty," which, Andy, I promise you, you were not.
Craig Dock
Senior, Finance major
Note to Bymas — come to the 21st century
First I read this lip-dribble from Justin Byma, followed by more backward-stepping poop from Betsy Byma (ain’t that a name?).
Floating along on the high intellect of Justin Byma, it would appear that the only good person American-style is the one who will swallow the flush from White House toilets as gospel and then place themselves among the blessed...
I was informed in my infancy that America was the place where differing opinions equated to some kind of freedom. Someone obviously lied to me!
If I wish to carry a sign that says “Justin sucks big time” then that is my own opinion and it’s based upon my own processing (nothing personal kiddo, but you’re not the only Justin in the world). Can you get from whence I come?
Then you get good ol’ B. Byma for the icing, with her “let's all go back to the dark ages with Liz Dole.”
Dear mindless BB, Affirmative Action is an incentive and a boost to the disenfranchised made to bear the sins of the goodly just...and it's pretty obvious that you, my dear, are the “goodly just.” Too bad serious thinkers don't really pay you that much attention...it's also a good thing.
Grab yourself another cookbook and go bake a cake.
Ken Coleman
Berkeley, CA.
Thanks from Jim Knoblach
Winning an election requires the support of a large number of people. I’d like to thank my campaign volunteers and their families, the thousands of people who took the time to chat with me at their doors and all of those who went to the polls Nov. 5.
Whether you supported my candidacy or not, I pledge to continue to work hard to represent the best interests of all the people of St. Cloud area in the Legislature during the session that begins in January.
Your opinions on the issues are always welcome. Please contact me by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone, toll-free, at 1-800-683-0886, or at my home phone at (320) 252-6179.
Government works best when citizens are involved in the process at all levels. Again, thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
State Representative Jim Knoblach
