Opinion

Don't sweat the small stuff

In response to Mr. Petrocelli, ("The Actual Facts," Nov. 18) I would like to humbly suggest that the search for truth in morality is not only "not that simple" but completely pointless. I mean, "no one knows the truth," so why bother even looking for it? You're right, the search for truth in morality "should not be treated as a civil war," so let's work together to reduce the number of moral philosophers in this country, who are constantly dreaming up and debating such personal issues like abortion, about which we can know almost nothing. Is it a person, isn't it a person, who really knows? We shouldn't be divided about substantial moral issues to the point of conflict, for now that the slavery issue has been settled, there are decidedly no more objective moral injustices to be resolved. With only gray moral differences remaining, we should should respect all stances merely because the individual has chosen them. If some people want to kill babies and others want to save them, how can we know which side is on the side of Truth? Why can't both sides be right? If we just compromise to a position of loose platitudes, even if held for different and incompatible reasons, we will never have to actually resolve these issues, or even think about them, and that sounds like something everyone can get behind. Just as you say, there will never be a consensus in these complex moral issues, so what we need to do is stop asking questions like, "Does human life have inherent value?" or "What constitutes a good life?" and realize that because these questions are unknowable, trying to answer them is an utter waste of time and our society's intellectual resources. Instead, let us celebrate the magnificent panoply of human choice through respect, no matter who those those choices affect, and not sweat the small stuff. Thank you, Mr. Petrocelli, for giving us the actual facts.

Hold on to ideals

I am writing in response to Mark Easley's piece entitled "Terrorists are not American" (Nov. 19) which concerns the trying and detaining of suspected terrorists. He states, "Terrorists demote themselves to second class citizens ... and we should treat them accordingly." I must respectfully disagree. We have every right to be angry. We have every right to want justice. But the justice that Americans hold dear is not mere retribution, rather it is a fairness afforded each person, not because of his or her individual merits, but because of the Creator who endows each man with inalienable rights. Terrorists seek not only to destroy American lives; they seek to destroy American ideals as well. They seek to instill hatred, fear and corruption. If we let our hatred and fear blur our vision of justice, if we forsake mercy for retribution, and if we forget that it is God who instills all men with rights, then the terrorists have already won. Therefore, let us remember, in the case of those awaiting trial, that our ideals declare a man innocent until proven guilty. And for those found guilty, that punishment and detention are different from vengeance. By seeking revenge we usurp the role of God, and make ourselves devils in the process.

Terrorists are not Americans

 American Civil Liberties are for Americans.

Lighten up

 As a longtime fan of both humor and Mobile Party (not synonymous, but darn close) I fully support the Nov. 13 installment. Considering aforementioned observation that Mobile Party is approximately equal to humor, I am in favor of their work. From what I gather, Mobile Party makes fun of anything and everything that most Notre Dame students consider humorous (or highly offensive). Given this standard, I find it equivalently humorous that someone would choose the unfortunate ginger issue to take a stand on ("Ginger Pride," Nov. 16). 

Appreciate what you are offered

 Earlier this week, Scholastic published an article examining the issue of whether or not student athletes should be awarded a portion of the revenue they bring to the University through private business deals. The article was a thoughtful consideration of the issue, but was unfortunately overshadowed by one quotation from a member of our football team. I am going to repeat this quotation in its entirety, simply so everyone who's behind in reading their school publications can experience the full effect:

Don't judge a movie by its unicorn

As all of the dedicated readers of our classified section should know, "The Last Unicorn" is a great movie. A sports production editor quoted me as saying so in Monday's paper because he thought my statement was ridiculous.

Determinism

 The controversy between free will and determinism continues to rage. In one way, this is unsurprising: The same controversy has raged, in one form or another, for two millennia, and it is clearly a question near to us in our understanding of ourselves. In another way, however, that the controversy continues is deeply surprising: Since the rise of quantum physics, it has been clear that our world is fundamentally indeterministic — that nothing, including human action, is bound by determinate laws.

Your GPA and the end of the world

 Each mid-November, just as the perma-cloud settles in over South Bend, the days get depressingly shorter, and due dates for papers and exams start looming on the horizon — the Church starts talking about the end of the world. And while the Church Fathers who set the calendar surely couldn't have predicted the weather patterns or exam schedules of the university that Fr. Sorin had not yet founded, this talk about the end of the world these days seems somehow to, well, fit.

What about the Notre Dame 88?

Party at my place

Seriously. You are all invited. Although it will not be a typical Notre Dame party, it will be a good time.

The actual facts

The statement "You cannot be pro-life and pro-choice at the same time" ("The facts," Anne Barbera, Nov. 17) is not a fact. There is no well-constructed fence that divides the abortion debate.

Remember the Good

On Nov. 21, the seniors will play their last football game at Notre Dame Stadium. A lot will be made of it, and hopefully they will bounce back from the last couple of weeks and win their last home game.

The Notre Dame 10

Today is the 40th anniversary of an important event in the life of Notre Dame. On Nov. 18, 1969, 10 students were suspended under the famous "15-minute rule" after a demonstration protesting the presence of recruiters from Dow Chemical and the CIA. The 15-minute rule, announced by Fr. Hesburgh earlier that year, was viewed nationally as a get-tough response to student protests. "Disruptive" students were to be given 15 minutes to "cease and desist." If they failed to disperse, they would be suspended. If they remained five minutes longer, they would be expelled and subject to arrest.

True justice for terrorists

Christie Pesavento's Nov. 17 column "Taking terrorists at their word" is another absurd lash by the right wing in an attempt to smear the Obama administration. To suggest that the Obama administration is not taking the threat of terrorism seriously is an enormous misunderstanding of the Obama administration's commitment to the principles this nation was founded upon.

Coach suggestions

Dear Mr. Swarbrick,

Faking it

There is a lot of faking at Notre Dame.    

Go ahead and 'kill'

I would like to add my support to Lizzie Laughman's letter in which she encouraged the student body to put competition aside for the UConn game ("Be class, respectful," Nov. 16). She's right — even though we just lost to Navy for the second time in three years, our main concern should be not to hurt the opposing team's feelings. Maybe we will win the coveted College Football Bowl Subdivision award for "Classiest Football Team" or "Nicest Student Body." We can put that trophy right next to the Jeweled Shillelagh and all of the BCS trophies we've won recently.

Stay classy, ND

 This past weekend I attended the Notre Dame-Pitt game at Heinz Field. Despite the loss and the relatively poor performance that our team exhibited on the field, I came out of that game prouder than ever to be a member of the Notre Dame community. I don't think I have ever heard that many four letter words in my life, especially those directed to people who were quite obviously not Notre Dame students. The worst part is the Pitt insults were not even creative; their student section had only two chants throughout the entire game — "Let's go Pitt" and (more often) "F**k the Irish."

Sparkle motion

 I am just as excited for the new "Twilight" movie as the next 21-year-old female. "New Moon" actually looks pretty darn entertaining. Everyone's hair looks better and the action sequences feature Dakota Fanning and the guy who plays Colossus in the X-Men movies. If the clips in the TV spots are any indication, this thing might be a legitimately "good" movie, as far as an adaptation of a clichéd and derivative publishing phenomenon can be.

The facts

 You cannot be pro-life and pro-choice at the same time. I understand that abortion is a difficult issue, but you stand on one side of the fence or the other. While women do not take abortion lightly, easy access to abortion has caused the rate of repeat abortions to sky rocket.