Letters

Letters

Pride and support

Editor:

We, members of Mahu, an Asian Pacific Islander queer
organization at UCLA, are writing to support Huong Nguyen for her
courage and integrity in coming out. As a support network on campus
for Asian Pacific Islander gays, lesbians and bisexuals, we want to
express pride and full support for our bisexual sister in her
difficult journey combatting heterosexism, racism and sexism.

We urge the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) to carefully
consider its decision on this matter which is based on nothing more
than homophobia. This irrational policy to discharge gays, lesbians
and bisexuals in the Army and ROTC is repressive to cadets and
officers who have to remain in the closet.

This practice, based on a myopic view of society, also limits
ROTC from its goal of getting the best officers and soldiers. We
also urge anyone who believes in fair treatment, regardless of
gender, race and class, to join hands with us in denouncing this
discriminating practice.

Mahu

No mercy

Editor:

Your wishes have been granted: William Kirkpatrick Jr. has
received a two-month extension on his execution date. He has no
remorse, no guilt for his actions; prison is a gift to him. Lethal
injection is too benevolent for this monster.

Recently, an inmate who was serving a life term in prison was
given his sentence for association, conspiracy and participation in
violent 1993 prison riots that led to eight dead people. This time,
he received the death penalty. Makes you wonder, if the state had
executed him in the first place, there would be eight fewer dead
people.

We can argue for hours about deterrence and the criminal mind
and about "eye for an eye" and morality. But in the end, I feel it
is a simple question: Do you feel that convicted murderers, guilty,
violent psychopaths, have a right to live and spend their lives in
prison? I don’t, and I will not fight for their right to live.

I could fight for many causes in my life – abused women,
deprived children, the environment, the rights of the elderly, the
injustice to Vietnam veterans. Somehow, fighting for the rights of
society’s most deranged, vicious animals didn’t make the cut!

Aanand Patel

Fourth-year

Political scienceComments to [email protected]