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Letters, 11/15: Prayers for grandchildren

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Saturday, Nov 15, 2008 - 08:50:39 pm CST

Like Gail Skinner (letter, Nov. 7), I, too, have hopes and prayers for my grandchildren.

I pray my grandchildren grow up in a country that values education seriously enough to no longer follow the Western world in math and science achievement but to take our place atop those rankings so we can once again provide world leadership as innovators in science, technology and medicine.

I pray my grandchildren will be able to practice a religion of their own choosing and spend their lives with people they love free from discrimination and hatred.

I pray my grandchildren will see the United States make great strides in health care for all from infants to our elderly. I pray they’ll be able to look back on the shame of our country having the worst infant mortality rate of all developed, Western countries in the world.

I pray my grandchildren will grow up in a country that exhausts all avenues to resolve differences with our enemies before using military force, and I pray they’ll grow up in a world where we have allies who respect us.

Like Gail, I, too, pray my grandchildren won’t be penalized in the job market by companies that ship jobs overseas, by the greed of those in charge of the corporations who squander the loyalty and hard work of Americans.

I pray for my grandchildren that we’ll learn how to, though we may have differences, unite as one people, one nation and take part in civil discourse.

Lastly, I pray for my grandchildren that we’ll all take time between now and the inauguration of our new president to look in the mirror and ask ourselves what is in our hearts. What are we teaching our younger generations? I pray we’ll teach our children and grandchildren we can’t afford to tackle the challenges we face in an America tethered to the past. That we’ll all put aside partisanship and gamesmanship for our country. We can do that for our children, grandchildren and the future of our country.

Donald L. White, Lincoln

Be forward thinking

Denying homosexuals the right to marriage is the worst state-sponsored discrimination since Jim Crow ruled the South. The idea that gays and lesbians are trying to infiltrate American society and destroy our moral values is ludicrous; one should look to our insatiable appetite for credit and inability to live within our means to find the devil that is instigating greedy misconduct in society.

Many opponents to gay marriage charge that giving gays this right will only lead to further moral decay such as polygamy. These assertions are held only by people who have no argument other than reference to Scripture — and, I must note, Abraham had many wives.

As Nebraskans, we can be viewed by future generations as forward thinkers and push to give gays this right, or we can be viewed as backward. I hope people contact their newly elected state senators and make this a victory by the people instead of begrudgingly following a future ruling decreed in the courts.

Wesley J. Halvorsen, Lincoln

In defense of UNL students

For some time now, people have been asking why there are empty seats in the student section at Husker football games.

I believe the biggest reason students may not show up in as great of numbers is that the students were moved farther from the field. I have previously sat in that area, and you really cannot see what is going on. I understand the argument for moving the students, but how would someone sitting at the 50-yard line feel about having their seats moved over by the visitors section? I am pretty sure they would not be happy and would more than likely not have nearly the enthusiasm for the game they previously had.

As I walked to the game last Saturday, there were numerous tickets available. Do we question why these people are selling their tickets? No. With so many tickets available, is it possible that these student tickets were not able to be resold? Who would want to sit in these amazing seats when you could have your choice of other seats available for the same price. Adding to the difficulty of a student selling a ticket is the validation process, which requires the nonstudent buyer to make up the difference between the price of a student ticket and a general public ticket. By doing this, student ticketholders are put at a disadvantage.

Matthew Bozarth, Lincoln


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To Matthew wrote on November 15, 2008 4:18 am:
" Actually, if you knew squat about football, you would realize that you can actually see better the higher you are. Yes, I realize that it is a bummer to get moved. I'm not saying I agree with the idea of moving the students. However, all they had to do is stop standing on their seats. If they were just standing, they would more than likely not have been moved. There are plenty of people who hold tickets in seats just as high as those where the empty seats were. The difference is, those seats had a Husker fan there.
I'm not sure where the apathy of the students come from. I'm guessing in their youth coupled with the last 4 years has contributed to them not understanding the tradition of the program. It is the student's university. However, if they aren't going to show up, especially to a game with weather as nice as the Baylor game (or, you know what, any type of weather. The KU game was a big one for our program), perhaps Coach Osborne is right and the tickets should go to someone else. I'm embarrassed that there were that many open seats. It is too bad more of the students don't feel the same way. Instead, they whine and complain, not realizing how good they have it. "

 Ron wrote on November 15, 2008 5:46 am:
" Marriage is a religious union between a man and a woman. Homosexuals who want to be a "couple" can give each other medical and durable power of attorney... Marriage was a religious union long before it had any legal connotations, so leave it alone... "

 to matt wrote on November 15, 2008 6:56 am:
" student tickets have always been this way and there was not this problem you reasons for the empty seats make no sense at all. there are plenty of people who would buy the tickets. the validation process is easy and is done by the student. also i remember no shortage of students looking for student tickets. and as far as the seats being bad seats i would totally disagree. i've sat all over the stadium and have enjoyed the game from every area. not to mention that the students never had seats on the 50 yard line they just got moved farther up in the section they were already in. so remember to compair apples to apples. so your example would really be how would someone who has tickets at the 50 yard line feel if his seats were move 15 to 25 rows up on the 50 yard line. i've had tickets that were like that before and the difference is next to nothing. i hope that the athletic department gets to the bottom of this and if students aren't using there seats because they are mad about where they are they should take the tickets away and sell them to husker fans.

GBR!!! "

 you know wrote on November 15, 2008 7:29 am:
" dr. tom is disturbed about this. Watch out students as he has said he will put them on the market to make more money for the u. Greed is the motivating factor in this. Why don't dr tommy go home and retire? He is a hasbeen who just seems to love the limelight. "

 Enough wrote on November 15, 2008 8:55 am:
" Enough with the public praying. The world is what it is, and except for your inner circle, you're not going to do great things to make things different. Start at your house, change what you want. Be happy, be sad, be angry, be quiet! "

 Bubba says wrote on November 15, 2008 9:15 am:
" Nice letter Mr. White.

The A.D. sold out to the dollar signs, plain and simple why the students are sitting up high. All the blue-hairs couldn't see or hear the game in the east stadium so they belly-ached for enough decades to get the students re-located. Now, instead of having all sorts of enthusiastic, screaming young fans closer to the goal-line, you end up with a bunch of "Down in front" folks, more inclined to sit on their hands until the game is over. Imagine actually having 3,000 more kids down there when the game is on the line and the opponent is driving. Then again, maybe the dept isn't as financially well-off as we think and this was more a requirement in order to help balance the budget.??? "

 Equality its a good thing wrote on November 15, 2008 9:57 am:
" I agree with Mr.Halvorsen. Gays and Lesbians should be given the same rights as everybody else. Treating a group even if you disagree with the way they live in this manner is decisive to our country. Look at Canada, the Netherlands and even Spain where they have passed the right for Gays and Lesbians to marry. The countries named have not blown up, Heterosexual marriages are not falling apart.(well no more than they normally did before they allowed Gay Marriage)
Equality for ALL is a good thing! "

 Mark Kasson wrote on November 15, 2008 10:25 am:
" Re: "In defense of UNL students"
I understand the premise behind the student complaints as to the relocation of their seating area. I also understand that the University of Nebraska provides funding for a myriad of sports programs - - many of which depend on the football program for their very existence. And so, it seems pretty common sensical to generate the most revenue possible from the best seats, and to provide discount seating in areas that are less valued. That same logic was undoubtedly behind the decision years ago to begin charging fees to season ticket holders for the right to continue purchasing those tickets (which makes between season ticket holders paying full price plus additional right-to-purchase fees and students receiving discounted tickets for prime seating a little off-based).

Having said that, I also understand the importance that goes with having student involvement, passion and pride behind the University athletic programs. And so, any student "protests" or "boycotts" - - real or perceived - - is all the more unfortunate and selfish. A better student reaction would have been to be more involved, louder, and more supportive, and to write the Athletic Director not to threaten to stay away, but to stress the importance of their involvement in the game-day atmosphere.

There is an obvious fix. If the students don't want to be involved, fine. Give them the same right to quality seating as the general public... the people who drive hundreds of miles to attend the games regardless of whether the wind is in their face, or their view isn't the best. That solves any issues with having to pay the upcharge when they want to sell their tickets. Give the students first dibs - - perhaps a week - - to purchase their tickets at the same rate the public pays. Then, release the unsold tickets to the thousands of names on the season ticket request list. Problem solved. "

 Katie wrote on November 15, 2008 11:23 am:
" Ron - marriage is defined in some religions as that between a man and a woman. However, if you haven't heard, there's this little thing called "separation of church and state"...that means that even though things might be one way to a certain religion, it doesn't have to be that way in our government. Marriage for gay couples is more than a license and rings. There are governmental advantages to be a married couple (i.e. tax benefits, estate laws, etc.) which should not be denied to these couples just because they are not "married" as your religion defines it. I agree 100% with Wesley. To deny gay couples the right to marry is no different than previous laws which denied interracial couples the right to marry - they are a violation of the 14th Amendment right to Equal Protection under the law. "

 well wrote on November 15, 2008 12:56 pm:
" "you know" has made it clear that he/she doesn't know much. Moving the students had nothing to do about dollar signs. That post is pure speculative... well, I guess I better not say as it won't get posted.
And Bubba, you reinforced the stereotype again why people named "Bubba" are viewed as having high intelligence, or much intelligence at all. "

 Sean1 wrote on November 15, 2008 1:07 pm:
" Keep praying Don...we are gonna need all the divine help we can get for the next four years. "

 CS wrote on November 15, 2008 1:19 pm:
" If marriage was a 'religious' ceremony, it would not have a license and fees attached to it by the state. That makes it a civil function itself, since you CANNOT be married legally without one, no matter what church you go to. I handfasted my wife a year before we actually got married. We would have been married by tenants of the faith we choose, and recognized by those who believe as we do, but not by the State. SO, marriage is just a 'religious' ceremony-if it was you could just get married in a church without all the legal claptrap. "

 MarkyMark wrote on November 15, 2008 1:50 pm:
" Last I knew, gays and lesbians were taxpaying Americans too. Real Conservatives would not give a hoot about gay marriage being legal.

Marriage is a legal institution, and optionally, only a religious institution by choice. It is a shame we still have all the bigotry in a country like a America, where freedom is supposed to prevail.

Yes it says in scripture that homosexuality is a sin. So what? It also says you are to be giving 10% to the Lord. How many of you naysayers do that? If you are not, you are committing a sin equal to homosexuality.

I am surpised some of these "holier than thou's" aren't trying to stone gays to death, along with their adulterous neighbors. If you think about it, adultery is a much worse sin, because the fornicator is married.

If your church chooses not to marry gays, so be it, that's there choice. Stop the discrimination and get over your big bad selves. "

 Nope Ron wrote on November 15, 2008 3:00 pm:
" Marriage was a civil union long before there was religion and it became part of a religious ceremony. Until recently, women were considered property and had no more rights than slaves and marriage was a legal system to make the woman part of a man's estate. Women in some countries and cultures yet today are treated as such. All you have to do is look to the middle east and countries like Iraq, Pakistan and India and see how they treat women.

I personally don't see anything wrong with same sex marriage. If two people want to be legally tied to each other, it doesn't bother me or effect me in any way.

Homosexuality is not a disease nor is it a learned behavior like some like us to believe. "

 Josh wrote on November 15, 2008 4:09 pm:
" Protect the children! Save marriage! Ban divorce!!!!!!!!!! "

 Hey Ron wrote on November 15, 2008 6:23 pm:
" I'm all for not letting gays marry as long as we take all those special rights and legal privileges away from everyone. Marriage is a religious ceremony and should receive nothing from our government. "

 Cole wrote on November 15, 2008 6:26 pm:
" No one wants to admit it because it makes us look wimpy, but the real reason those seats were empty during the KU game was wind-chill. While it was a relatively mild November day, we had been blessed the previous week with unseasonably warm, sunny weather - and that plays tricks on the body. I, for one, looked at the forecast, saw 49 listed as the high and happily left the house with a jacket and gloves. I was completely unprepared for the bite in the air and found myself unable to take it during the third quarter.

I'm too old to man-up and stick it out when I can't feel my feet. I should have been smarter, but there you go. I saw many others around me - even the normal die-hards - underdressed and many gave up as well. It was simply much colder than some had mentally and physically prepared for. "

 Not what it seems wrote on November 15, 2008 6:30 pm:
" I saw the area that appeared to be empty in the first half of Saturday's game. It was pretty full with only a small opening. The picture in the paper was from late in the game. I imagine many of the students moved down closer and were jammed into the student section.

It would also help if the officials would keep the sidelines cleared like they have in the past. There are a lot of folks standing down front just because they don't like being up that high. "

 Anarchy wrote on November 15, 2008 7:16 pm:
" Where did that quote come from Katie, it's not from the Constitution. Separation of church and state? Originally (supposedly) the gays wanted "civil union" so they got it in some states (Fine, no problem), but their REAL agenda the whole time was marriage. Prove being gay is a not a CHOICE of lifestyle PUSHED upon society as an acceptable behavior. Remember, "all men are created equal" until then IF and when this is approved it should never be about civil rights. It's the left's whole agenda to deem what is appropriate behavior, though the they say they don't legislate morality one only needs to look at affirmative action how they boldly support this piece of legislation, no hypocrisy there is there? "

 Joe S. wrote on November 15, 2008 9:10 pm:
" I'd love to take a second wife, Katie. I hope your point of view prevails. "

 I dont want to get Married wrote on November 15, 2008 9:30 pm:
" I never will get married in my life however I do know. Obtaining a license was to test for sexually transmitted diseases.This is why most states wanted people to obtain licenses before they got married, now its a revenue(BTW States think of how much money you could make here!!)thing. In Europe,for many centuries people simply handfasted on the steps of the church, or if you were poor you just shacked up. If you have some wealth you went inside for religious nuptials.(also to get fleeced by the parish priest for money)
Even if you disagree with it, its time to put this to bed(No Pun intended) Let's give them the right and move on to more important issues. Like how the hell are we going to get out of the financial crisis "

 Rxwoman wrote on November 15, 2008 9:45 pm:
" Anarchy:
I think Katie is refering to the first amendment to the constitution, which guarantees that our legislators,".. make no law repecting an establishment of religion".
The phrase wall of seperation between church and state is from Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, who both said that the first amendment exists to build a wall between church and state.
I know the constitution does not use that phrase, but that is the intent, and purpose of the amendment...unless you think YOUR interpretation of the constitution trumps Thomas Jefferson's? "

 To Anarchy wrote on November 16, 2008 1:30 am:
" Last I heard, your religion was a CHOICE of lifestyle. So we should discriminate against people because of their religions now? Even if your argument was valid (which it isn't), the fact that people choose to be a particular religion is precedent for allowing gay marriage. "

 Bubba says wrote on November 16, 2008 7:36 am:
" Easy "well". Why do you feel my name or post have anything to do with my intelligence level? Are you stereotyping, my dear???? Your comment "moving the students has nothing to do about Dollar Signs" is nothing more than the pure speculation you railed on "You know" about. Why don't you offer up something substantive instead of your usual "Well". Obviously you know not what you post about. "

 to Cole and Not what it seems wrote on November 16, 2008 11:07 am:
" I'm not sure how many football games you've been to in the last, oh, let's say thirty years. There have been plenty of very cold games. Not one of them had the open seats that this game had, at least not until late in the game. Also, since you are blaming the cold for the KU game, what about the empty rows in the Baylor game when it was 75 degrees? "

 Treat ALL humans human wrote on November 16, 2008 2:39 pm:
" If years ago gays and lesbians were given the right to make each other heir to their homes and/or life insurance policies, and been allowed to be treated like family at the hospital besides, there night not have been an outcry for them to seek marriage as a tool to obtain these rights. Spiritual and corporate greed barriers were used to prevent these group from receiving the same monetary benefits and human rights that the general public takes for granite. Maybe heterosexuals are now having to deal with their own lack of insight. "

 IhrtLincoln wrote on November 16, 2008 4:30 pm:
" I agree with Cole. We are close the field and it was still freezing! If we could have stuck it out we would have, but I didn't want my children to remember me as the mom who put football over the welfare of her kids. Others around us with kids left at the same time. Had I known we would've dressed in full winter gear. I can't imagine how cold it was in the bleachers and I am impressed with anyone who was able to stick it out up there! "

 kjbclg wrote on November 17, 2008 10:07 am:
" I think in order for us to continue the "sellout" streak the seats should be full. If we lose that record or the possibility we could lose that record people would show up. I have been wanting to go to a game for years but the prices are so high and since scalping is "illegal" I can't afford those prices either. If you don't want to go to the game give your tickets to someone who does like me and let me go sit in the "crappy" seats. "

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