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| Alumni Association Home > Minnesota Magazine > Past Issues > 2005 > May-June 2005 | ||||||||
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| Letters 5/5/2005Perhaps You Can Trust the Government The “headline” [“You Can't Trust the Government,” March-April] on the front cover of Minnesota magazine--the opinion of one person--was inappropriate for this magazine. Read your mission statement on page 2: “The University of Minnesota Alumni Association connects alumni to the University, advocating and supporting excellence in education and building pride, spirit, and community.” The front cover missed on many if not most of what you say you are trying to achieve. If I want editorial opinions, I'll read them in the newspaper where they are listed as such. I don't need to see them headlining the front cover of Minnesota magazine as if it were fact. Jim Licari (B.S. '65, M.S. '67, Ph.D. '70) Rochester, Minnesota Liberal Bias Leveled I agree with much of what Jane Kirtley had to say about the First Amendment [“Democracy at Stake,” March-April], but she couldn't do so without tripping over her liberal bias. I noticed her [being] critical of the Bush administration. Did she have any problems with the Clinton administration, the Carter administration or the Johnson administration? That's one reason I changed my major from journalism some 30 years ago. Her obvious bias makes me concerned about the education that the University provides college students, including my daughter. Are students allowed to disagree with a professor's own views? Will the student's opposing view affect her grade in that class? Gary Hammer Eden Prairie, Minnesota Low Expectations I have to take issue with several items mentioned in the article “Democracy at Stake.” First, I found it interesting that [Professor Jane Kirtley] seems to think the Bush administration was and is exploiting the 9/11 mentality and, furthermore, that they have “brought secrecy to an art form.” And that “Republican administrations have tended to be more secretive than Democratic ones.” Of course she fails to give any proof or examples. Then there are the blogs or “openly partisan news sites.” The danger of these, apparently, is that “we are becoming much more self-selective of what we pay attention to. Instead of everybody watching CBS News, we're now surfing the Net and reading only the things I want to read.” This is a problem? This is perhaps the greatest example of free press; the rest of us aren't subjected only to an openly partisan CBS. Exactly how in her mind does this mean we lose the “big marketplace of ideas” when there are more ideas and easier access to them? It's precisely the opposite; we lose the monopoly of ideas the press used to have, something I would think she would support. She also cites CBS's own statement about what happened as proof they did nothing wrong. In their haste to publish a story unverifiable at best and deliberately misleading, false, and partisan at worst, they ran it against the advice of their own handwriting experts and others. When caught red-handed by bloggers, they had to backtrack and issue a statement, carefully worded for damage control. That is the beauty of this open marketplace of ideas; someone can call CBS to the mat instead of the professor's ideal where “everybody watch[es] CBS news.” Not surprising that a journalism and law professor at a university leans left. I would expect nothing less. Koreen Bowers (B.S. '91) Fairfield, Ohio Provide Funding, Get Physical I am responding to some recent articles in the University's alumni publications. “Weighty Matters” by Shelly Fling in the March-April issue of Minnesota got my attention. Also, Erin Peterson's “A Pound of Prevention” was very complete and informative. The new Obesity Prevention Center will be instrumental in providing research and direction for improving the nutrition and health of everyone in the state, especially the young people. It was the article in the winter 2004 issue of M [a quarterly tabloid published by University Relations and sent to all alumni] written by editor Martha Coventry that I was particularly interested in. In it she supported the National Association of Sport and Physical Education's national standards for physical education. Many school districts are cutting back on their requirements for physical education. It is important that school boards, legislators, and the governor provide the necessary funding to keep these programs active and productive. Walt West (M.Ed. '59) Wayzata, Minnesota High Praise for Low-Profile Doctor It is refreshing to see that people who really make a difference in people's lives are reported [in Minnesota]. I am referring to your faculty profile of “Doc” Hamlar [January-February]. Colonel David Hamlar is so very much loved and respected by all of our 1,200 members of the 133rd Airlift Wing. I was fortunate enough to accompany him during the two humanitarian missions to Ecuador and Belize. The article was very, very good and probably could have been 10 times longer to fit all the great things that he does for many, many people in diverse walks of life. Please extend a heartfelt thank-you for the profile of one of the most honorable, energetic, caring, and humble persons I have ever met. Chief Master Sergeant Steve Campos Minnesota Air National Guard |
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