LETTERS: Tuesday, November 9, 1999

Folklore on folkloreFolklore on folkloreTo the Editor: It might be interesting for Wong to know that undergraduates majoring in folklore have gone on to medical as well as legal careers, and that students with advanced training in folklore have found exciting careers not only in teaching and research, but also in states arts agencies, non-profit organizations, alternative health care, in management training and so forth. Our field encompasses many different disciplinary lineages, and exposes students to questions that should be of concern to any member of civil society. Perhaps Wong should learn something about it. Regina Bendix Graduate Chairperson Folklore and Folklife Program Spoiled breakfast To the Editor: To the Editor: Please render payment of $18.23 as compensation for the three breakfasts that have been utterly spoiled this year as a result of the three disgusting columns by Josh "Let's dump the Nursing School" Callahan, Mark "Affirmative-shmirmative action" Fiore and now Michael "Life is not a fundamental human right" Feng ("It's the law: I'm an only child," DP, 11/5/99). Mr. Feng, maybe you cannot imagine the taste of regurgitated scrapple and eggs induced by phrases such as "What many Westerners regard as a fundamental human right must cede to harsh reality." Son, thousands of brave men and women died in our Civil War and were battered in the streets of Birmingham because they refused to believe that freedom, equality and the right to vote must cede to the "harsh reality" of racism. Presently we are fighting the latest battle in the civil rights movement as people passionately seek a universal right to a decent education for America's children. And we seem to have made good progress since the days when women had to forego the pursuit of their dreams because of the "harsh reality" that "it's a man's world." Bill Cook College '00 Rights of man To the Editor: To the Editor: While China may be economically better off with the one-child policy, my problem with the law lies in its intrusive method of implementation. If China wished to provide tax or other economic incentives to reduce the population burdens on its society, then that would be fine. However, by relegating children to the status of "legal nonentities" the Chinese government is abusing its power and preventing families from determining their composition. Since reproduction and family composition represent fundamental human rights that are conferred onto all people because of our humanity, I am exercising another fundamental right of mine and voicing my objection to this disgusting law which truly shocks the conscience and insults individuals around the world. Steven Ebert Law '00 Fels '98 College '96