Readers’ Forum

    169

    MFHD for real!

    Yesterday, my husband and I were at the bank talking with the branch manager while we opened up a new checking account. The fact that I will graduate in April came up and he inquired after my major. My answer, ?Marriage, Family & Human Development,? evoked (I kid you not!) the following response from him: ?That?s the I-just-want-to-get-married major! What are you doing graduating in that??

    To all of you sadly mistaken people out there who assume that a family science degree is only for the ?husband-crazed coed? and not for anyone serious about life or education, please let me help you. The lessons I have learned during the past four challenging years of study have changed and blessed my life and, consequently, the lives of my future family members and those with whom I will work professionally. f it is true that no success can compensate for failure in the home, it follows that improving home and family relationships is a worthy and meaningful course of study.

    Derogatory stereotypes are not flattering to us family science majors and they certainly won?t help us to help you. Let?s all move onward and upward with this by dropping the demeaning stereotypes.

    Becky Soderquist

    Provo

    Questioning Beck’s book

    I read the article entitled ?Nibley?s daughter writes controversial book? in the Feb. 28 Universe with great amusement. This is not the first book Martha Nibley Beck has written. It is also not the first time that she has lied. In a book she authored some time ago, entitled ?Expecting Adam,? she devotes large portions of a chapter to describing some of the most horrible things people have ever said to her. Although not mentioned by name, my very own mother makes the cut as one of the church?s most terrible members. Both were in a student ward in Boston and were well acquainted.

    My mom had some free time and felt that she should offer to help someone. She called Mrs. Beck who was expecting and had no car, and offered to help her run errands, do Christmas shopping, etc. Mrs. Beck declined, and that was that ? until the book. I will not attempt to summarize Beck?s account, but it is radically different from the actual course of events.

    Now, I realize that I was only three years old at the time this took place, and that I am admittedly biased in favor of my mom. However, I don?t believe that I have misplaced my confidence. So before Hugh Nibley fans start burning their book collections or jumping off the SWKT because of allegations of sexual abuse, tell them to check the facts and see who is telling the truth.

    Rich Nielsen

    San Jose Calif.

    Beck’s controversy

    Hugh Nibley spent much of his life showing that anti-Mormon writers use a couple of main tactics to sell their messages: they tell outright lies and they tell half-truths (which are then often juxtaposed together, leading the readers to false conclusions) about Joseph Smith and church doctrine or practices.

    Isn?t it ironic that one of Hugh Nibley?s daughters falls into the same traps as other anti-Mormon authors? If you can?t beat them with truth, start spreading lies and libel. She could have at least read and learned something from her father?s books. I think it is sad that Ms. Beck (who may have honest doubts about the Church or LDS doctrine) feels so overwhelmed (or is it underwhelmed?) by her father?s brilliance that she has to try and tarnish his shine.

    Then again, some people just enjoy producing controversial works to try to make a lot of money (we?ve certainly seen a lot of that in the past couple of years). Her ?Leaving the Saints? certainly will be relegated to some dark corner of the literary realm to collect dust with the other anti-Mormon books.

    Jared Tanner

    Mesa, Ariz.

    Feminism and the Gospel

    I am a feminist. If I have done the same amount of work as a man I want the same pay. I want the same opportunity to run for a government office and not be incapable simply because of my gender.

    We should re-educate ourselves and educate future generations on women?s history so that we can discover the many contributions women have made throughout the world?s history. I plan on continuing my education and working after I am married. Does this make me a bad member of the church?

    It doesn?t mean that I don?t believe in the doctrines of the gospel. In fact, I love the Family Proclamation and how it states that men and women have different roles: I agree with that completely. What I don?t agree with is the mindset that if a female wants equality or wants to learn about how to better her circumstances in a patriarchal society she is a femi-nazi. When I work from home while my kids are growing up, I plan on teaching them about MEN and WOMEN that have made life better for everyone.

    Megan Garcia

    New Orleans

    The gospel needs no augmentation; however, the world does not always understand the gospel. It is not that the scriptures, prophets or gospel are insufficient. The gospel will always be relevant, but we are in the world.

    The roles and relationships of women throughout the world are being changed and challenged in good and bad ways. These changes will have a substantial impact upon people accepting this gospel, and our children?s world. It is our responsibility to understand these changes, their consequences and take action.

    The issues presented by the Parity Club are doing just that ? encouraging the students here to have a firm understanding of what is going on, provide gospel insight and be able to make a gospel centered contribution in their community. In this gospel women are respected, honored and have a place, sadly not everyone accepts the truth of the gospel. Someday many of us will leave the bubble and enter the confused world. It is important to know how to tell other people our opinions and stance using both the gospel and a language they will understand, academia.

    Martha J. Miller

    Westfield, Ind.

    A plea for sleep

    In my four years at BYU there remains an unaddressed concern? sleep deprivation. I fill my sleep deficit by taking naps in the women?s bathroom on the fourth floor of the library. For those of you not familiar with this area (most men), it is a lounge with several soft chairs and two couches.

    I walked into the bathroom once for a nap but five girls were already asleep. One poor girl was out cold on the floor. This facility is extremely overcrowded! I would like to see the future leadership of BYUSA address this problem. The solution would be to create more nap rooms. Some of the lesser-used study rooms in the library could be converted to separate nap rooms for men and women.

    This would eliminate the current discrimination males suffer, having no napping areas in their bathrooms. It would also enhance the quality of my sleep because, let?s be honest, who sleeps well with flushing toilets in the background?

    Tosha Hansen

    Standrod, Utah

    Cinderella story gets ugly

    With forehead-slapping incredulity I read the Daily Universe on Wednesday learning about the Smith and Griggs ?Cinderella campaign? for BYUSA President. Last time I checked Cinderella was in a less than desirable station in life because of fate, not because of a ?misunderstanding? and ?budgetary discrepancy? that our candidate Smith so eloquently noted. Since when is a campaign that violates enough rules to keep them from campaigning for a full day a Cinderella story, fighting against the odds? Additionally, ?budgetary discrepancies? are a serious issue at a University in which finance is a top priority as the budget comes from sacred funds and tithes.

    Whether or not this discrepancy is a ?misunderstanding? proves that these candidates are either simply incompetent or dishonest. Hey Cinderella, whatever it takes to get to the big ball, right? When the clock strikes midnight we?ll be left with a leader who either misuses sacred funds and/or manipulates the systems in place. At least they have a fairy godmother in the Daily Universe reporters to paint them as victims, not the perpetrators. This may not be a pretty picture, but if the shoe fits?

    Kimberly Gardner

    Plano, Texas

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