I have pondered the loud, incessant, sometimes mindless claims of individuals who see virtually everything as being a ‘right’ that they entitled to. Not to stir up controversy but to cause some serious reflection on the part of your readers, I have chosen to take a very narrow view of “rights.” I will let others argue the political definitions and ramifications. I believe that a “right” is something that is granted mortals by God. Although men and governments often proscribe the God-given rights of others, those rights are part of our mortal existence.

Heather Wrigley (“Fit to Print,” Nov. 10) is quite right that The Daily Universe should decide for itself what is newsworthy, and I do not take offense to her view that the handcart trek was not newsworthy. However, certain things within the column offended me deeply.

Wrigley labeled the analogy of pioneers to the struggle for LGBT rights as “offensive” and said it twisted “sacred LDS history and symbols to suit a political agenda.” First, neither she nor the LDS church owns the heritage of the pioneers. My ancestors crossed the plains with the saints, as did many of the ancestors of my gay and straight friends who supported this event. This is our heritage too.

This week we learned the Fort Hood sniper proposed exempting Muslims from fighting Muslims, that they should be considered conscientious objectors.

Acceding to Nidal Malik Hasan’s request, the next logical step would be to make Christians exempt from fighting Christians. Unfortunately, if this were the policy in World War II, Hitler’s troops would have overrun England and the remainder of Europe and the Middle East.
Being Muslim didn’t exempt Saddam Hussein from the wrath of Ayatollah Khomeini. It didn’t stop him from sending his armies, both Sunni and Shia, against Shiites in Iran. Or against Sunnis in Kuwait.

We didn’t choose our attacker. Their religion wasn’t a factor when we were attacked. Does it somehow make the victims culpable? Should it somehow color the efforts to resist another attack? Absolutely not.

I’m disappointed to see 18 BYU professors jumping into the political fray over “global warming,” nay, “climate change,” the latest terminology since warming hasn’t occurred in over a decade now. They claim that their position is not political, but everything about this topic is political, especially their submission of an “open letter” to Utah’s legislators.

Of the 18 signers of the letter, only one, Summer Rupper (Ph.D., 2007), has any association with a climate science (paleoclimatology). The others are certainly Ph.D.s, but in fields that include geology, volcanology, microbiology and even statistics. I’m certain they are sincere in their concerns, but it doesn’t qualify them to determine who is relevant to the discussion of anthropogenic climate change.

It is now 12:53 p.m. on Monday, and I have two issues on my mind with the Cougareat.

Issue 1: Who decides what is put on the television in the big round table room? Right now, you could tell me it was a 3-year-old, and I would believe you because I’m watching Barney and whatever-his-little-sister’s name-is dance around the screen singing songs. Whatever you want television controller, I’ll give it to you. Just don’t put Barney back on. I know that “everyone is special” but enough is enough. Now that song will be stuck in my head all day.

The BYU women’s soccer team deserves approbation for its outstanding play against the University of New Mexico. More important than the Cougar’s 1-0 win was their ability to keep their cool despite some of the most outrageously poor sportsmanship and behavior from the opposing New Mexico team.

New Mexico’s dirty play received national attention by ESPN for acts that included slamming a BYU player to the ground by her hair, blatantly clipping a BYU player followed by kicking the ball in her face and carrying out other ridiculous cheap shots that would make Zinedine Zidane and Paul Gascoigne blush.

Despite New Mexico’s bush-league tactics, the referees managed to miss enough of it so they escaped with a single yellow card, when at least two to three reds were warranted.

This editorial represents the opinion of The Daily Universe editorial board. Opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of BYU, its administration or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In covering Provo’s local elections over the past couple of months, The Daily Universe pressed candidates to talk about the issues confronting students. Their responses (or lack thereof), as well as their treatment of the student press in general, might offer a glimpse into how they plan to handle student issues while in office.

For example, you may have noticed that in a Nov. 2 article, “Candidates offer final words,” one candidate didn’t. The article was intended to be a collection of quotes from each of Provo’s municipal and mayoral candidates, addressing issues like parking and housing. Everyone obliged and took a couple minutes to talk to our reporter — except one.