Dear Editor
I want to apologize to all the beautiful young women here at BYU who have be subjected to the comments of the pharisaical, self-righteous, thoughtless, and hormonally imbalanced men (I use this term loosely) who write into The Daily Universe. I was sickened to read that there were a laundry list of boys that would call women 'virtuous' and 'very attractive' in one breath and in the next, would suggest that women renounce that which makes them lovely and virtuous women-- their femininity. Women are beautiful because they don't look like men. The Lord has created women as a work of art, to be appreciated and respected. There is nothing so beautiful in all of the Lord's creations. And at BYU one can find the greatest gathering of these natural wonders. Importantly, the women here are the most virtuous in word and deed that can be found. They are modest and they are virtuous. I live in the BYU 11th ward, which is known for its modest young women, and I must say that it is refreshing to see such exemplary women. It is foolish to try to hide femininity. When your mother goes to church on Sundays I'm sure that you can tell she's a woman. Would you say, 'Mom, put on something that makes you look less feminine... like... a circus tent.' When I walk on campus I see women and I know they're women. I'm not disturbed by it and I don't feel immoral by the presence of them. The reason that there are those that attack the modesty of the women here is because they have a hard time controlling their thoughts and desires and they need a scapegoat. They don't want to be responsible for themselves. They don't need to openly belittle women with their pompous piety. What they need is to go run a couple of laps around the track and a good cold shower.
I am saddened that there are boys that criticize and try to damage the worth of these lovely ladies. On Tuesday there were those that proudly signed their names to a letter that said that a woman with a 'single-strap book bag worn across the chest' is immodest and unattractive. It is sick and perverse to think that a young woman with a book bag could be considered in any way immodest! What are the solutions that these boys offer? Are women not to be allowed to carry book bags? For goodness sakes, they're not trying to make a fashion statement or submit to 'worldly trends that communicate the wrong message!' They are trying to get to class with all their books! Is that so offensive, that a beautiful woman would want to get an education? Contrary to what these boys think, women attend this University for more than just to be 'eye candy' for them. They attend because they are virtuous and because they are stretching themselves intellectually and spiritually so that they may 'go forth to serve'.
I hope that if any beautiful young woman has been made to feel less than virtuous by the comments of these boys, you will overlook their self-righteousness. You are all 'virtuous, lovely...of good report (and) praiseworthy'. I make a call to the entire male population of BYU to get your hormones in check and recognize the women at BYU as virtuous daughters of a Heavenly Father!
Erik Johnson
Crestline, Calif.
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