Upon reflection
To the editor:
The chaplain of our armed forces in Baghdad, who offers us a sermon in the last issue of Business Report [“Reflections,” April 21], has obviously never spent any time with his feet in the stirrups of a gynecologist, much less given birth. I dare say he has never even babysat any children, not even his own, if he is lucky enough to have any.
He characterized the kind of male gynecologist who has been the bane of his profession for years, but not so much lately. The doctor he portrayed openly mocked his frightened patient. He was flip and dismissive with her, misinforming her of her health choices as her advocate and caretaker, instead acting God-like and domineering, smug and unethical. If his partners in his practice knew of his conduct, they would, I hope, have him in his car and locked out of the building before the last Pap smear he conducted was placed onto a glass slide.
I encourage this honorable chaplain to stick to what he knows. Focus his attention on the good soldiers to whom he is ministering. I hope he isn’t counseling any female soldiers since he apparently hasn’t the experience and humility to appreciate the miracle that is woman. And until he carries a live being within his body and delivers that life into this world, he ought to learn and experience as much as he can that miracle—though this is not possible for a man to do.
I appreciate he wants to promote life. Everyone is pro-life. I have never met anyone who isn’t. And most folks are pro-choice, though they would never, ever get anywhere near an abortion clinic. But the purpose of this printed sermon seems like he is seeking some platform from where he can launch another career past his tour in Baghdad and not to spread any of the true spirituality of our Creator. God speed to him and all the soldiers in service keeping the freedom safe for us all. I count my youngest brother among them.
Della Neely, Baton Rouge
A different agenda
To the editor:
LSU is dreadfully underfunded, much more so than even thoughtful individuals realize [“Random Thoughts,” April 21]. If parents knew in advance the sizes of classes the freshman and sophomore students face, I think they’d realize how much higher education has been devalued. I remember one student who told me years ago, “If I could just get one professor to know who I am, I’d be so happy.” Fat chance that many students will ever get an LSU professor to know them.
Before asking LSU to help foster economic development in Louisiana, a prudent first step would be to ask, “How’s that going to be done?” What sort of LSU budget will be needed? The better question is, “How can LSU effectively produce high-value education for its students?” Worry about economic development later. If it’s going to happen, it’s going to do so without much input from higher education. It might be better if higher education could help, but it’s not as essential as one might think.
Lamar B. Jones, Baton Rouge
What people earn
To the publisher:
It has always disturbed me that entertainers and sports figures earn more than firemen, policemen and others who are involved with saving our lives [“Publisher’s View,” April 21].
How is this possible? Does it make any sense at all? When I stop to think how our society places watching a movie that makes you laugh or cry for a couple of hours on top of our pyramid of things valuable, it makes me want to scream. Is watching a good movie or good game of our favorite team above saving a neighbor’s life? The firefighters and policemen that risk their lives to save people they don’t know are heroes to me.
Do I like movies? I love movies. Do I watch every LSU football game? Yes, I love LSU. Do I think the small amount of entertainment I get from these entertainments/sports have more value than someone who might pull me from a burning building or who might protect me from an intruder? Absolutely not. Firefighters and policemen aren’t working on a stage without being threatened or playing a game that’s fun to watch. They are risking their lives.
I am more grateful to our firefighters and policemen than I am to any actor or sports figure.
Lynn W. Champagne, Baton Rouge
To the publisher:
These numbers have disturbed me for quite some time. It is a horrible reflection of what society values. Why is a baseball player more valuable than a teacher? Why should a model earn so much more than a garbage collector? Who does more for society? I wish there was a reasonable way to cap income, or spread the wealth. Maybe it needs to start with consumers. If we refuse to purchase certain items or refuse to pay exorbitant fees, things might begin to change.
Debbie Guthrie, Baton Rouge
