The Rattler November 22, 2006 v. 94 #6 - Blume Library - St. Mary's ...

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Commentary12 www.stmarytx.edu/rattler The RattlerNovember 22, 2006Gender-neutral restrooms can diminish discriminationWhile sitting in my philosophyclass one day, I had no choicebut to listen to the conversationthat was taking place behind meas it wafted inmy direction.Two girls werediscussing oneof their recentpublic restroomencounters andRosanna stated that theyGarza were horrifiedat the idea thatthey had to share their groomingand personal care space witha homosexual.Note: my politically correct useof the word ‘homosexual’ was notthe word of choice used by myfellow classmates.The question that I began toponder was not in agreement withthe gossiping girls behind me.Rather, it was in favor of therights of gays, lesbians, bisexualsor transgenders (GLBT people, forthe sake of space) to be affordedthe same restroom privileges aseveryone else.Should gender-neutralrestrooms be something thatis steadily implemented inour society?“Not everyone can selfidentifyor feel relaxedabout using a restroomthat is segregated bygender identity.”For those who are notcomfortable with the genderbinary, the possibility of being ableto use a gender-neutral restroomfor their endeavors is somethingthat I believe is in accordance withall people being afforded basichuman rights.As an American citizen, it isplainly stated in our United StatesConstitution that all people aregiven freedom of speech, the rightto bear arms and the right to vote.Shouldn’t people be given theright to use the restroom in peaceas well?In an attempt to makepeople more comfortable aswell as to decrease the amountof sexual harassment andsexual discrimination, universitycampuses and public propertiesincluding shopping areas, publicparks and restaurants all over theUnited States are implementinggender-neutral restrooms.Not everyone can self-identifyor feel relaxed about using arestroom that is segregated bygender identity.GLTB individuals may notbe afforded the same rights as“normal” heterosexuals in society,but they should at least be able to“do their business” with comfortand ease-whether that comfortstems from being able to usethe restroom in a place that isnon-discriminating or the ideathat your peers will not decidewhere you belong through theirignorant bantering.LETTERS TOTHE EDITOR POLICYThe Rattler welcomes letters to the editor.Letters should not exceed 300 words andmust include writer’s name, classification,major and telephone number.Editors reserve the right to edit submissionsfor length, grammar, spelling and content.Letters may be delivered to Room 258 inthe University Center, faxed to (210) 431-4307, mailed to The Rattler, St. Mary’sUniversity, One Camino Santa Maria, Box83, San Antonio, TX 78228, or e-mailed torattlernews@stmarytx.edu.For more information, call the newsroomat (210) 436-3401.Editor-In-ChiefKimberly VelaManaging EditorDiana Del ValleLayout /Design ManagerEdgar A. AlanisCopy EditorAnh NguyenNews EditorValarie GecklerFeatures EditorElizabeth RuizCommentary EditorGabriel SanchezEntertainment EditorJennifer ZúñigaSports EditorTim HennesseyPhoto EditorAngelique ChavarriaAssistant Photo EditorSelina MadridAdvertising ManagerNancy MartinezAssistant Ad ManagerAmanda GuerraWebmasterDavid N. GarzaStaff CartoonistChuck KerrFaculty AdvisorMargaret LuevanoStaff ContactPatricia R. GarciaStandardsThe Rattler upholds the MissionStatement of St. Mary’s University.The publication follows the Canonsof Responsible Journalism, theAssociated Press Stylebook guidelinesand the Student Publications policy.The Rattler is a member of theAssociated Collegiate Press, theColumbia Scholastic Press Association,the Society of Professional Journalists,and the Texas Intercollegiate PressAssociation.Contact UsThe RattlerSt. Mary’s UniversityOne Camino Santa Maria Box 83San Antonio, TX 78228Phone: (210) 436-3401FAX: (210) 431-4307rattlernews@stmarytx.eduSocial networking sites (dis)connectmillions around the world and countingPopularity of online community Web sites: may have negative effect on society.STAFF EDITORIALTHE RATTLERIt is not unusual to hear thatmillions of Americans in theirteens or 20s have more contactwith one another throughonline social networking Websites than in person.Web sites such as Facebookand Myspace have millions ofusers and counting.MySpace, in fact, has about131 million at this time.We are left wonderingwhat triggered the massappeal of this social andcultural phenomenon.Perhaps it can be explainedthrough the bandwagon effect.If there are 130,999,999 otherpeople doing it, how can younot join in on the fun?Perhaps convenience is theexplaination for its hypeLeaving someone a shortcomment or sending them aspecial message seems a loteasier than arranging to meetwith that person somewhere orgiving them a phone call in thehopes that he or she is not toobusy at any given time.In an America where time ismoney and convenience is king,it is almost expected that socialnetworking sites are amongthe most visited Web sites onthe Internet.Whatever the reason,we cannot help but wonderwhether the popularity ofthese sites enhances or cripplesthe quality of our interactionswith others.On MySpace, users canconnect with one anotherthrough profiles, messages,comments, groups, eventsand blogs.They are also connectedthrough mutual friends, similarinterests and even by chance.As most of us have accountsor at least know someone whodoes, maybe we should askourselves how our friendshipshave been affected since firstsigning up.Those friendships that wouldhave normally deteriorated withtime due to distance and othersimilar factors could be saved toan extent thanks to these sites.We can also find old friendswho we may have neverfound again.However, we find ourselvesdoing the equivalent to theCOURTESY GRAPHICSNetworking Web sites such as MySpace.com, Facebook.com andBlogger.com are popular among college-aged students, but maynot enhance individuals’ ability to connect with each other.not-so-uncommon instantmessaging to one another evenwhen we are in the same room.We choose to maintainfriendships with people in closeproximity to us online instead ofin person.The key to it all is balance.These networking sitesshould be utilized as a tool tobuild and maintain friendships.However, we should makeit a point not to become sodependpendent on them to thepoint where being in the sameroom with our friends will startto become a thing of the past.The reason is that true friendswould and should prefer yourcompany no matter how oftenyou send them messages.They would rather be withyou when they blow out theirbirthday candles no matterhow nice your online birthdaycomment may sound.
CommentaryNovember 22, 2006 The Rattlerwww.stmarytx.edu/rattler 13I returned to Dhaka,Bangladesh, on Nov. 15 expectingthe city to be in the state of chaosand violence.Instead, I wassurprised to see itin a strange, calmcondition.It is commonfor the airportGregPardoexit to be filledwith people whowait for arrivingpassengers or who want to helpcarry your bags, but when I arrivedthere was only a handful.I was greeted by my colleaguesand, to my surprise, I was directedto an ambulance, which would beour transportation.Did my colleagues believe thatI was going to arrive dead?No, this is one of the only safemethods of transportation duringthe political violence of thiselection season. There could bechances of being injured by a mobif we drove in any other vehicle.During the past three weeks,the people of Bangladesh haveendured the violent confrontationsbetween the BangladeshNational Party (BNP) and theAwami League (AL).When the BNP transferredtheir power to the CaretakerGovernment (CG), they lostthe benefits of having controlThe voters have spoken and theword they are yelling at the top oftheir lungs is “change.”Now that Democrats control theHouse and Senate,a new directionis expected. Ahistorical eventhas transpiredwith Nancy Pelosileading as the firstAmanda woman SpeakerGuerraof the House.Pelosi makes very clear whather goals will be.In the first hundred hours, shewants to lead the House to workon five major issues includingsecurity, minimum wage,college tuition, energy resourcesand healthcare.The next problem Pelosi wantsto address is social security, whichwill take more time to fix.During a press conferenceon Nov. 8, Pelosi stated thatDemocrats are “not about gettingeven, they’re about helping theAmerican people.”To help all families paying toput their children through college,Pelosi intends to “slash interestEXPERIENCING BANGLADESHBangladesh experience politicalviolence during election seasonover the Elections Commission(EC), which is in charge of theelection process.Unfortunately, with pressuresfrom both BNP and AL, the EC hasnot decided when to announcethe polling dates. In addition, theCG, which is supposed to ensurethe citizens’ safety, has failedits duty by allowing police toattack civilians, even killing someof them.So, what does this do toBangladeshi citizens? It forcesthem to put their daily routinesto a halt. If possible, some workfor only four hours a day. Manyothers cannot attend work at all,which has placed a burden on theentire Bangladesh economy.As for the low incomecitizens such as rickshawpullers, barbers and cooks, theyhave not been able to generateany income. Schools are forced toclose in order to ensure the safetyof students and staff.Between Nov. 16 and 20, AL haspostponed all political strikes dueto the decline of political support.However, they promisedto resume demonstrationson the Nov. 19 unless there areconstitutional amendmentsregarding the EC.The BNP has threatened toconfront the EC if it does not quicklyannounce the polling schedule. OnA new voice in Houserates on college loans in half to3.4 percent for students and to 4.2percent for parents” and “ increasethe deductibility of college tuitionby simplifying the maze of tuitionlaws to allow a 100 percent taxcredit for tuition up to $3,000.”She makes it clear thatDemocrats want to work in abipartisan fashion. Though she hascalled the president incompetent,she is willing to work with him tofind a common ground.Pelosi said, “ I will be the Speakerof the House, not the Speaker ofthe Democrats.”Pelosi hit some unstable groundrecently when she announcedher support for John Murthaover Steny Hoyer for the Housemajority leader position.According to AndrewTaylor of the Associated Press,this controversy “appeared toovershadow Pelosi’s unanimousselection by Democrats to becomethe first female speaker.”There are some rising questionsabout Pelosi’s promises and ethics,but only time will tell if she isfighting for the American peopleor for her own political gain.the other hand, the AL has alsothreatened confrontations ifthere are not amendments tothe EC before a polling scheduleis announced.According to BangladeshcolumnistMohammadBadrul Ahsan, “this CaretakerGovernment has lost its chanceto become neutral, not becauseit has taken sides with anyone,but because it has taken sideswith everyone.”Unlike Ahsan’s view, I believethe CG is trying to be neutral bytaking sides with everyone in orderto curb the violence occurring inthe streets.Unfortunately, leaders fromboth parties place their politicalpriorities before the well-being ofthe society while the CG fails inits task to maintain the safety ofits citizens.For now, the situation willremain bleak until the electionseason is over.Editor’s Note:This is the sixth in a series fromguest commentator Greg Pardo. Pardoreceived a BA in Political Scienceand International Relations from St.Mary’s in 2005.He is fulfilling a 2-yearinternship with IIRD in Bangladeshwhile working on a Master’s inInternational Development.I have been a MySpace addictsince January 2006. My dailyroutine consists of class, work andstudying. Yet, I somehow manageto check the siteat least 10 timesa day.Why?I don’t know.Most of theElizabethPeñatime, I intend tolog on quicklyand check mymessages, but 10 minutes cansometimes turn into an hour.In all honesty, I really like thesite because it gives me the abilityto communicate with friends andsome family members withoutactually having to see them.I am sure we have all heard thehorror stories.They are usually aboutpedophiles who made up fakeidentities to meet up with minors.Several people have beenarrested nationwide forcommitting these crimes.To me, this is all preventable,and I do not understand whycritics are bashing the site.If people give out their phoneCatholics treat homosexualswith respectTeachings of Church promote chastity, not hate.While many homosexualactivists are calling for lawsgiving them the right tomarry people of thesame sex, manyothers oppose thisproposal, callingfor these laws notto be passed.It is importantfor studentsCharlesRamirezat a Catholicu n i v e r s i t yto know the stance of theCatholic Church regarding thissensitive subject.In Article 2357, the CatholicCatechism states, “Basing itselfon Sacred Scripture, whichpresents homosexual acts as actsof grave depravity, traditionhas always declared that‘homosexual acts are intrinsicallydisordered.’ They are contraryto the natural law.”The “Sacred Scripture” hereincludes verses from the Bible thatpertain to homosexuality.One of the many is Romans1: 25-27, which states, “Theyexchanged the truth of God for alie and revered and worshippedthe creature rather than thecreator.... Therefore, God handedthem over to degrading passions.Their females exchanged naturalrelations for unnatural, and maleslikewise gave up natural relationsnumbers or directions to theirhomes and agree to meet strangers,they have to be a least somewhatliable for their actions.As children, we are all taughtthat famous, classic rule, “Don’ttalk to strangers.”I am still living by that ruletoday and I still believe in good,old-fashioned common sense.MySpace should not be blamedfor whatever its users are doing.with females and burned with lustfor one another.”The Church, however,emphasizes that homosexuals arenot evil and should be treatedwith the human dignity.In Article 2358, the Catechismannounces, “They [homosexuals]must be accepted and treatedwith respect, compassion, andsensitivity. Every sign of unjustdiscrimination in their regardshould be avoided.”Homosexuals are not evil, butthe acts they may engage in areconsidered sinful. Homosexualrelationships, according to Article2357 in the Catechism, “close thesexual act to the gift of life. Theydo not proceed from an affectiveand sexual complementarity.Under no circumstance can theybe approved.”Therefore, according to Article2359, the Church firmly believesthat “Homosexual persons arecalled to chastity.” The call tochastity is an important stage oflife in which those who are calledare enabled to unite with God.As the Catechism states inArticle 2359, “By the virtues ofself-mastery that teach them[homosexuals] inner freedom...by prayer and sacramental grace,they can and should graduallyand resolutely approachChristian perfection.”A new addiction for our youthPHOTO BY JONATHAN HERNANDEZMySpace has become an obsession among students across the globe.It’s an online communityintended for anyone to use tocommunicate, get current events,listen to the latest songs or checkout movie trailers.I would like to see moreattention focused on the criminalsand their consequences ratherthan the site itself.As for me, I am going to remaina faithful, procrastinating userof MySpace.Whosaidwhat?People in the newsCOMPILED BY FRANCHESCA WEAVER“I believe that my party, insome ways, has strayedfrom those principles,particularly on the issue offiscal discipline.”- U.S. Senator John McCain,speaking about his view onthe GOP“I was proud to support[John Murtha] for majorityleader, because I thoughtthat would be the bestway to bring an end to thewar in Iraq.”- Nancy Pelosi, speakingafter the vote for Housemajority leader“I’m not there to make ajudgement based on mypersonal policy preferences...I’m supposed tomake a decision based onthe law.”- Chief Justice John Roberts,speaking at the Universityof Miami
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