Letters to the Editor

Americans are not tasteless; they deserve more credit
I seem to have a problem; I apparently have poor taste. As stated in your paper last week, everyone in America, except for the author of the article (“Popular Opinion Ruins Pop Culture”) has no taste. We as Americans apparently do not have the ability to choose the correct winner at the People Choice Awards. Furthermore, enjoyment of pop culture movies, such as “Spiderman” and bands like Creed, is not in good taste, according to the author. “American mass culture stinks,” states the author. I will be the first to tell you that perhaps America does have some problems with what we show on television or in the movies. It is not the topic of my criticism. Rather, what I can tell you is that we should perhaps give America more credit than it was given in this article.

My question is, could this possibly be the same tasteless society that produced the likes of Aerosmith, REO Speedwagon and Lynard Skynard? What about movies like “Citizen Kane” or “Casablanca?” Some of the tasteless masses do enjoy them because they have received awards, sold millions of albums or videos and fascinated Americans for years. Since we are a tasteless society, I guess the national scholars like Toni Morrison (award-winning author), and former President Jimmy Carter (worldwide humanitarian) are tasteless buffoons too. What do they know about society? They only won one of society’s most impressive awards: the Nobel Prize. So I guess Bill Gates, Alan Greenspan and Rudolph Giuliani are all just tasteless fools too, who have had no impression on our society.

— Nick James, sophomore
political science major

Volunteering worth time and effort in the long run

Emily Turner made an important point in her article “Schedule time to help others out,” Jan. 24. Turner stresses the importance of incorporating volunteer work into our busy lives. Volunteering should be an important part of our development into responsible and knowledgeable people.

Helping others is a way to learn about different types of people and the problems that face our cities, states and nations. It can also teach us the value of a human life. I had an amazing opportunity this past summer to volunteer at Buen Pastor, an all-girls orphanage in Guanajuato, Mexico. Although I speak very little Spanish, language was rarely a barrier between us. My time at Buen Pastor taught me a principle I have found true for almost all volunteer opportunities: it isn’t necessary to be skilled at something in order to help; you simply need to care. The girls didn’t need my words; they needed my attention and concern.

Yes, volunteering does also take time and energy, but the personal rewards are worth the price. Each volunteer experience can be filled with moments for you to learn and grow as a person while also having fun and helping others. This can be especially true if you pick an organization or cause that means something special to you.

As students of TCU, a university whose mission statement encourages us to become leaders and responsible citizens in our global community, I propose a challenge to you. If you have never volunteered, try it once. If you don’t enjoy it, there is no harm done. However, if you do, promise yourself you will make an effort to help out others more often. What is there to lose?

— Julie Bodemann, sophomore
biology major