Letters to the editor: 03/15/01

Fiske sentence was too harsh

To the Editor:

In a country where partial birth abortion is legal and practiced daily, even up to the ninth month, Christina gets 10 years taken from her life for deciding to end her child's life. I am not condoning what she did, but every day in this country women decide to end their child's life and it's called the woman's right to choose.

What is the difference between this young woman suffocating her child and a woman in her seventh, eighth or ninth month of pregnancy deciding to allow a doctor to partially deliver her baby, stick a sharp instrument in the base of the baby's neck and sever the spinal cord? It seems to me that Christina's way of ending her child's life was more humane. I've heard the argument that the mother's life was in danger and that's why she aborted it. It seems to me Christina's life as she saw it was also in danger.

Until this country makes partial birth abortion illegal (which it should be), I don't seen how a woman like Christina Fiske can be sent to jail for 10 years. A child at seven months in the uterus in many cases can be the size of Christina's baby. The only difference is "in" the mother it is her choice; "out" it is murder.

I do not condone what Christina did, nor do I think she should go unpunished; however, when this country allows something like partial birth abortion to go on, I have trouble seeing the difference. My prayers are with you, Christina Fiske.

Valerie Moore

Cullowhee

Why are the crimes so different?

To the Editor:

What makes it so different? Is it because she killed a small defenseless baby that did nothing to her? What makes her case so different?

At least the boy was upset with his fellow students for making fun of him. The way everyone is talking this young boy is going to be getting a longer prison term than Christina was ever even threatened with.

I'm definitely not saying what the young boy did is right; he is completely in the wrong. I just don't see why he has a greater risk of getting a longer sentence than Christina did. If anything her sentence should be longer because she is older and should have enough sense to know that what she was doing was wrong.

Plus she should have known that her parents were going to stand by her through it all. I don't think that she wanted help, because if she did she would have told someone about the baby. She knew that she wasn't going to be able to take care of a baby and didn't want to go through the blame.

Even now I have to ask myself if she regrets what she did, simply because if nothing else the baby did absolutely nothing to her except remind her of her own mistake.

Jessica Gregory

Cullowhee

Punish all murderers equally

To the Editor:

Christina killed a child, a child that had not yet had a chance to live. I do agree that every time she sees a mother with a child that she will feel pain, but I also believe that she should have gotten the sentence term of a murderer.

There are many other ways Christina could have gone and not taking the baby, and she should have taken these things into consideration. The thing that I am most concerned about is the fact that 10 years from now when she gets out, she will have the chance to do it again.

I think that she should be put away at least long enough so she cannot have children when she gets out. So many people around the world today struggle to have children, and Christina took that gift and threw it in the trash.

A man kills another man and he goes to jail for life. But a good student, someone everyone likes and doesn't expect to harm anyone kills a child that hasn't even been given the chance to live, to speak its first words, or to walk, goes to jail for no more than 10 years. This is upsetting to me. I would like to see our justice system punish everyone equally for murder.

When you kill someone, you are taking their life away. I feel murderers should be punished by taking away the rest of their life and letting them suffer until the day they die.

Emily Davis

Cullowhee

There's plenty to do around here, especially at WCU

To the Editor:

Unless the haze of the Great Smoky Mountains has blinded these people from the beauty of this place, it is hard to understand how they can make this statement. Here are some inexpensive and often times free suggestions.

An innumerable amount of beautiful, secluded places can be found in the area that are anywhere from exciting to romantic. Is it that hard to have fun and enjoy something as simple as nature and all that it offers? Biking trails, historical landmarks and whitewater rafting are just a few of the nature-oriented activities around. Other inexpensive pastimes include exercising, bowling or going to the movie theater.

Another activity that can be counted on is an athletic event at Western Carolina University. As a women's basketball player at Western, I know that fan participation is an essential part of the game. The excitement that comes from the fans cheering and rooting really does help the team to play better.

Little support is shown at any of our athletic events, and I find this hard to believe when many people make such a big deal about having nothing to do. Western is spending a lot of money to improve athletic programs and facilities in an effort to bring in better athletes, as well as more fans.

So next time you're is looking for something to do, find a hiking trail to enjoy, go see the newest movie, or look on Western's web page and find a few games that you can make it to.

Everyone's support is always appreciated. I hope that this may help people find something to do the next time they feel like there is nothing to do.

Sincerely,

Summer Thagard

Cullowhee

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