Editor:

As for the elements (Politics, the Internet, Big Business, and the Media) that are allegedly "destroying our innocence," I say to the writer: learn to think for yourself. It is one thing to perceive such elements of American society as influential, but to expose such an underdeveloped opinion to scrutiny was juvenile, specifically because the writer’s opinion lacked serious insight. We see this in the numerous use of four letter expletives. Stop and actually think about what was proposed. Politics are surely more than just the Lewinsky fiasco. Reducing the Internet to a "multimedia shopping mall" was indicative of an adolescent’s infatuation with shopping center culture. White corporate giants and their pursuit of profit will never replace cultures, especially because there is an abundance of them in this country. And as for his take on the media, I do sympathize with the opinion that the halftime show of the Super Bowl was ridiculous.

However, this is where my sympathy ends. Perhaps the writer failed to recognize the "spoken word" performer. He was not a "serious looking white man." He was none other than Edward James Olmos, a political and social icon that happens to be a Latino. Maybe the writer failed to recognize him, or he was once again exposing his opinion to public scrutiny by expressing the opinion that Edward James Olmos is a serious looking white man, conveying the notion that he is, as some might phrase it, a sell-out. I will disregard either side of his failure to correctly identify a figure that is instrumental in numerous Latino-centered efforts towards acquiring a favorable social identity because I am convinced that he is thoroughly misinformed. However, I trust that this institution of higher learning will harness the writer’s desire to voice his opinion so that in the future the opinion will be better conveyed, because making one’s thoughts public could be dangerous if they are not well thought out. I hope your readers do not misinterpret his views as those that are shared by all persons who have a Spanish surname, as I assume the writer’s to be. Good luck with your education, Mr. Gomes.

Sincerely,

Hector Javier Preciado ’01