Reader's Forum Roundup

It's the moment you've all I've been waiting for: the BYU Newsnet Reader's Forum Roundup! Except they now call it Letters to the DU Editor, but whatever. It's been years since Bricks changed its name to Club Sound...or In the Venue...or something...but I still insist on calling it Bricks.

Heather Sabin from Federal Way, Washington, writes:

Students at BYU need to be more friendly! I didn't think friendliness made a difference until a friend told me that mine made her think twice about suicide. She is creatively endowed, but in other areas lacks ability and grace. She seemed satisfied with her poetry and galactic novels, but was really depressed. The severity of the situation eluded me until I learned she had planned to commit suicide. She told me my kindness and friendliness made her think twice.

Ok, before you knock yourself out talking about how kind and friendly you are, take a second to think about what you just wrote: She is creatively endowed, but in other areas lacks ability and grace. Uh, thanks for pointing that out. I hope your roommate doesn't read the editorial page.

And speaking of not reading the editorial page, Jeff Hill of Centennial, Colorado, writes:

To all of those that are having problems with the required religion classes, I have a few suggestions. First, if you haven't been able to receive an A grade in every religion class you've ever taken, maybe a university education isn't the best option for you. Second, if you don't like the religion classes, maybe our church isn't the best option for you. And last, if you don't like the editorials being written, maybe reading the editorials isn't the best option for you.

Thanks for clearing that up. I knew I should've dropped out of school after I got that B in Old Testament...

And finally, from Paul G. Jaehnert, the voice of reason from Vadnais Heights, Minnesota:

The largest contributing factor in high drug prices is advertising and promotion - about 37 percent of the price we pay. Costs of research and development for new drugs doesn't even approach that percentage, since a huge part of the research going into the development of new drugs is performed by our National Institutes of Health (NIH). About $25 billion of taxpayer money goes to the NIH each year, much of which is spent on research for new drugs. It's the pharmaceutical industry's advertising, promotion and excessive profits, not research and development, that drives up costs. . . . It's time to rein in the pharmaceutical industry drug cartel and their congressional co-conspirators.

Ever notice how drug commercials always have really attractive people holding hands and laughing and flying kites on the beach? Who can watch those without thinking, "Wow, cancer is the greatest disease ever!" And if that's not enough, the pharmaceuticals also try to convince you that you need a drug for everything. Do you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning? Hate your job? Can't cook a decent omelet? Well, we have a drug for that! Instant profit.