American monarchy?

As a young nipper I always had much admiration for the queen. I remember a trip to Buckingham palace years ago when I stood in awe as I watched the changing of the guards. They protected the essence of England, the royal family. I remember singing "God Save the Queen" in sacrament meeting and feeling the utmost respect for my monarch. Queen Elizabeth always carries herself with class and dignity, a good example to all young English females. On the other hand it seems like America's infatuation lies with the immoral pop stars and overdosed athletes.

In a day and age when the mayor of New York is using prostitution services, the United States is crying out for leaders with moral integrity like that of the queen. Perhaps instituting a monarchy, or rejoining the commonwealth might be going too far, but America needs leaders who the people can respect and look up to. This is basically the purpose the queen serves. Granted her direct political power is limited, but the inspiration she gives the nation is priceless.

Could America use this inspiration? I think we ought to give it some thought. We have come so far from the ideals and beliefs shared by our founding fathers. Our society is confused, and we need someone to look up to. In our generation when good role models are hard to find, an American monarchy might not be a bad idea.

STEWART CARTER

London, England

Hypocritical judgment

On April 2 the DU published an opinion titled "Bloodthirsty shirts," which criticized returned missionaries from Russia for wearing paraphernalia from the Soviet Union.

The critic begins by committing an individualistic fallacy by using an individual, Joseph Stalin, to characterize a collective, the Soviet Union. Many people are offended when foreign nations use President George W. Bush to characterize America itself. The critic continues to demonstrate his intellectual failings through a highly biased and selective view of history. Choosing to associate the Soviet Union only with the negative aspects of its history is hypocritical unless done with every nation. If we carry the author's logic to its obvious conclusion, we are forced to associate the American flag with institutionalized slavery, the systematic relocation and extermination of American Indians, Japanese internment during WWII and countless other inhumane acts.

No one who knows me would ever dare question my patriotism, but I understand and recognize American and Soviet histories for what they are. While the Soviet Union was more corrupt and inhumane, both nations have done both horrible and noble things (e.g. the heroic sacrifices of millions of Soviet soldiers during the Great Patriotic War). If you choose to focus on the negative you are a hypocrite every time you fly an American flag or say that you are proud to be an American. Since you have chosen to use the "holier than thou" tactic, I will respond by quoting the Savior and counsel you to "judge not, that ye be not judged."

KYLE BAIRD

Centreville , Va.

Are you dating?

Now this is not a call to stop dating or to remove the word from the English vocabulary. I prefer to see it as a voice of warning. If you don't feel this is a legitimate concern, you may be right; but first, go ask 10 different people if they are dating and then note their answers. As you dig deeper into what their initial "yes" or "no" answer truly encompassed, I think you'll be surprised at the variance between persons. Better yet, go ask this question to that lucky individual you're dating (if you're still sure you are dating).

"Dating" is a word whose definition is as flexible and elusive as the experiences it describes. Its spectrum of meanings can range from "first date" to the valley favorite "pre-ring" marriage commitment. "Are you dating anyone?" can be answered "yes" and yet not disclose anything at all. Dating can be used as a disguise for "hanging out" just as much as for romantic involvement. This can (and has) led to much confusion.

With everyone's answers appearing to be the same, yet in actuality being completely different, you can only imagine the outcomes (or maybe you know from personal experience). If the root of all problems is miscommunication then the word "dating can be very problematic for anyone who is attempting to start and cultivate an effective relationship. What is the solution? I don't have the slightest idea. But maybe, just maybe, you're thinking about it too. And that's a start.

BRANDON GREENBURG

Atlanta, Ga.

Syllabus deviants

It's something we've probably all done: register for a class, check out the syllabus and realize this isn't the class for us. I've even e-mailed professors to see their syllabus before registering. We all want to know what we're in for. When we've gotta take a hard class, we want to choose the better professor and when we're gonna face it!

So what do you do when you're past the drop deadline and a professor starts adding things that aren't on the syllabus? There's a statistics class on time series right now that is requiring upwards of 30 hours a week in homework and more than half of the assignments aren't mentioned anywhere on the syllabus. That's no way to learn - it's just busy work. And who needs the equivalent of a full-time job in busy work for three credits, anyway?

I've read the catalog, the expected outcomes, the University Curriculum Handbook, and the Aims of a BYU Education. There's nothing that suggests professors have the power of God to overload their students, but there's also nothing that gives students a way to stop these professors from deviating from the syllabus. If the initial syllabus is approved by the university, it can then be changed and ignored, apparently, without any way to stop the deviance. The only route for formal complaints is after the semester's already over. So what happens when it's your last semester and failing means being kicked out of grad school in the fall?

I'm sick of seeing people burn out from all-nighter after all-nighter just to complete assignments they weren't told they'd have and often don't teach anything! My husband has been sick for three weeks and has been referred to a neurologist all because he's desperately trying to push through an impossible course load that's not in his syllabus, course description or anything else. Where is the control? Where is the venue for formal complaint?

JENNIFER TAYLOR

Provo

Owed an apology

This letter is in response to the letter "Brilliant Prank," [April 4] regarding "DT Day." Brilliant prank my eye! And masterminds? Why do you consider the fools behind that hoax geniuses? Do you lack the capacity to plaster fliers with blatant lies all around BYU's campus?

You are right. BYU students are not boring. But they sure know how to waste time. Theirs and mine! I can't imagine the number of people involved in passing out all those "DT Day" fliers, nor can I imagine how much time they spent doing it. And for what? To waste other people's time as well?

I am embarrassed to admit that I was there. I expected to see a great show involving something everyone loves: explosives. And the free popcorn didn't sound too bad either. I purposefully rearranged an extremely busy schedule, and even turned down a lunch date with a girl I have a huge crush on so I could have time to study for a test I would be taking right after the "show." Imagine my fury and anguish as I stood there across the street from DT with hundreds of other innocent bystanders. By the time people started realizing it was a joke, I was so mad that I sped home, got pulled over and received a speeding ticket.

These so called masterminds owe me an apology. You know who you are, and I think I know too. You were the one walking around with the bag of popcorn, weren't you?

TREVOR J. FITZGERALD

Redmond, Wash.