Jordan River Forum

Students should show courtesy when off campus, too

While I and others appreciate the positive impact the students have on our local economy, I do not believe that should exempt some from exerting common courtesy and manners to the full-time residents of the community when they shop and dine at Bloomington establishments.

Upon the start of the semester, many students are grocery shopping. The number of rude and discourteous forms of behavior I encountered at Kroger a couple of days ago made me really wonder about some in this college generation. When I eat out in a casual dining restaurant (like Chili’s – not Nick’s) I do not expect my kids to be exposed to loud, foul language from four college students at the next table. Just a little realization that your world is not exclusive when you venture out beyond campus. Please, just a little common courtesy.

Kirsten Prange
Bloomington resident
Semantics highlight underlying issue

I was in complete agreement with Monday’s staff editorial, “Give it up, Republicans,” but I think there’s a problem with some wording of the next to the last paragraph: “Marriage is one of the most fundamental and basic sacraments of the state ...”

You’ve landed, maybe without intending to, on the essence of the matter. A “sacrament” is the business of churches, not civil governments. The government can and should recognize marriage “contracts” between both straight and gay couples, and this should have nothing to do with whether churches will perform the marriage sacrament. In other words, a civil marriage should be mandatory (for a valid marriage), but the sacrament of marriage should be optional (both for the couple and the church).

Aside from that choice of words, however, your editorial is right on target.

Betty Rose Nagle
Classical studies professor