In Don WernerâÄôs Monday letter, he shows a flagrant lack of understanding on just what the issues of gay marriage and abortion are about. IâÄôm not going to say which side IâÄôm on, because thatâÄôs not important in this letter. What is important is the fact that, whether polarized proponents on either side like it or not, both sides have merits. If they did not, these issues wouldnâÄôt be so hotly debated. Thus, thereâÄôs no point in painting oneâÄôs opponents as evil baby-killing tradition-hating devils when theyâÄôre obviously not. ItâÄôs a matter of whether one values religious tradition over the rights of oneâÄôs fellow human beings, and whether the motherâÄôs present and future wellbeing is as important as that of the fetus in her womb (not to mention issues of when, exactly, the fetus changes from a mindless cluster of cells to a sentient creature). To attribute blacks and whites to issues that obviously have shades of gray is to insult the well-meaning people on the opposite side. Because, hereâÄôs the bottom line: EVERYONE wants to do whatâÄôs right. Werner espoused the view that his side has divine authority. However, that, too, must exist in shades of gray; there are many, many Christians who do not agree with his views, and there are also plenty of non-Christians populating the United States. Not following the rightâÄôs specific religious views does not make one a bad person; human compassion is universal, no matter what religion one does or does not follow. People ultimately want to do whatâÄôs right, and I am insulted as a human being to see such hatred and ignorance still pervading our political landscape. Emma Nygren University student