Editor:

In 1969, Coach Lloyd Eaton, the University of Wyoming and the state of Wyoming leadership, with the support of wealthy boosters, destroyed Cowboy football. What followed was a 82-114 record. It was 1988 and Paul Roach before the Cowboys had two winning seasons in a row again.

Coach Eaton's record without the 14 players he tore scholarships from was three wins, 13 losses. Being a member of a influential community of like-minded dominate males did not prevent the U.S. history of 1969 from catching up with Wyoming and football. Coach Eaton didn't know what was best and Wyoming's national image was tarnished. I was with the University of Arizona (not ASU) team 1968-72. UA was 2-2 against UW.

What parallels are there today? A fraternity of influential males with the support of wealthy lobbyist boosters chooses to attempt to withhold the simple dignity of health care from a less powerful group. Children, the diseased and the mentally challenged do not have the money or golf club memberships of the successful with which to influence senators. Millions are spent on media stating America cannot afford to take care of its own because our health costs are 200 percent of any other society although US life expectancy is No. 31 and infant mortality is No. 35, behind Japan and the original 10 EU countries (all WWII war-torn). America is rich and smart but Japan and Europe does it better with half the money.

But history will prevail and the elected bloc of white males will succumb and be proven wrong just as in 1969 and thereafter. Eventually the population will acquire equality of dignity just as the Wyoming 14 African-American young men. Just as Wyoming is the "Equality State" and America is based on "all Men (women and children) are created equal."

Greediness is never happy, only competitive. Satisfaction and accomplishment come when "equality" is served to all, especially health care and extended U.S. life expectancy. Wouldn't that be a worthy goal, Mr. Senator?

BARRY NELSON, Laramie