In response to Peter Hammond's Oct. 22 letter, "Contraception gives in to the fear of creating life," I must ask: Do you really understand the beauty of sexuality, Peter? You must not, because you seem to think that reproducing is the only reason to express and experience sexuality. As a young college student, I believe in choice and independence, which in turn means that I must believe in responsibility.

Birth control is not a means of instilling the fear of new life into young women, Peter. It's instilling the power to protect one's self, one's future and one's sense of independence. No one is doubting the miracle of life. They are just protecting the lives of the innocent -- the children that might be born to ill-prepared, unwanting parents that are unable or unwilling to provide for them. This doesn't make these people bad or selfish. It's the mature person who takes a proactive stance in preventing an unwanted pregnancy.

As a woman who believes that we are not here to just reproduce (I refuse to be viewed as a baby-making machine), I respect the act of sex, and I take responsibility for my actions. Since I believe that sexuality is something to experience, for the sheer pleasure along with as a way to lovingly create life, I don't view birth-control use as selfish. Now, finally, I want to ask you, Peter: Who made you the expert on the fear of new life, in regards to sex, birth control and abortion? How can you claim to understand the beauty of sexuality?

You claim to embrace life when you so obviously don't understand that we are not here to just reproduce. We are sexual creatures, and until you're ready to look at the whole picture, I hope that you refrain from trying to "embrace life."