Peter Buck attacks the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property (TFP) for its campaign against constitutional protection of sodomy ("Group fails to explain 'natural law' definition," Nov. 4). However, Buck clearly did not read the TFP's full statement that was handed out on campus, for it contains this definition of natural law. In The Natural Law: A Study in Legal and Social History and Philosophy, Heinrich A. Rommen, defines natural law as being "... inscribed in the heart of man, a rational and free being...."

In his letter, Buck insinuates that animal and human behavior are on equal footing. That is not so. Natural law applies to rational man, not animals. Animals are unintelligent beings and merely follow blind instincts. Therefore, the mass suicide of lemmings is not the type of behavior any intelligent person would imitate. Our intelligence tells us that. If it didn't, we would be animals. Natural law is the ability to distinguish right from wrong. One does not need a college degree to know it's wrong to lie, steal, cheat and murder. But for Buck, this concept reflects the "profound ignorance" of young TFP volunteers. Yes, Athens and Sparta endorsed homosexuality, along with infanticide, which eventually caused their demise. In fact, no culture that approves sodomy has survived for very long. So, lemmings commit mass suicide. But does that make it right for humans? Buck may very well think so.