OUR READERS RESPOND

     
     
     White lions
     
     To the editor:
     The birth of another white lion cub has received local publicity which implies a connection with conservation. White lions are not a species, and neither is breed an appropriate description. They are more appropriately called a cash crop.
      According to the wildlife expert who discovered and studied them (Chris McBride) in Southern Africa, they are a strain which is the product of a recessive gene. He describes this strain as an "evolutionary curiosity" which would have no chance of long term survival in the wild. Their lack of appropriate camouflage for the scrub brush and savannah of Africa would render them overly conspicuous to their intended prey.
      The case of white tigers is the same, and all of the examples in zoos and shows around the world are the progeny of a single male white tiger.
      In both cases, the propagation of these color strains is purely a man-made situation -- they are not endangered species. They do not exist in the wild because they are genetically unsuited to do so. Neither are they genetically prepared to spend a lifetime performing tricks for audiences and being penned up in enclosures -- even if it is a mansion in Las Vegas -- thousands of times smaller than the territory in which they would naturally roam.
      Those interested in helping to save the world's wildlife should give their contributions to the organizations working in the field toward that goal, not to Siegfried and Roy.
     T.L. BUCHANAN
     Henderson
     
     
     
     Truck route
     
     To the editor:
      It amazes me to no end when I see just how uneducated our elected officials are when it comes to semi-trucks. A new truck route was built coming off of Lone Mountain Road to get the trucks off of Alexander Road. Now this route is being made unfriendly to the trucks.
      Does anyone know what an "engine brake" does? It helps to brake the engine on downgrades. Why would anyone use this to brake going uphill? Well, on our new truck route there is a sign -- going uphill -- saying, "No Engine Brake." That makes a lot of sense.
      Now, if this is a truck route off of the mountain, why would there be signs saying "No Engine Brake" to begin with? Engine brakes are essential to the safety of the truck and driver. And coming down that road it is unsafe not to be able to use this device.
      When will our officials start using their common sense and put the safety of the trucks, drivers and cars in the forefront of their decisions? This is a truck route, is it not?
     SHERRYL J. ANCTIL
     KSC Trucking
     Las Vegas
     
     
     
     Only the members
     
     To the editor:
      Sue Strand, the president of the Clark County Classroom Teachers Association, says the hiring of a thief only concerns her and her members ("Teachers union director resigns, blames reports," Jan. 22 Review-Journal). She also states, that the Review-Journal should not have divulged this information.
      Ms. Strand is only interested in getting more pay and fewer hours for her members. Does she not believe that teachers need to be looked up to and their actions have to be above board? It seems to me, she would hire John Gotti if she could get a better contract.
      I thank the Review-Journal for printing stories.
     STAN SCHWARTZ
     Las Vegas
     
     
     
     PC-speak
     
     To the editor:
      The free speech suppression going on in our country is despicable and dangerous ("Summer soldiers," Jan. 20 commentary by Nat Hentoff). That we are all required to use "politically correctspeak" is bad enough. But to have the kind of suppression in our colleges that Mr. Hentoff tells of is paving the way to fascism.
      Do not these students at Stanford -- those African-American, Asian-American and Jewish law students who espouse its use -- have any notion of how valuable our freedom of speech is? It is what permits debate designed to solve problems, teaches the young to think critically, and defines us as Americans. The melting pot of America is based on the assumption that everyone, of any origin, has something to contribute and can be a valuable citizen. If not, the Asian-Americans and the Jewish students might not even be here. Had they thought of that?
      Granted, there can be some offensive speech as a result. But what is offensive to some is exactly what others want to hear. We cannot let these self-styled arbiters of "correctness" decide what is offensive and what is not.
      Obviously this effort is not confined to students. Mr. Hentoff notes how the liberal Nation magazine also thinks freedom of expression is outdated, as do as some professors. They are obviously not thinking of the law of unintended consequences. They have not considered that "the wrong side" might some day get the upper hand, and then they would be the ones who are silenced instead.
      This whole issue derives from the unintended consequence of the sloppy educations our young have been receiving in the area of history and civics. And their lack of discipline as well. So used are they to screaming loud enough to get their own way, they are now intent on taking away liberties. And they probably don't even know that this is un-American and just plain wrong.
     ETHEL M. GOSSWILLER
     Las Vegas
     
     
     
     Yuch
     
     To the editor:
      Just what I want, to have to pay tax for the horrible, poor excuse for food served for employees at many casinos ("No deals on meals for casino staff," Jan. 26 Review-Journal). If that is the case, before you deduct my money ask me if I want to eat there.
      Maybe if Congress wants to try some of the food served, it would have pity on our souls. I have even witnessed roaches walk across the steam tables, look and walk away because they couldn't stand the sight of the garbage being served. Then again, maybe the politicians would eat it since there is not much difference between them and a cockroach.
     LARRY ROBBINS
     Las Vegas