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Tuesday, September 16, 1998
OUR READERS RESPOND
Touchy, touchy
To the editor:
The phrase "squealing like a stuck pig" came to mind when I read Jack C. Cherry's letter regarding Jim Day's cartoon about the new UNLV Law School. Mr. Cherry
needs to relax and learn to appreciate a little self-deprecating humor.
I don't
believe there really were too many of the lay public who thought less of the legal profession simply because of Mr. Day's cartoon. Mr. Cherry's letter, however,
did perpetuate the belief that there are lawyers with too much time and too little to do.
If this is the best Mr. Cherry can do, my suggestion is that he buy a
dog, name it "Life," and then he'll have one.
DON F. BIGGER
Las Vegas
To the editor:
Jack C. Cherry's letter in Sunday's paper blasting your political cartoonist, J
im Day, for his insensitivity toward the legal profession would normally have been passed over as the utterances of a humorless barrister. (A redundancy?) However, on the very day the letter appeared, one of the most prestigious law firms in the country informed the nation that answering no to the question, "Did you have a sexual affair with Miss Lewinsky?" was not a lie and therefore not perjury.
And one wonders why Mr. Day was inclined to reinforce a stereotype that most of
the civilized world agrees with. If anything, he understates the case.
For those of you who have not read the letter, Mr. Cherry suggested a remedy for the alleged insult. (Attorneys always have remedies.) Unbelievably, in order to even things out, he wanted Mr. Day to use his rapier wit to zero in on the deficiencies of the medical, accounting and media professions and demanded that the
Review-Journal publish them. Justice, according to Mr. Cherry, demands that they be treated with equal severity. The basic problem is that all three _ even after paying exorbitant malpractice premiums _ are net contributors to society. Unlike Mr. Cherry's profession, they are constantly searching for truth, not for ways to modify or subvert it.
Mr. Day is an incredibly talented satirist and should continue aiming his barbs
as the spirit moves him. Up to now, they have been uncannily accurate.
JOHN F. PYNE
Boulder City
To the editor:
Reference the Sept. 13 letter, "Scurrilous attack on lawyers":
Jim Day's cartoon really hits the nail on the head. Jack C. Cherry's allegation
that it was maligning and disparaging isn't really valid. Look at all the billboards with "lawyer-type" ads talking about accidents, etc. Ha, ha. I personally
like the joke: "What do you call 25,000 lawyers on the bottom of the ocean? A damn good start."
MARTIN A. STEVENS
Las Vegas
Medicating children
To the editor:
In response to the letter written by Dr. Corydon G. Clark and published Sept. 9:
At first glance, one might read Dr. Clark's letter, think what a bright physician, and take his comments as helpful intellectual input. But others, like myself, will question the motives of this individual. Dr. Clark runs the Attention-Deficit Disorder Clinic in Las Vegas. His letter appears to me as an endorsement for medicating children with drugs for behavioral problems. This is a very lucrative business.
The fact of the matter is many children are wrongly diagnosed. Some children wh
o should be on medications are not, and others who are medicated may not need to be. Many psychiatrists are quick to treat symptoms with drugs rather than investigate all possible causes of behavioral and learning problems. Many of these drugs can have serious and sometimes permanent side effects. Also, if a child is wrongly diagnosed, symptoms may be made worse by said drugs.
This is not to say that there are not many children who suffer from attention-d
eficit disorder. What is important to realize is that diet, allergies and dysfunctional home lives can play a major role in behavior problems, and rightly so. To slap a label on children without properly investigating these areas is irresponsible. To medicate a child without ongoing counseling and behavioral therapy is unethical.
I advise parents to explore all options before accepting the attention-deficit
disorder label. It is much too easy for parents to medicate children with these amphetamines, antidepressants and other related drugs. Also what must be examined is the complete emotional state of the children from both parents' perspectives, a study of the home environment and a complete biological and psychological family history.
If one is to take the statements of one dysfunctional parent who might have ulterior motives, one may wind up with the wrong diagnosis.
AL DiCICCO
Henderson
The pot and kettle
To the editor:
Interesting ... Rep. Dan Burton, chairman of the powerful House Government Reform and Oversight Committee, champion of the conservative moral majority and out
spoken critic of the president, has finally admitted to having an extramarital relationship with a state employee while he was a state senator. Moreover, this relationship produced an illegitimate son, a lad he has just acknowledged as his own.
Questions: Does he really think that the name of this kid will not become known and be broadcast throughout the media, and was he looking in a mirror when he uttered the word "scumbag"?
Also of interest is the fact this story was first published on page seven of the Review-Journal, but the Sunday edition moved it all the way up to page six. I guess that because this is a "private" matter, it does not deserve front-page treatment.
MIKE LOMBARDI
Las Vegas
A knockout
To the editor:
The folks of greater Las Vegas are the greatest. Our 1998 Labor Day Telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association was a huge success, breaking all records in
pledges and contributions.
I'm enormously grateful to everyone in the Las Vegas area who participated in l
ocal MDA special events, phoned in a pledge to the Telethon broadcast on KLAS-TV, Channel 8, or helped in any other way. You've made an important difference which I hope you'll continue year-round with volunteer help and financial support.
Please call your local MDA office to find out how you can stay involved.
To everyone who made the 1998 Telethon a knockout, from the bottom of my heart,
thanks.
JERRY LEWIS
National Chairman.
Muscular Dystrophy Association
Las Vegas
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