Tuesday, December 03, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
LETTERS: City needs to go further with stripper licenses
"They're allowed to write this kind of crap in the newspaper?"
Regent Linda Howard (left), describing her response to a UNLV student newspaper column that called her an "idiot."
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To the editor:
It appears that the city of Las Vegas in its never-ending search for more money to continue its foolishness, believes that strippers should be forced to pay a license fee for the privilege of making a living shaking their moneymakers.
Thus far, city bureaucrats are talking about charging only $150 for the license and a like amount for the initial Metro investigation. But as with barbers, beauticians, surgeons and physicians, these purveyors of jiggle should be tested by some government dance licensing bureau. In fact, the completion of a fully accredited danceology program at a local university is probably a must (Hello, Henderson College), to protect customers from substandard bump-and-grinders.
Initially, dancers would cry foul. Those who complete the program, however, and become fully licensed, will realize that these barriers to entry created by their friends at city hall will keep competitors out, cutting down on competition, thus increasing the price of dances -- and, in turn, their incomes.
DOUGLAS E. FRENCH
LAS VEGAS
Not cheating
To the editor:
In the Dec. 1 story: "Card Counting: Creating Their Luck," Alan Feldman, senior vice president of public affairs for MGM Mirage, is quoted as saying: "We view card counting as manipulation of the game, much in the same way a person who marks cards is manipulating the game."
I find these remarks highly insulting, and typical of the propaganda war waged by casino executives, floor men and detective agencies against proficient gamblers of all kinds. There is simply no sign posted in any casino that requires us to leave our brains at the door, although the casinos would prefer that every gambler do so. We train and practice to become skilled enough to beat these games. We are following the rules posted, promoted and allowed by the casinos. We do not cheat, mark cards or otherwise gain an illegal edge over the games. Everything we do is strictly in accordance with the rules.
The casinos respond by calling us cheats and liars, by harassing us, detaining us, arresting us, illegally searching us and seizing our winnings -- and in some cases even roughing us up. Casinos give away free drinks, decorate their hotels to focus our attention on the games, and use every other subliminal trick in the book to get people to lose more money. And while they are busy manipulating people's minds, these same casinos hire private detective agencies who work hard to catch the skilled ones who only want to play a fair game, following their posted rules.
This shows who the real cheats are. The casinos are the ones who are lying here, and Mr. Feldman's remarks are typical of the war being waged against those who are skilled enough to beat the casinos at their own games.
ELIOT JACOBSON
SANTA BARBARA, CALIF.
Henderson school
To the editor:
In response to your recent editorial about Nevada State College:
I am a student, and if it wasn't for Nevada State College I wouldn't be finishing up my degree. Yes, there are some problems -- as I'm sure both the Community College of Southern Nevada and UNLV had when they first opened, just like every new business, school or other would have.
It's organizations such as the Review-Journal that are making the problems bigger. I personally would rather pay whatever it costs to be able to go to a school at which the teachers and staff know you by your first name, rather than go to UNLV where you're lucky if you are known by a number.
Nevada State College is small, but so was UNLV. We will grow -- that is, if people like you don't stand in our way.
MICHELLE SCHRAMM
HENDERSON
Peace loving?
To the editor:
With regard to "Bush in rare dispute with conservatives" (Associated Press, Dec. 1): Have conservative Christians forgotten about the Crusades, the Inquisition, witch hunts, slavery and the Holocaust? All of these atrocities were perpetrated in the name of Christ and fully supported by scripture.
Do they think the victims of these crimes against humanity felt Christianity was a religion of peace? Or would they say that this malignant phase of Christianity was committed by militants and fanatics -- like the terrorism committed by militant, fanatical Muslims today -- and does not reflect the peace, love and tolerance at the heart of true Christianity?
While I am no great fan of President Bush, he is absolutely right when he says, "Islam, as practiced by the vast majority of people, is a peaceful religion." Religion is whatever one wants to make of it and it seems conservative Christians are bent on repeating their history by creating an atmosphere that would justify a religious war between the largely Christian west and the Muslim world in the name of, as Kenneth Adelman called him, "a peace advocate like Jesus."
Why aren't these so-called Christians reaching out to peace-loving Muslims to create an atmosphere of tolerance, understanding and cooperation instead of attacking Islam through speeches and the media and trying to convince our President to develop a larger war against Islam? How long is it going to be before people see that there is no difference between terrorism perpetrated by so-called Christians and terrorism perpetrated in the name of any other religion?
LIZ CRONKHITE
LAS VEGAS
Free press
To the editor:
According to your Nov. 30 story, Regent Linda Howard wants the Board of Regents to keep any "university money (from) going into the (UNLV Rebel Yell) student newspaper." Ms. Howard points to writer Hubert Hensen's ad hominem laced objection to affirmative action as justifying this move.
Although I disagree with Mr. Hensen's points and the way he delivered them -- I authored for the Rebel Yell "Affirmative Action Works" (April 26, 2001) and "Affirmative Action is Important" (Feb. 11) -- I believe that an open dialogue on even extremely controversial issues is of paramount importance, especially at a university.
I hope that Ms. Howard will someday comprehend the vast benefits stemming from the freedom to voice opinions, even opinions with which one disagrees.
AARON M. CLEMENS
WASHINGTON, D.C.
The writer is a former editor-in-chief of the Rebel Yell.
