Commissioners merit praise, scorn
To the editor:
My thanks to Clark County Commissioners Susan Brager, Steve Sisolak and Mary Beth Scow for their intelligent and compassionate vote to keep the existing horse tripping ban in place, despite pressures from those who believe this “sport” to be a traditional and cultural privilege (“Commissioners refuse to lift ban on horse tripping,” Wednesday Review-Journal). I’m certain the horses don’t see the potential for agonizing injuries or even death as a celebratory event.
There’s no way to safely rope a large and beautiful horse or guarantee no injury will occur. Approving and having animal cruelty as part of your culture should produce shame, not arguments to continue what can only be described as animal torture, all under the guise of ethnic pride.
And to Commissioners Tom Collins, Chris Giunchigliani and Lawrence Weekly, your approval of this Mexican rodeo event is despicable and doesn’t represent the overwhelming support of the ban by an intelligent and animal-caring public.
CAROLE LAROCCA
LAS VEGAS
Obama and horse tripping
To the editor:
What do President Barack Obama and horse tripping have in common? If you’re a Tea Party supporter and oppose $17 trillion in debt, you’re a racist. If you’re an animal activist and oppose animal abuse, you guessed it, you’re a racist.
So in reality, the civil discourse in America has been reduced to name-calling and trash-fighting to obscure the real issues. Identity politics is a progressive trick that has split Americans into little special interest groups. United we stand, and divided we are losing our rights. Focus, people. Don’t take your eyes off the real issues.
TINA TRENNER
PAHRUMP
Greatest reward gone
To the editor:
Regarding Steve Sebelius’ Tuesday column (“As we go back to school, let me say ‘thank you’”), several times while serving as a U.S. Navy chief in different billets, followed by several years in Kansas Certified Adult Education, I too was privileged to have “witnessed the greatest reward of all for myself: A student to whom a concept was an impenetrable mystery just moments before confusion gave way to enlightenment.”
What a shame this great moment is so far removed from today’s teaching rewards. It’s seldom possible to get that moment in the unionized education systems, in which teachers at every level are forced to unquestionably accept every student thrust upon them, without evaluation as to whether that student is prepared to accept the instruction.
How can a student who doesn’t know his or her numbers be taught addition and subtraction, to parse a sentence he or she cannot read, or to concentrate while caged in disruptions from regional and ethnic language differences?
RICHARD LAW
LAS VEGAS
City needs two voices
To the editor:
It’s very disturbing to read that management and owners of the Review-Journal would consider eliminating the Las Vegas Sun, especially since the motivation appears to be purely monetary (“Expert: Lawsuit has slim chance,” Thursday Review-Journal). The citizens of Southern Nevada need a balanced editorial approach from their newspapers, and the Review-Journal and the Sun uniquely provide that, regardless of which side of the editorial policy readers sit on.
Good for Brian Greenspun in trying to stop this foolishness.
DON BRADY
LAS VEGAS
Auto parts theft ring
To the editor:
I saw a couple of short pieces on local network news about the recent breakup of an auto parts theft ring by the police. As a victim of these thugs, I was looking forward to reading more about it in the Review-Journal. Our police need kudos for this action, and there are many of us who had parts stripped off our automobiles who would like to know more about the arrest of this gang. How about some coverage?
JAMES WOODS
HENDERSON
