Letter to the editor: Readers express their concerns, Feb. 12, 2015

READER OBJECTS TO TREATMENT OF DOG

Because I don’t know much about the chat lines or other means of communicating with our community, I hope this will serve a purpose:

Traveling west on Thomas W. Ryan Boulevard nearing Lake Mead Boulevard around 9:30 a.m. Feb. 1, I observed a woman driver and an overweight man passenger on a golf cart with a leashed dog running as fast as his little legs could carry him behind the cart. Even worse, it was a steep climb going up hill on Thomas Ryan. I actually was afraid to try to pull them over to stop this severe animal cruelty. Anyone mean and stupid enough to do this is probably crazy or dangerous as well. Surely somebody out there knows who these idiots are. I beg you to come forward, identify them, and hopefully they can be jailed or punished.

To help with identification, they also had a black and white medium dog on the cart. I suppose it was the next one to be tortured.

I pray that someone will take action against these two total idiots.

— Anne Green, Las Vegas

READER SHARES VALENTINE’S DAY WISDOM

How will you feel when Feb. 14 rolls around this year? For some of us, the day is filled with bittersweet memories: sweet because we are reminded of a time past when we were cherished and loved by that someone special; bitter because that feeling was in the past. The choices are to wallow in the bitterness or soar on the memories. It might have been a long time ago, but count yourself fortunate to have known true love.

When I was young growing up in New England, the month of February had few highlights: Valentine’s Day and two days off of school to honor the presidents.

Valentine’s Day was always the highlight. The anticipation of getting that special card and the fancy boxes we had in the grammar school room decorated with red and white hearts and cupids. How we looked forward to the cards we would get, counting them out with friends to see who received the most. As time went on, the valentines became fewer but more meaningful. Eventually, if you were fortunate, there was that special someone that changed the face of this special day.

Historians can trace Valentine’s Day, or something like it, back to Ancient Rome: a celebration in mid-February for fertility. It was called Lupercalia. History also reminds us of the St. Valentine’s Day massacre that some failed loves around Valentine’s Day might relate to. The first mass produced Valentine’s Day cards were produced in America in the 1840s. There is a long history to this day that now involves lots of money spent on chocolates, flowers, cards and gifts.

How many people will you see on Valentine’s Day that have that sparkle in their eyes, and it’s just so obvious that you’re looking at someone who is loved. I want to be that person, but I have to make a point to look the part because it’s easy to wallow in the bitterness of not having what you once had.

And now, each year, as fast as the Christmas decorations come down, the shelves are filled with chocolate hearts and things to buy as an expression of your love or affection for that special someone. We seem to need props because we are no longer taking the time to tell the one we love that they are loved. An expensive dozen roses is supposed to tell it, but roses don’t have voice. What matters on this day when if you are lucky enough to have someone to love you are lucky enough. What matters is that you share your love. When there is no longer that special person to give love too, share the love with the world. Smile at a stranger; pay for the person behind you at Starbucks or McDonalds; let the world know that love doesn’t die if we don’t let it.

This Valentine’s Day bounce out of bed with the song in your head: All I’ve got is love, la-da-da-da! That’s what matters.

— Georgia Wenzel