LETTERS: R-J errs by publishing Malkin column
The Review-Journal has crossed the line into hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric by publishing the hostile, disgusting rants of Michelle Malkin ("Paying the price for abortion," July 22 Review-Journal). That same column, on Ms. Malkin's website and others, appeared under the headline, ’The wine-sipping butchers of Planned Parenthood.’ Of course, someone toned down the headline for the R-J, which I assume was to make it more palatable, but the column reads exactly as it appears on her website.
I support open dialogue on all issues, regardless of how difficult and divisive. But Ms. Malkin’s only intention is to spread revolting lies and get personal attention. She lacks any moral compass. Would the R-J publish a column from a white supremacist group extolling the virtues of race relations, using derogatory language? Or have a member of the Westboro Baptist Church spread homophobic opinions on marriage equality? Publishing commentary from Ms. Malkin is just as egregious. The Center for Medical Progress, which recorded the undercover video at the heart of Ms. Malkin’s diatribe, works in conjunction with board members of Operation Rescue, and a supporter of that group murdered Dr. George Tiller in 2009.
The R-J's decision to print this column is the lowest form of trolling and goes beyond the pale of acceptable journalism for a newspaper. Keep this in the blogosphere, where it belongs.
Lori Ernsperger
Henderson
Political pandering
For years, politicians of every party have been loud in their pursuit of the Hispanic vote. Apparently, the rest of us don’t matter. Tons of newsprint has been devoted to educate me on the need to provide more and more opportunities for Hispanics, including the 11 million who have entered the country illegally, ’seeking a better life for their families.’ Gov. Brian Sandoval, defending his record-breaking tax increase, tells me budgets may be cut if the increase is reversed by referendum. Autistic children may suffer, he says. He didn’t say anything about possible cuts to the additional $50 million allocated for English Language Learners. I wonder how he overlooked that.
Pundits of every political persuasion tell me diversity and inclusion are the way forward to an ever-better America, so I should rejoice in the rich cultural experience and hard work ethic of the tens of thousands of members of the many Hispanic social welfare organizations that are so enriching America. Lest I forget, thank you to the sanctuary city of San Francisco and its sheriff, who strongly defended his department's release of an undocumented immigrant, allowing a five-time deported felon to go free and eventually kill an innocent woman.
I’m not a racist, but I am really, really tired of being told what I have to do and what I have to fund, for one segment of the population. What are the rest of us — chopped liver? As for the saying, ’We are a nation of immigrants," will the U.S. ever strive to be just a nation — a body of people recognized as an entity by virtue of their historical, linguistic or ethnic links? Or will the U.S. continue as a politically correct chameleon, forever adapting to the strongest elements of its surroundings?
Graham H. Tye
North Las Vegas
Funding not a fix-all
I'm responding to the commentary by Victoria Carreon and Nancy E. Brune ("Increased education spending must improve student outcomes," July 15 Review-Journal), along with the associated push by Gov. Brian Sandoval, the Legislature, and others. The claim is that our schools are failing, so raising taxes — putting more money into the school system — will lead to the improvement of K-12 education. I do not believe one word of the that.
As a longtime pediatrician in Las Vegas, I have seen patients who excelled academically, who were admitted to and graduated from some of the best colleges and universities in the country. They have succeeded as physicians, attorneys, business managers, teachers, musicians and military officers. All of them were successes and graduates of Clark County School District schools.
Almost daily, I encounter students with excellent grades and ambitious plans. Likewise, I meet many who unfortunately are not bound for successful careers, whose poor performance might give rise to the idea that the whole system is a failure. All these students come from the same school system, with the same resources.
I firmly believe that if a student is motivated and ambitious, and has the support of motivated parents, he or she will excel. Those without motivation, without ambition, will continue to fail; more per-pupil funding will not make them better students. ’More taxes for the sake of our children’ sounds good, but it is not the answer.
Lee Bernstein
Las Vegas
