Speech limits common under Hitler, Mao, Chavez
To the editor:
In response to Hal Dalrymple's Saturday letter to the editor:
Mr. Dalrymple provides a stellar example of why we have the First Amendment. He advocates silencing or censoring folks such as Rush Limbaugh and others who practice what in his opinion is "hate speech."
Sounds as if Mr. Dalrymple is guilty of a little hate of his own. He is using the very forum he wishes to restrict.
Under the First Amendment, Mr. Dalrymple has the right to send a letter expressing his views about others to a major metropolitan newspaper and actually have it printed for all the world to see.
Well, if we're going to stifle those we don't want to hear or read, let's start with Mr. Dalrymple. He can stay home with his wall portraits of Hitler, Stalin, Chavez, Mao, Castro, Obama, Reid and Pelosi.
George Barnette
LAS VEGAS
Graduation time
To the editor:
The idea of lowering the mandatory school attendance age from 18 to 16 should not be passed by state lawmakers ("Teens' proposal attracts criticism," Friday Review-Journal).
What would this change accomplish?
Our state already has the lowest graduation rate in the country.
The current law is in place for a reason: If there are consequences for not attending class, then more students will graduate.
It is a fact that students who don't graduate from high school earn less in their lifetime than those who do graduate.
In addition, someone who graduates from an institution of higher education earns substantially more than those who have just a high school diploma.
There are rules in place throughout our lives for a reason.
For instance, a young child has a bed time set by his parents. This is in place in order for the child to get a good night's rest to be better prepared for the next day. This bed time is in place until the child is old enough to know how much rest he needs.
The mandatory attendance age of 18 is in place for the same reasons.
The child needs the education provided to be better prepared for life after graduation. The age is also set at 18 because the individual is then old enough to make the decision to enter the work force or continue on to higher education.
Ryan Wilkerson
LAS VEGAS
