Lettters

Bob the Potato

Audrey Brust, 7
Reno

The sexual counter-revolution

I believe many of our societal issues are directly related to the use of contraceptives because they allow the sexual act to be performed without accountability. It reinforces personal gratification detached from natural law, which states that sex between a man and a woman can produce a child during fertile days if all is well physiologically. By circumventing this law, people are objectified because it takes the person out of the equation; it becomes solely an act of gratification. If a particular act produces something as significant as creating another human being, doesn’t it seem logical that there would be responsibility attached to that act? Married couples often have the most issues surrounding sex. Women often feel unappreciated and men often struggle with pornography. Could there be a direct correlation between this and sex without responsibility? I think so due to this objectification. Single people struggle with sexual issues as well. Women will involve themselves in sexual encounters/relationships often in an effort to feel loved and valued. Men will participate in the same type of relationship mostly for physical gratification. This may not always be true, but most will agree they do not feel a sense of responsibility when it comes to sex. Why should they? Contraceptives take accountability out of the situation. Women are fertile a few days out of each month. If instead of using contraceptives, people did not have sex for those few days, value would be restored to the people rather than the sexual act. I believe there would be a reduction in sexual perversions that eventually lead to reduced rape, human trafficking, child pornography, abortion and single parent households. And women would develop other ways of finding value rather than through their physical beauty and sexuality. If you do not agree with me, try it.

Dawn Harris
Reno

Racist slur

Re “Sheila Leslie: carpetbagger” (Right to Your Head, Feb. 23):

Sean Cary knows neither the English language nor American history. “Carpetbaggers” were Northern teachers, doctors, missionaries, and railroad engineers, who came South after the Civil War to help rebuild the Southern states, and to bring education and other life-sustaining benefits to former slaves. Southerners invented the pejorative word. Cary’s ugly rant is pure hate-mongering. He crosses the line of decency and of journalistic ethics. “Carpetbagger” is a racist term designed to perpetuate racism.

Valerie P. Cohen
Reno

Thanks again, firefighters

Last night the unimaginable happened and in the middle of the night, the house across the street from us was on fire. Doubly unimaginable because the house two houses down from us burned nearly to the ground a year and a half ago. I saw the same response as before: Reno’s finest, and they were once again professional to the hilt. There were four engines, including a ladder truck from Station No. 1 downtown and a truck from Station No. 8 on McCarran Boulevard. I didn’t see the numbers on the others. They had the fire out within an hour. In the time I have lived here I have been continually and profoundly amazed at how good our police and fire departments are. It is one of the reasons why Reno is a very good place to live. Before we cut taxes and services in these desperate times, we should consider the value we are receiving for our tax dollars. Some things, like the safety of the family who lives in that house, are worth far more than a dollar amount will ever represent. Thank you, Reno Fire Department. You are our heroes.

Shel Davis
Reno

Free country

Re “Sheila Leslie: carpetbagger” (Right to Your Head, Feb. 23):

Newsflash: If you run for political office, you can never again do anything for any reason that isn’t political. What a jaded point of view! In Nevada, where we have citizen legislators with real lives and day jobs, I find it extremely cynical to suggest that all major life decisions are based on political motives. State Sen. Sheila Leslie, like all of us, has the right to live and move where she chooses. Unless she stated she was moving for political reasons, it is you who are indulging in bold classless moves by making that assumption as a public accusation. The condescension with which you end your article speaks volumes about you, but little about Sen. Leslie. In my experience, she has always been more respectful than that, even to her opponents.

Vicki LoSasso
Reno

The little co-op

Re “Organically grown” (Feature story, Feb. 9):

Regarding the question of the Washoe Zephyr Co-op of years past, they are two completely different business entities. Other than the fact that they are food cooperatives there is no connection, one to the other. Much effort was made to keep the Zephyr open, but in the end, the options weren’t there. The current co-op, the Great Basin Community Food Cooperative is open to the public. Shop local, support our local farmers, put money back into our community, Reno!

Marigael Morris
Reno