Letters for December 30, 2010

He said, ‘Ass’

Re “Now that’s funny” (Letters to the editor, Dec. 16):

So, Ms. Van Dyke, are you carrying on with this stimulating conversation while doing a keg stand and puking in the bushes? Why, with all of that and being smarter than most, who would begrudge you a wee bit of elitism? Surly not one of those mouth-breathers you so despise. And God forbid that you put some of those thoughts you’re thinking into helping more than yourself—why, it might catch on. Gosh, what you must think of those of us who don’t have that educated advantage to sit around and have stimulating conversations and thinking for oneself. And why even bother sharing those thoughts with us living here in the working class muck and mire? We probably just wouldn’t get it. Why, it almost could be a song, and you can guess the tune: “Oh the thoughts I could be hatchin’, if my ass I’d just quit scratchin’, if I only had a degree.”

Daniel Nemanick
Sparks

Santa attack

Re “Adults only” (Filet of Soul, Dec. 16):

I just read what you wrote about Santa Claus; and, since Santa Claus is my legal name, I thought I’d respond.

You wrote, “I think it’s wrong to base any relationship on a lie.” Does that include your relationship with your readers?

You’ve known, since Judge Hardy granted my petition in 2005, that Santa Claus is my legal name and that I live most of the year up at Lake Tahoe. Contrary to your unwarranted assertions, I am not the “personification of secular Christmas,” “god-lite,” “a secular personality,” “a metaphor,” “concept,” or “lie.”

I’m a volunteer advocate for the 2 million children in the U.S. annually who are abused, neglected, exploited, abandoned, homeless and institutionalized through no fault of their own.

I’m also a consecrated Christian Bishop and Monk, as St. Nicholas was many centuries ago, and believe that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ, not the crass, commercial, secular spectacle it has become in many places. I also believe that the greatest gift one can give is love, not presents.

This winter, especially, I’d like to see parents volunteering at soup kitchens and homeless shelters bring their children along to learn or rekindle compassion for others. Also, there are many local charities providing for the health, safety, and welfare of vulnerable children to which parents can donate, in their child’s name, making sure their child knows that is their gift.

Santa Claus
Incline Village

To the point

Re “Adults only” (Filet of Soul, Dec. 16):

Jesus said, “Suffer the little children and forbid them not to come unto me.” I became a true believer as a child when I heard that Bible story. During my childhood, kids were expected to be seen more than heard, and I knew that this adult who truly respected children was worthy of my devotion.

Santa Claus fills an important secular role for children of all religions—especially children who would not otherwise be introduced to welcoming and loving adult figures. I won’t speculate on when and whether kids should be told the truth about Santa.

However, it tipped me off as a child that adults asked me, “Do you believe in Santa Claus?” I realized no one asked adults that question and that one day I would not believe in Santa.

By contrast, I noted that adults never asked children, “Do you believe in God?” Perhaps I was lucky in my environment, but the message came through loud and clear that this question did not need to be asked of anyone who had been introduced to God.

Lizbeth Trotti
Reno

Punish the poor

Re “The Select Few” (Letters to the editor, Dec. 2):

Chuck Tanner, responding to the RN&R editorial of Nov. 24, demonstrates a temperament of ethic simpatico with the most universally infamous, reviled, barbaric monsters of modern history. Are we, the people, to eliminate Tanner’s “only problem,” “not enjoying,” “ by enforcing police directives criminalizing and segregating individuals based on character assassinations and stereotypes? Tanner wants disenfranchisement and “eliminating” of American citizens who are insolvent, disabled, dissolute, juvenile, itinerant or otherwise disadvantaged and homeless.

Tanner’s solution for “eliminating” homeless Americans recommends attrition by withholding aid, ostracism, coercion, arrest, incarceration, forced relocation, expulsion, exposure, and starvation. If Tanner becomes homeless will he still think municipal code “doesn’t go far enough” and want “eliminating”? In his meandering uninformed effort to pressure us into solving his “only problem,” “not enjoying,” Tanner praises our infrastructure, threatens to withhold his lucky retirement dollar from the casino-restaurant-shop, then peppers us with unfounded refutable factoids, all to sell the lie that society’s homeless orphans and other homeless are in love with life-threatening poverty, and that therefore we should stifle our virtues of respect, duty and compassion for our own people. Shall we become a people without duty to and compassion for our own?

Persephone Tatarin
Reno

Sober Santas

Re “Everyone’s a suspect” (Upfront, Dec. 16):

I think you missed the point. The thousands of red-clad revelers stayed at the hotels and walked around to the bars. Thus, there was no need to have DUI checkpoint downtown. The Santa Crawl is a great event. I can’t understand why people keep suggesting that it is drunk fest. The Santa Crawl event is tame due to it being impossible to get a drink, which resulted in few intoxicated participants. Plus, the average age is over 30. Why don’t you check your facts before you write this type of crap?

MDG
via www.newsreview.com/reno

We’re stupid

Re “Everyone’s a suspect” (Upfront, Dec. 16):

Why in hell is a downtown bar owner seemingly criticizing the cops for setting up a DUI checkpoint away from downtown? Does he want his patrons to get DUIs? Is he stupid? Why is the RN&R calling the police asking why they don’t set up a DUI near the Santa Crawl when it gets so much revenue from bars participating in the Santa Crawl? You guys remind me of the idiot in school who asks the teacher, did you forget to give us our homework? Idiots!

Louis
via www.newsreview.com/reno

Free enterprise

Re “Lights out for Empire, Nev.” (View from the Fray, Dec. 23):

I would love to see Harry Reid give this speech in Gerlach as part of an effort to reinvent and save the town. With an apology to President Kennedy:

“I believe that this state should commit itself to achieving the goal, before the next decade is out, of producing 100 million gallons of cellulosic biofuels in Nevada, leading to greater energy independence, job creation and economic growth.

“It is now time to take longer strides—time for a great new Nevadan enterprise—time for this state to take a leading role in renewable energy development, one which may hold the key to our future on Earth, through the reduction of greenhouse gases.”

Lauren Scott
Reno