Letters for May 10, 2001

Re “Hate Target” (RN&R Letters, April 12):

KKOH radio host Rusty Humphries recently asked callers what they thought about another talk show host, Michael Savage [whose syndicated show is also broadcast on KKOH]. The reason was that ["Hate Target” author] Guy Richardson had written some vicious propaganda about Savage. Most callers backed Savage and believed he is an honest American who truly loves his country.

Richardson’s description of Savage was a closed-minded, backstabbing assault. It is pretty obvious that he doesn’t listen to Savage very often. Richardson took some of Savage’s comments and super-sensationalized them in his story to make Savage himself a “Hate Target.”

Richardson stated, “Except, alas, hate sells. Often, the innocent pay.” It’s pretty obvious that Richardson hates what Savage has to say. I guess that makes Guy Richardson prejudiced against people who love this country and people who back Savage.

Jim Wade
Incline Village

What is your point, Bill?

Re “Proof of Hate Crime” (RN&R Editor’s Note, April 19):

Congratulations! Your column about “hate crimes” is the first piece, outside of right-wing publications, which even dared mention the politically incorrect fact that whites can actually be victims of crimes committed by nonwhites. Be prepared to get some flak for that.

Bill Hamma
Reno

We can’t prosecute thoughts

Re “Proof of Hate Crime” (RN&R Editor’s Note, April 19):

Jimmy Boegle’s column indicates the need to clarify the state’s powers in prosecuting murder cases.

The First Amendment grants us free speech and, by extension, free thought. These rights are the foundation upon which most of our individual liberties are expressed. In the case of criminal prosecution, including murder, current legislation limits the state’s considerations to: 1) the facts in the case, including evidence, witnesses and chronology of events, and 2) delineation of the motive of the perpetrator.

Enacting hate crimes legislation would enable the state to begin determining its own version of prohibited “thought” and then prosecute various crimes under that clearly unconstitutional blanket. As painful as it is when men of the quality of Sgt. George Sullivan—or four innocent African-American girls inside their Mississippi church so long ago—are killed by monsters who bear corrupted, racist thoughts in their minds, we must prohibit the state from ever being able to prosecute their “thoughts.” Under our legal system, doing so would mean we all slide down that slippery slope.

Margaret Porter
via e-mail

A religious experience downtown

Being a foreigner in the United States has faced me with many challenges. Learning the language, understanding the multicultural lifestyle of the citizens and coming to school in a different environment was just the beginning.

Driving in downtown Reno was definitely a religious experience.

Driving through downtown did not seem to be inconvenient until I actually decided to get behind the wheel. Virginia Street is plagued with upset and resentful drivers who are constantly daydreaming, eating, smoking and phoning at the same time. Drivers are suddenly awakened by an angry person who’s rushing to a destination. Then there are the other hundreds of cars behind who are desperate, too. A driver does not only have to worry about other drivers, but pedestrians who misinterpret their rights while walking through the streets.

After learning these problems, I decided to leave my car at home and take the bus or bike to school and everywhere I wish to go.

Geysell Morales
UNR student

Bob Grimm, a cool reviewer

Re “Be Warned” (RN&R Film, April 26):

I just recently read Grimm’s review for Tom Green’s mess, Freddy Got Fingered. All I want to say is how cool he is for not bashing it like all the other reviewers I’ve read. I, myself, believe Green is a genius, that his movie was for fun and that he really didn’t care what anyone said about it. I also like the fact that Grimm warned everyone about the movie, but he has made a good call on it.

On another note, great call on Memento. Anyone that has time, go see it. It is brilliant.

Steve Ryan
TMCC student