Letters for September 21, 2017
Colin Kaepernick
Re “Something that matters” (editorial, Aug. 24):
I beg to differ with your editorial regarding Colin Kaepernick not getting signed by Miami. The main reason the team signed Jay Cutler was that he already knows the offense that the coach Adam Gase runs. Cutler played this offense with the Bears in 2015. They would have had to install a completely different offense in less than a month had they signed Colin Kaepernick or Robert Griffin III. Both are read option quarterbacks and both are unemployed.
No doubt that Colin’s activism and protest has cost him chances to be in the NFL but holding this one up as proof positive is really not true. Now, Colin chose to protest. He must have known there would be consequences. If he believes in his cause, then his right as an American to protest should not be infringed. But there may be consequences he must live with.
By the way, what ever happened to the Dixie Chicks?
Pierre Martin
Reno
Editor’s note: Rolling Stone, Aug. 13: “Last year, the Dixie Chicks made a roaring comeback with their DCX MMXVI World Tour, selling out stadiums and taking the stage with Beyoncé at the CMA Awards to play a version of Bey’s modern murder ballad ’Daddy Lessons.’ For those who couldn’t catch them live, the Chicks also captured a concert stop on film, screening the full set in movie theaters earlier this month.”
Trainor and Google
Re “Punishing unpopular opinion” (Let Freedom Ring, Aug. 24):
Does it surprise anyone that Brendan Trainor, a man who seems obsessed with prostitution by girls and women, supports the male Google programmer who was fired for circulating a paper at his place of employment that argued against his employer’s policy of promoting diversity in the workplace? Once the boss makes a decision, voicing opposition in such a public manner rarely ends well for the employee, regardless of the issue.
Regarding the implicit argument that girls and women are at a biological disadvantage when it comes to mathematics and science—bullshit. The bias is historic and cultural, and diversity policies aim to counteract this bias. My spouse, an engineer, mathematician and teacher, attests to this, as would my daughter, a statistician. Neither my son, a physicist, or I, an engineer, would argue with them.
Finally, like other health care providers, Planned Parenthood receives federal funding as reimbursements for medical services provided to individual patients, through Medicaid and Title X. Title X is for family planning and specifically excludes abortion, and since 1976 the Hyde Amendment has prohibited the use of federal Medicaid funds for abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or when the pregnancy endangers the woman’s life. Mr. Trainor’s statement is misleading, and probably intentionally so, assuming he knows how to use Google.
Michael Powell
Reno
Re “Punishing unpopular opinion” (Let Freedom Ring, Aug. 24):
What Google did was well within their rights. Everyone is created equally. To suggest otherwise just promotes old gender-biased stereotypes.
If he doesn’t think an employee in any company should have to follow the rules of treating everybody with respect then he should probably leave civilization. I served in the military, and in my time there I’ve seen many capable soldiers who just happen to be women. Given the chance any woman can do any job a man can do.
David King
Reno
Correction
Re “Not your average Joe” (Arts & Culture, Aug. 31):
We reported former University of Nevada, Reno President Joe Crowley’s wife’s first name at Margaret. Her name is Joy Crowley. Margaret is the name of one of the couple’s four grown children. We regret the error.