Letters, 4/13: Employee had leadership

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How very disappointing that by demonstrating his leadership skills, Felix Rivas-Sanchez lost his job at King Kong restaurant. Rivas-Sanchez was working very hard on Monday for something much more important than keeping the burgers cooking for a few hours.

His address to the rally was powerful and well prepared. He quoted an American president, cited historic failures of border fences and spoke to the hearts of all in attendance.

It would seem that an employer would be thrilled that they have an employee with the obvious passion and leadership we saw from Rivas-Sanchez. Now it appears that some other lucky organization can hire this remarkable young man. As for King Kong, I won’t know if they will survive, as I will not stop there again.

Si Se Puede.

Dan Kunzman, Crete

Hagel wimps out

The United States Congress is in a two-week Easter break, ostensibly to return to their home districts, celebrate Easter with “home folks” and interact with their constituents about issues facing Congress, the currently most urgent of which is the problem of illegal immigration.

So what does Sen. Chuck Hagel do? He goes on a trip to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. Nice wimp-out at taxpayer expense, Senator.

By the way, am I the only one who has noticed that Hagel has a link on his Web site stating “En Espanol”?  Just whose side is he on, anyway?

Gene Gausman, Milford

Health care a priority

I am thrilled that the Legislature overrode Gov. Dave Heineman’s veto of money for community health care clinics in Nebraska. Finally, resources for the poor are defended from the ever-present or threatened cuts by the government.

We are lucky to have two very busy and crucial community health care centers in Lincoln: Nebraska Urban Indian Medical Center (NUIMC) and People’s Health Center.

At NUIMC, we had more than 8,000 patient visits last year. This number represents a very diverse population, the vast majority of whom are uninsured or on Medicaid. We provide not only primary health care services but also transportation, interpreting services, comprehensive health education and social support.

Because we provide all these services at no cost to Native individuals, the threat of cuts to Urban Indian Health Services by the federal government would directly and adversely impact our ability to continue providing these services. Although we do not receive any of the appropriated money in question, I support the preservation of state and federal funding for community health clinics in Nebraska. Providing quality health care to all our citizens is and should be a top priority.

Patricia Spitzer, Adams

Ear piercing cruelty

I was walking through the mall the other day and heard a continuous stream of blood-curdling screams emitting from the mouth of a little girl about 50 feet ahead of me. I assumed it was another of those many children whose parents allow them to throw fits without consequences. I was wrong.

The little girl, who was approximately 3 or 4, was screaming loud and clear that she didn’t want her ears pierced, but that didn’t matter. The mother and the clerk at the earring outlet held her tightly like when you brand a cow and punctured her ear lobe anyway as she struggled to get away. The screams turned into muted sobs of relief until the little girl realized that the other ear was next, and the screams got even louder.

I was so mad that I could feel my blood pressure rise! Even if the little girl had agreed to this or even wanted to do this earlier, she is not old enough to make an informed decision like this one. And if she was all for it until it was time to do it, then for heaven’s sake, let her change her mind and go home without holes in her ears!

We, as a society, get all worked up when a parent slaps a child who has it coming, or when a teacher simply grabs a child at school who is out of control and becoming physical with the teacher, or when a teacher uses “red ink” to mark mistakes on papers; but somehow, we allow a clerk to shoot holes through a child’s ears even when that child is absolutely against it. We just walk on by as if nothing is happening?

The ironic thing is, if one of our soldiers did this to a terrorist to extract important information about upcoming terrorist attacks, he would be condemned by our liberal press to no end and would have to stand trial for it. Our society is mentally ill!

Brian L. Kamler, Lincoln

Thanks for funeral bill

I would just like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate Gov. Dave Heineman on signing the bill to prohibit protesters from disrupting military and civilian funerals. Thanks to all responsible for your fast action.

Tom Harris, Lincoln

EPA standards hurt

Yet again, the Republican leadership and the Environmental Protection Agency leadership conspire to weaken our health and our safety. With blatant disregard, not to mention misrepresenting recommendations from their own scientists, the EPA recently proposed new air pollution standards that do not sufficiently protect public health. Particulate matter pollution is linked to heart disease, respiratory ailments, and premature death. The EPA needs to hear from you.

To make matters even worse, Rep. Paul Gillmor (R-Ohio) is proposing legislation that ensures that the EPA need do nothing about regulating persistent organic pollutants under the Stockholm Convention (to which the United States is a signatory). The exact words in this legislation are that the EPA may regulate only “to the extent necessary to protect human health and the environment in a manner that achieves a reasonable balance of social, environmental and economic costs and benefits.”

This not only poses an opportunity for years of litigation that favor the chemical companies, such as Monsanto, it is basically a license for widespread pollution. This legislation was basically written by the chemical industry and does not serve us nor our children in the years to come and again ignores (or misrepresents) the recommendations from EPA scientists.

Peter Dowben, Charles Bessey Professor of Physics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln