Letters, 11/14: Inappropriate story choice
In the 30-plus years we have had a subscription to the Journal Star, we have never been more repulsed than we were when we opened the Sunday, Nov. 11, paper. Instead of seeing an appropriate picture of a veteran, it being Veterans Day, we saw close to 200 pictures of convicted murderers.
The disservice to all past and present veterans was appalling. Whether you agree with the Iraq war or not, this “front-page news” was a slap in the face to all who have so valiantly fought for our freedoms.
The Journal Star could easily have devoted five columns to veterans and one column to convicted murderers.
This is not to say that the “Life or Death” article is not newsworthy, but on a national holiday such as Veterans Day, it is totally inappropriate to give more coverage to that than to our veterans.
Becky Detore, Lincoln
Merging great ideas
Two great ideas on one opinion page (LJS, Nov. 4): (1) Put the expected surplus state revenue of $117 million to work on a worthwhile project (Journal Star editorial). (2) The University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the State Fair should collaborate, not compete (Local View, Henry Brandt).
Continue the example already established by locating the Bob Devaney Sports Center on State Fair land. Place the proposed university research park on a portion of the 251-acre State Fair Park.
Some new buildings and parking could be used jointly by the university and the fair. Some existing buildings could be saved. Energy would be saved. Farm land would be saved. If we are truly dedicated to reducing global warming, this would be a significant beginning.
Let’s use our vaunted intelligence and ingenuity to design and build a joint facility that is functional and attractive, dedicated to education, research and recreation.
If we don’t have a better use for that $117 million, we could use it to get started on this project without delay. And regardless of that decision, the potential savings by building a joint facility could be considerable.
Walter Bagley, Lincoln
LPS sets bad example
It was so good of the Lincoln Public Schools to be “up front” about possible school closings before passage of the $250 million bond issue.
Once again LPS has demonstrated their honesty, integrity and character (or lack thereof). What, exactly, are they supposed to be teaching our children?
Laurence R. Buller, Lincoln
Dog dies for driver’s sin
To the driver speeding in excess of 45-50 miles an hour going north in front of Cabela’s on Saturday evening, Nov. 10:
That huge jolt you felt under your car was our beloved family dog who had been out on a walk with my husband. He had for the first time just somehow managed to wriggle out of his collar and run out into the street.
You were going so fast, I’m sure you never even noticed that he was there, but I don’t know how you could not have noticed the jolt; and how you could not have even slowed down, much less stopped. He’s not a small dog. I’m sure he did some damage to your car. Lots and lots of damage was done to him.
We had to end his life on Saturday. The vets said they could not promise even with quite expensive surgery performed in Omaha or Kansas that they could do anything that would assure him of a normal life. He wasn’t even two years old.
Speed limits are for a reason. I am glad our little Cadet was not a child, but a family member has still been lost. It does not pay to drive in excess of those limits, and whether you suffer any ill effects from breaking those laws, ill effects can and are still suffered.
Please pay heed … and pay attention to those jolts. Perhaps someone else’s family can be spared the loss we had.
Diana Gordon, Lincoln
The disservice to all past and present veterans was appalling. Whether you agree with the Iraq war or not, this “front-page news” was a slap in the face to all who have so valiantly fought for our freedoms.
The Journal Star could easily have devoted five columns to veterans and one column to convicted murderers.
This is not to say that the “Life or Death” article is not newsworthy, but on a national holiday such as Veterans Day, it is totally inappropriate to give more coverage to that than to our veterans.
Becky Detore, Lincoln
Merging great ideas
Two great ideas on one opinion page (LJS, Nov. 4): (1) Put the expected surplus state revenue of $117 million to work on a worthwhile project (Journal Star editorial). (2) The University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the State Fair should collaborate, not compete (Local View, Henry Brandt).
Continue the example already established by locating the Bob Devaney Sports Center on State Fair land. Place the proposed university research park on a portion of the 251-acre State Fair Park.
Some new buildings and parking could be used jointly by the university and the fair. Some existing buildings could be saved. Energy would be saved. Farm land would be saved. If we are truly dedicated to reducing global warming, this would be a significant beginning.
Let’s use our vaunted intelligence and ingenuity to design and build a joint facility that is functional and attractive, dedicated to education, research and recreation.
If we don’t have a better use for that $117 million, we could use it to get started on this project without delay. And regardless of that decision, the potential savings by building a joint facility could be considerable.
Walter Bagley, Lincoln
LPS sets bad example
It was so good of the Lincoln Public Schools to be “up front” about possible school closings before passage of the $250 million bond issue.
Once again LPS has demonstrated their honesty, integrity and character (or lack thereof). What, exactly, are they supposed to be teaching our children?
Laurence R. Buller, Lincoln
Dog dies for driver’s sin
To the driver speeding in excess of 45-50 miles an hour going north in front of Cabela’s on Saturday evening, Nov. 10:
That huge jolt you felt under your car was our beloved family dog who had been out on a walk with my husband. He had for the first time just somehow managed to wriggle out of his collar and run out into the street.
You were going so fast, I’m sure you never even noticed that he was there, but I don’t know how you could not have noticed the jolt; and how you could not have even slowed down, much less stopped. He’s not a small dog. I’m sure he did some damage to your car. Lots and lots of damage was done to him.
We had to end his life on Saturday. The vets said they could not promise even with quite expensive surgery performed in Omaha or Kansas that they could do anything that would assure him of a normal life. He wasn’t even two years old.
Speed limits are for a reason. I am glad our little Cadet was not a child, but a family member has still been lost. It does not pay to drive in excess of those limits, and whether you suffer any ill effects from breaking those laws, ill effects can and are still suffered.
Please pay heed … and pay attention to those jolts. Perhaps someone else’s family can be spared the loss we had.
Diana Gordon, Lincoln
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