Victoria Ayotte Brown: Pit bull attack on girl sparks most reader discussion
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The attack on a young girl in Omaha by a pit bull sparked outrage in readers and a debate on whether the breed should be banned. The initial story and a follow-up one saying that the girl will need multiple surgeries were the most-commented of the week, generating 132 published comments combined.
“I don’t think it’s the animal’s fault. It’s the person who raises the dog,” Katrina said. “I have three pit bulls, and they are the friendliest animals to everyone. It surprises a lot of people that they are loving dogs. It’s the way you raise them, and that’s what people need to understand.”
Tony commented: “People who argue in favor of owning pit bulls, or other similar breeds, demonstrate quite clearly the main problem with society: selfishness. No matter what the possible inconveniences or dangers to others, their desire to own one of these dogs destroys their own good judgment and supercedes the safety and needs of others. You don’t have to own one of these dogs just like I don’t have to smoke in a restaurant.”
State Fair finalizes concert lineup; 60 published comments.
A lot of posters were critical of the music acts planned for this year’s Nebraska State Fair.
“This is a big reason that the State Fair is such a failure,” Lincolnite commented. “Could we get some current talent and not a bunch of has-beens?”
Good job state fair was one defender: “I think the fair did a great job with what they have to work with. Paying the price of admission to the fair to see these shows is a great price! Boyz II Men is (according to the RIAA) the top-selling R&B group of all time.”
Survey: Voters support ending preferences; 56 comments published.
A majority of Nebraskans may have favored ending preferences in the survey sponsored by the petition group, but a majority of commenters were skeptical of the survey.
“Given the amount of double-speak in the petition and from the California/ Michigan / Washington / Arizona / Nebraska / Colorado / Oklahoma / Missouri Civil Rights Initiative folks, I’m not surprised they were able to word a survey to get favorable results,” Outside the Box said.
But Justice wrote: “Supporters of affirmative action claim that the petition and survey are misleading. How dull does someone have to be not to understand the difference between preferences and merit? Nebraska United will not oppose the petition on its merits but fights back by scaring the public.”
Letters, 6/26: President above the law; 42 comments published.
Mike Draper’s letter blasted President Bush for being above the law and referenced the domestic surveillance program and the deaths of thousands of Americans serving in Iraq.
“Mike Draper, where were you when Clinton lied under oath? According to your line of thought, shouldn’t he have been removed from office?” Ray-J asked.
Above the law said: “Retroactive immunity for the telecoms that participated in the Bush wiretapping agenda (amnesty that a Republican can support) goes beyond accusations that Bush lied about Iraqi WMDs. The unauthorized eavesdropping on U.S. citizens not only violates federal law (FISA), it also violates the First and Fourth Amendments to the Constitution. By granting immunity to the complicit parties, Congress has taken the position that the president is not only above the law, he is above the Constitution; i.e., he is an unaccountable dictator. That is much more serious than lying (even under oath) about consensual sex.”
Mayor proposes new housing stimulus plan; 37 comments published.
Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler envisions giving $1,000 grants to those buying new homes, as well as creating a one-stop shop for economic development. Commenters were livid at the new-home stimulus plan.
“Mr. Beutler, I have been a fan of yours to date, but this homebuilder stimulus package is one the worst ideas I have ever heard,” George said.
“I’d like any tax/subsidy incentives for housing to be spent on high-density housing projects in redevelopment areas of central Lincoln,” Chris wrote. “There will be demand for this type of housing in the next few years as more and more people get out of their cars.”
Reach Victoria Ayotte Brown at 473-7338 or vayotte@journalstar.com.
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