Letters, 7/17: Be responsible for trash
In response to “Clean up trash in town” (letter, July 11): While I would like to imagine that this trash pileup is because of accidental or unintentional disposal, it is obvious that it is simply a matter of blatant irresponsibility and disrespect for others.
Have we really lost that much respect for our city and its aesthetic value? Just last week while driving in my vehicle, I witnessed a person driving on North 27th Street at 5:30 p.m. unloading the contents of a fast-food sack out of the window of their vehicle. Not more than a few days later, I witnessed a person waiting at a bus stop intentionally discarding a candy bar wrapper onto the ground.
While I understand that some trash cans have been removed in city parks in efforts to tighten the budget, that does not excuse a person from properly disposing of their waste, regardless of what form it takes. Perhaps if the littering law was enforced and fines were given, the city could recover some if its budget shortfall.
Litter bugs, if you do not think that your actions affect Lincoln’s economy and reputation, just check out some of the blogs available on the Nebraska Game and Parks Web site, specifically those concerning lakes and trash dumps. The comments about Lincoln’s litter problem attest to its ongoing problem even prior to the thinning of trash cans in city parks.
For those of us who still believe that Lincoln holds an aesthetic value far greater than that of any convention center or new shopping mall, it’s time to step up and start reporting these litter bugs and demand that the city enforce efforts to clean up its act.
Susan Horton, Lincoln
Applaud patriotic efforts
Thank you for printing the full text of the Declaration of Independence in the July Fourth paper. It is seldom that one hears or reads more than the stirring opening phrases of the Declaration or the closing lines in which the signers pledge their lives, fortunes and sacred honor.
We should also applaud the defining thoughts of Jay E. Schmidt (letter, July 4) in which he lists the characteristics of true patriotism.
In my years as a World War II infantry veteran I have been turned off by the flag-waving, tub-thumping, super patriots who hold forth on national holiday occasions. I suspect most of them never experienced bullets, gun fire or bombs.
When I am called to speak to students or the public on such occasions, I try to share the late Sydney Harris’ philosophy on patriotism. As a syndicated columnist with the Atlanta Constitution, Harris framed his thoughts on patriotism something like this:
We all too often confuse patriotism with nationalism. The Nationalist believes his country is always right, can do no wrong and he will blindly support its every action. Whereas the Patriot, while loving his country, strives for what is best for his country, and pursues that goal even if it is unpopular at the time.
Stanley J. Lambert, Ewing
Bush actions destructive
Shame on George Bush! First he lies about weapons of mass destruction to attack Iraq for its oil. Now he tells Israel it has free rein to attack Iran, according to a senior Pentagon official quoted by the British Sunday Times. Just so he can expand his dirty war.
The American people do not want this war! Fact is, his greed for Iran’s oil is so high he’s encouraging Israel to attack! This is suicide for Israel.
Dave Kruse, Lincoln
More deserve honor label
The concerns Gordon Winters expresses in his blog on the Lincoln Public Schools honor roll prompt us to consider the criteria we should use when honoring students. Is it performance relative to peers, to students nationwide, or to curriculum objectives? Perhaps a little of each.
LPS honors students in the top 3 percent of their class, those who perform well relative to their peers, the best of the best. But, there is room to recognize more than one level of achievement.
LPS also honors National Merit Scholars, students who perform well nationally. In 2005, Southwest had nine National Merit semifinalists.
Our elementary students are performing well nationally, too. Last year on the Metropolitan Achievement Test, 90 percent of LPS third-graders scored above the 50th percentile in math. So yes, almost all were "above average."
More and more we recognize that the goal of education is not to do a better job of sorting students into top and bottom tiers, but to help more and more students meet and exceed high standards.
One qualification for honor roll is a 3.5 grade-point average. A districtwide curriculum and criterion-referenced tests have made grades more rigorous and consistent. Students have responded to higher expectations and more students are meeting the standards.
How discouraging to suggest that more students meeting higher standards is a reason to stop honoring them. Just my personal opinion, but I think that when almost half of the students meet and exceed high standards, the word "honor" applies. Congratulations to the students and teachers at Southwest.
Lanny Boswell, Lincoln
Have we really lost that much respect for our city and its aesthetic value? Just last week while driving in my vehicle, I witnessed a person driving on North 27th Street at 5:30 p.m. unloading the contents of a fast-food sack out of the window of their vehicle. Not more than a few days later, I witnessed a person waiting at a bus stop intentionally discarding a candy bar wrapper onto the ground.
While I understand that some trash cans have been removed in city parks in efforts to tighten the budget, that does not excuse a person from properly disposing of their waste, regardless of what form it takes. Perhaps if the littering law was enforced and fines were given, the city could recover some if its budget shortfall.
Litter bugs, if you do not think that your actions affect Lincoln’s economy and reputation, just check out some of the blogs available on the Nebraska Game and Parks Web site, specifically those concerning lakes and trash dumps. The comments about Lincoln’s litter problem attest to its ongoing problem even prior to the thinning of trash cans in city parks.
For those of us who still believe that Lincoln holds an aesthetic value far greater than that of any convention center or new shopping mall, it’s time to step up and start reporting these litter bugs and demand that the city enforce efforts to clean up its act.
Susan Horton, Lincoln
Applaud patriotic efforts
Thank you for printing the full text of the Declaration of Independence in the July Fourth paper. It is seldom that one hears or reads more than the stirring opening phrases of the Declaration or the closing lines in which the signers pledge their lives, fortunes and sacred honor.
We should also applaud the defining thoughts of Jay E. Schmidt (letter, July 4) in which he lists the characteristics of true patriotism.
In my years as a World War II infantry veteran I have been turned off by the flag-waving, tub-thumping, super patriots who hold forth on national holiday occasions. I suspect most of them never experienced bullets, gun fire or bombs.
When I am called to speak to students or the public on such occasions, I try to share the late Sydney Harris’ philosophy on patriotism. As a syndicated columnist with the Atlanta Constitution, Harris framed his thoughts on patriotism something like this:
We all too often confuse patriotism with nationalism. The Nationalist believes his country is always right, can do no wrong and he will blindly support its every action. Whereas the Patriot, while loving his country, strives for what is best for his country, and pursues that goal even if it is unpopular at the time.
Stanley J. Lambert, Ewing
Bush actions destructive
Shame on George Bush! First he lies about weapons of mass destruction to attack Iraq for its oil. Now he tells Israel it has free rein to attack Iran, according to a senior Pentagon official quoted by the British Sunday Times. Just so he can expand his dirty war.
The American people do not want this war! Fact is, his greed for Iran’s oil is so high he’s encouraging Israel to attack! This is suicide for Israel.
Dave Kruse, Lincoln
More deserve honor label
The concerns Gordon Winters expresses in his blog on the Lincoln Public Schools honor roll prompt us to consider the criteria we should use when honoring students. Is it performance relative to peers, to students nationwide, or to curriculum objectives? Perhaps a little of each.
LPS honors students in the top 3 percent of their class, those who perform well relative to their peers, the best of the best. But, there is room to recognize more than one level of achievement.
LPS also honors National Merit Scholars, students who perform well nationally. In 2005, Southwest had nine National Merit semifinalists.
Our elementary students are performing well nationally, too. Last year on the Metropolitan Achievement Test, 90 percent of LPS third-graders scored above the 50th percentile in math. So yes, almost all were "above average."
More and more we recognize that the goal of education is not to do a better job of sorting students into top and bottom tiers, but to help more and more students meet and exceed high standards.
One qualification for honor roll is a 3.5 grade-point average. A districtwide curriculum and criterion-referenced tests have made grades more rigorous and consistent. Students have responded to higher expectations and more students are meeting the standards.
How discouraging to suggest that more students meeting higher standards is a reason to stop honoring them. Just my personal opinion, but I think that when almost half of the students meet and exceed high standards, the word "honor" applies. Congratulations to the students and teachers at Southwest.
Lanny Boswell, Lincoln
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