Letters to the editor for Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013

Stop cruelty toward Cyrus and Rondstadt

It seems recently that a lot of people have slandered or gossiped negatively about certain celebrities, such as Miley Cyrus or Linda Ronstadt. I happen to be huge fans of both of them; at least they didn’t rob a bank or murder someone. I am just so sick of the bullying that continues to plague today’s world. People have no qualms or remorse about belittling others just to make themselves feel better.

I, too, was an unfortunate victim of bullying. During high school, I was being told that I would never amount to anything. Even some of my own family members didn’t offer me a lot of moral support; therefore, I had to survive on my own. Yet, I refused to quit or conform to anyone else’s standards.

So my point is, before some of you decide to trash talk another person or celebrity, you’d better dig out the skeletons in your own closet. Remember, you aren’t so pristine or perfect yourself.

Joshua Dealy

Carson City

End nonstop war; let’s stay out of Syria

So now the rumblings of war are upon us again. The Syrian government is accused of using chemical weapons on their civilian population. Do we really know if they did this, or are there some former government officials (now aligned with the rebels) who had access to their cachet, using them to get Americans to fight their civil war, as we did in Libya?

President Obama is apparently convinced their government did it, and is ready to bomb Syria, turning the two year civil war decisively for the overthrow of Assad. But why should America get involved at all? The French were governing Syria between World War I and World War II, why not let them do it?

We have gotten into a crusade against Islam. First, there was Afghanistan, a worthy retaliation that provided Al-Qaeda a base to plan attacks. Then Iraq, who did nothing to provoke us, then Libya, who came back into the UN under Gaddafi. Now it’s Syria whose government is under siege by groups trying to overthrow the regime of Assad.

I for one am fatigued by all the non-stop war that America has engaged in for the last 12 years. Besides the $2 trillion that has been spent, we have not had a good outcome to our efforts. I implore all Americans to call there representatives at the White House and object to more intervention.

Sonja Sexton

Dayton

Snowden did the job the old media doesn’t

Columnist Guy Farmer has written inflammatory, ignorant dismissals of Julian Assange, Edward Snowden, and Chelsea Manning. Specifically, Farmer claimed Snowden “betrayed his country,” violating an oath to “keep the secrets.” Farmer seemingly proudly adds he does not call for prosecuting cooperating members of the press; he suggests the First Amendment protects journalists, of which these three “aren’t.”

Farmer’s argument relies on authoritarian thinking and collectivist use of language. When Farmer uses terms like “betrayed his country,” he alludes to an idea that an America exists as a collective entity, greater than each citizen that comprises it, to betray. In concrete sense, such an entity does not exist. Rather, there’s a sub sect of the population that has, justly or unjustly, assumed power over other individuals, which we may call “the government.”

Although Americans generally consider our government democratic, some organizations are comprised almost entirely of unelected officials. Snowden provided information to the rest of us about actions this small segment of the population undertook, in our name, without our consent, that we would not otherwise be able to hold accountable. Even if Snowden violated an oath to the individuals that comprise the NSA, he fulfilled a journalist’s oath to the rest of us.

The “old media” isn’t dying because the public wishes to remain ignorant. Rather, the public recognizes old media’s failure in its role as the fourth estate, a check on abuse of political power. If Assange, Snowden, and Manning aren’t journalists, they’re something better: a fifth estate.

Jacob Richer

Reno

State must catch up on renewable energy

The renewable energy forum on Sept. 17 is a good thing. It might put to rest the entire subject, or it might reveal how the 87 percent government-owned state of Nevada with strong senatorial connections can eventually profit from renewable energies without upsetting the balance of man, bird, animal and various flora. Not to forget the visual aspect.

The use of renewable energies on a national level was fist called for by Congress shortly after the Saudi Oil Embargo of 1973-74. This would of course require the upgrading of our national power grid. The upgrade would also include national security features. Alternative transportation fuels were also called for on a national level during the 1970s. Unfortunately, none of the above ever materialized at the national level.

Over the decades, energy entrepreneurs seeking to develop solar and wind energies in the 87 percent federally owned state of Nevada were apparently turned away by the BLM for whatever reasons.

There are presently seven — maybe eight — conventional power states that continually enjoy a robust economy. It’s a shame Nevada hasn’t been allowed to enjoy those years of economic prosperity with their “clean” energy production. The financial aspect may prove rewarding for the Fed and the state.

Ron Wood

Dayton