The last editorial “Throw away the Key” expressed appropriate outrage at the savage crimes committed in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park by two young men.
But then the writer becomes part of the problem - going ballistic - using language to describe the offenders like “scum” and “mad dogs” and advocating the commission of a violent crime like “throw them down some stairs a few times. Show them the same amount of mercy that they showed their victims.” That is exactly the kind of mentality that allowed the criminal behavior in the first place.
I agree that babies are not born with such violent behavior, but
parents are not the only influence on growing children. It takes a village to raise a child and our village is addicted to violence and mayhem. Parents don’t stand a chance when the whole village is against them.
Maybe if everyone had the perks that folks on “Park Avenue” enjoy our
village would be a little more peaceful.
How about the right to a job at a living wage for starters. We could follow that with affordable housing, a decent education and healthcare. We could top it all with a liberal dose of respect for all our diverse cultures and ways of living.
We’ve tried everything else to overcome violence; let’s try a little justice and humanity.
Bill Hagel
Woodside
Conflict Of Interest?
It was announced last week that MTA NYCTA President Lawrence Reuter is leaving his post to take a position with Parsons Brinckerhoff, a huge international engineering firm. This firm has a number of contracts with the MTA, including the East Side Access project.
However, the NYCTA Ethics Policy states, “You may not solicit,
negotiate or accept employment from any company or individual, which is doing business with the Authority if your job duties involve dealing with that company or individual on behalf of the Authority.”
It seems to me that all these rules are written exclusively for rank-and-file employees. By the way, Reuter’s
predecessor, Alan Kiepper upon his retirement in 1996, was also immediately hired by Parsons Brinckerhoff.
Victor Maltsev
Rego Park
Pro Troop Build Up
I believe President Bush has made it most clear that we cannot fail in Iraq for if we do, Islamic extremists will flourish, cause instability in the region and foster future attacks on our nation. I believe a build up of troops is
necessary to suppress the insurgents in Iraq. I also applaud the President’s reconstruction plans to develop and repair Iraq’s infrastructure.
In addition, I hope that the
additional soldiers promised by Bush causes the Iraqi government to work harder to take control of their own destiny. We need to support our President and by doing so, support our troops. Not supporting Bush would send the wrong message to our troops who are doing the
fighting and dying in Iraq. I believe the President is right on target with this new approach.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Bellerose
Wal-Mart Offering Cheaper Medicines
How ironic that NYC Council Finance Committee Chairperson David Weprin is concerned about hunger “City Council pushing food stamps” (Karen James - November 23), but will not lift a finger when it comes to affordable medicine.
Remember the recent announcement by Wal-Mart that they are now offering generic drugs to customers for only $4. This was welcome good news nationally. But, sadly, Queens residents will be unable to share this. Weprin is stealing the holidays from New Yorkers looking for affordable medicines.
Councilmember Weprin recently voted to raise his own base salary from $90,000 to $112,000 per year supplemented by an additional $18,000 for chairing the Council Finance Committee for a total of $130,000 - all for a part-time job.
Many New Yorkers need the great prices, good quality merchandise and newly-added affordable drugs that Wal-Mart offers. Consumers have voted with their feet all over America making Wal-Mart the number one retail merchant success story it is today. It is time to allow Wal-Mart the opportunity to compete in the NYC marketplace as well!
Larry Penner
Great Neck
Pit Bulls Are Not The Problem
As a dog trainer/behavior specialist and avid shelter volunteer, I have worked with countless Pit Bulls and offer several facts in response to the recent Pit Bull ban proposal.
Pit Bulls owned by irresponsible and criminal owners are over
represented in the media and factual statistics regarding Pit Bulls are not generally known. In 2005 at the American Temperament Test, Pit Bull dogs scored 83.8 percent, higher than the Collie and Golden Retriever.
Unfortunately, Pit Bulls have often been chosen as the dog of choice by irresponsible owners and criminals such as drug dealers and barbaric dog fighters and “trained” by abuse and torture to be aggressive. However, any dog breed can be “trained” to behave aggressively. The problem of dog aggression lies not with the dog breed but the owners.
Breed-specific legislation will not work as its target is misplaced to the dog and not the owner. The
irresponsible or criminal owners, looking for a “dangerous” dog breed, will simply choose another breed and abuse that dog/breed into becoming aggressive.
Christina Shusterich, BA, CBC
President, NY Clever K9 Inc.
Briarwood
