Posted: Tuesday, August 28, 2007 10:00 pm
Unworthy of endorsement
The fact that Michael Vick chose to accept a plea agreement rather than stand trial on the charges facing him speaks volumes. He must realize that the case against him was solid and the possibility of a long jail term was very real. He is not a sympathetic figure. His arrogance and demeanor are part and parcel of the unfortunate attention afforded celebrities in this country and the ridiculous level of publicity paid to their opinions and actions. Vick is an athlete, but he is wrapped in the same cloth as Paris Hilton, Mel Gibson, and a litany of other "notables."
I was disappointed that the NAACP had chosen to carry Vick's shield. The presumption that the sports world will find a "new Michael Vick" at the end of this ordeal is presumptive and premature. This highly respected organization cheapens its status when it supports thugs and gangsters like Vick. The fact that Vick is black should not automatically afford him the endorsement and sympathy of the NAACP. He has been accused of, and in effect admitted to, a heinous crime.
If the experience of his sentence, whatever that may be, changes him, then endorse his return to a sport that, quite frankly, is better off without him.
Kenneth R. England, Sweet Home
Want help? Fill this cup
We received the following e-mail and completely agree:
"Like a lot of folks in this state, I have a job. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck, I am required to pass a random urine test, with which I have no problem.
"What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test. Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them?
"Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their duff, doing drugs, while I work. Can you imagine how much money the state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check?"
Spencer & Myriah Watkins, Albany
Another rat over the side
Well it looks like most of the rats have begun to jump a burning ship. First Donald Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Harriet Myers, Karl Rove and now, Alberto Gonzales. Who's next, Condi? Chertoff?
In my 83 years of existence I don't think I have ever seen such an incompetent group of advisers to a president, unless it was Warren G. Harding and I was too young to know him, only what my father told me.
Usually when a president is somewhat deficient in the upper stories, he or she is wise enough to select competent help in the brain department, but in this administration, loyalty to the chief seems to be the only qualification needed. I suppose a psychologist would surmise an inferiority complex for such an individual. Either that or a known lack of confidence in his own abilities, which amounts to the same thing.
For our sake and the sake of this great country I hope that President Bush will try, at least, to appoint competent help for the remaining one and a half years of his administration. That is if he isn't impeached before then. I don't enjoy being a Bush basher, but what can a person do in the face of such ineptitude? I hope I make it to 2008, if nothing else, to try to restore some sanity to government.
Kenneth Houston, Albany
Money wasted on this fence
I see that they are building a chain link fence at North Albany Middle School. I wanted to know why it is being built and how much it is going to cost, so I called the school district. The person I spoke with told me that there had been an advisory committee formed in regard to the school bond measure, and one of the recommendations this committee made was to put a fence up at NAMS. The reason? Apparently, there is some type of water back behind the blackberry bushes that poses a safety hazard to our children.
I am often in that field with my dog, and I can tell you that it would be no mean feat to get to that water. It's behind a thicket of blackberry bushes and amounts to no more than a swampy area. I was told that there were two other fences being put up at Albany schools, both elementary, one of which is being put up to keep the children off of the railroad tracks. I commend that particular recommendation, as I am sure most of us would.
I do want to let everyone know, however, that the fence at NAMS is going to cost $24,000. I feel that our hard-earned money would be better spent elsewhere. The students at NAMS have no interest in fighting a thicket of blackberries to get to a stagnant body of water. I am always in favor of supporting our schools, but I cannot possibly begin to understand how this very expensive fence benefits my children or yours.
It's no wonder the first measure didn't pass, and no small wonder that the second measure did pass. Had I known that a fence of that magnitude and cost was proposed, I would have vehemently opposed it.
Adriana Buer, Albany
On park land, what's next?
I have been a member of this community for 33 years. The idea of placing any private organization's building on public land is appalling. What will be next on park property? A Starbucks at every neighborhood park?
My husband, David Clark, the former city of Albany parks and recreation director, had a very strong feeling for open spaces, as his past development record shows. He wasn't even very strong in believing that every neighborhood park needed a playground because of the fact that children get to play on their neighborhood schools playground several times a day.
He did have a very strong philosophy that certain places needed to be left as a wilderness area for the city youth to experience the wildlife and open spaces. Imagination of parents and children can be challenged with open spaces. By allowing one park site to be built upon when there may be a better alternative, is absolutely frightening.
If the YMCA builds on park land, we lose- totally lose - that open wilderness that can never be regained!
David went to Washington D.C. for 13 years every February to meet with many congressmen and their aides to promote saving park land. The very last meeting he was able to attend was in 2001 and he was the main leader in a fight to save a very small part of Zion's Canyon Park in southern Utah. The Utah government representatives had been persuaded by businessmen to believe that selling some pristine land for a condominium site would benefit the economy and tourism of Utah. David won that four-day battle.
Many Scout groups have had wonderful campouts at Timber-Linn for several years. The boys are safe and secure there and are able to work on merit badges in an open space.
I feel that the city of Albany should not be trying to trade down for a small percentage of people who want a fancier building.
Diane Clark, Albany