• NBA airballs free speech • Feral cat education key • Who was that masked man? NBA airballs free speech The race baiters are just foaming at the mouth regarding Donald Sterlings’ reprehensible comments. While I disagree with his comments,
• NBA airballs free speech • Feral cat education key • Who was that masked man?
NBA airballs free speech
The race baiters are just foaming at the mouth regarding Donald Sterlings’ reprehensible comments. While I disagree with his comments, the First Amendment still applies in this country, as much as that may upset so-called liberals.
If the NBA wants to ban him from games, that’s their prerogative because stadiums are private properties. What I take issue with is the fine imposed for what I will refer to as a thought crime.
Remember that old liberal mantra? “I may disagree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Nowadays, it’s, “If I disagree with you, shut your mouth, you owe us $2.5 million and forfeit you’re team while your at it.”
This was said behind closed doors, to a woman almost baiting him into saying things, surreptitiously recording it and possibly edited. I might add this woman is African American. It strikes me as an odd choice for someone the media is so adamant is a racist. But I digress.
It’s not a crime to make stupid comments. People are demanding he sell the team, threatening him with death and prominent black figures have made racist remarks in response. Yes, justifying one racist remark with another. I’ll refer you to comments made by a gentleman who goes by the name Snoop Dog.
Sterling should counter sue the NBA and, in my opinion, should win. Free speech shall not be infringed upon just because the speech was offensive.
Dan O’Flaherty
Kapaa
Feral cat education key
I have been coming to this beautiful island as a tourist for the last 40 years. During this time, I have been aware of the presence and number of feral cats and was greatly relieved when a number of years ago I discovered the tagged ears and the presence of a trap/neuter/release program (TNR).
My observation (entirely subjective data) has been that there has been a decrease in the number of feral cats over this time frame, while the bird population has fluctuated very little with marked increases in the number of chickens, particularly roosters as well as pigeons. I was therefore concerned, and in fact dismayed, to discover your newspaper articles indicating that there should be a slaughter of the feral cats on this island. Not only is that an inhumane solution but you already have in place a program that has been shown to work well wherever there is sufficient support. I would strongly urge that this program be supported both by local residents and all those interested in animal welfare. There is a saying that “kindness to animals builds a better world for all of us” and I think that is applicable in this setting.
Feral cats are the result of a lack of education and a disposal mentality. If people are educated to spay and neuter their own animals and to feed them and care for them as a lifetime commitment, then the population of feral animals will decline. If this education program is coupled with a TNR program, the number of feral cats and their communities will decline and the TNR program will eventually become obsolete. The resort/tourist industry can and should assist with the TNR programs as it is in their best interest to have healthy “stray” cats around their facilities rather than sick animals which will upset their clientele.
Sally Lester, veterinary pathologist
Lake Stevens, Wash.
Who was that masked man?
Does it not seem odd to anyone else out there that supposedly highly successful billionaire businessmen would threaten, put at risk, a multi-billion dollar tax revenue infrastructure (hotels, timeshares, cottages, golf courses, beaches, activities, etc. as well as private family homes) for a paltry sum of $17 million for a milk farm that will have to ship its milk to another island for packaging and bottling?
Wouldn’t a good businessman put that milk farm on that “other island” and save a lot of money in time, handling, freight and money?
And what’s up with Kauai’s and Hawaii’s elected officials who think that this is a “best tax revenue raising practice” to allow a $17 million investment to jeopardize and possibly kill an annual multi-million tax base for funds to run our county? Lose the Poipu area tax revenues and who do you think will have to pay for the shortfall in collected tax dollars? Residents, vacationers and small business will! The question to ask is who’s going to risk the least and make the most?
Who are these billionaires? Can they be trusted? Ask these same questions about your candidates. It’s an election year and it truly looks like voters need to make a lot of changes. A lot of folks need to do a lot of homework as this author has. You will be surprised! Hi-ho Silver and ALOHA.
John Hoff
Lawai
