Letters to the Editor
GeeJay
Published Letters: 118 Editor's Choice: 19
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Dungy's bad call.
[Read the article: King Kaufman's Sports Daily]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]There may be more intrigue involved with Mr. Dungy’s first timeout of the second half than explained in King K’s article.
This was the scenario. Indianapolis faced a third and three at the San Diego nine yard line with two minutes to play. Joseph Addai ran up the middle for what was spotted and signaled as a first down by the referees. All Indianapolis had to do was run down the clock and make a last second field goal at extra point distance.
But wait! A review was called from the upstairs referee to check the spotting of the ball. After the review, the ball was correctly moved back so that the ensuing measurement indicated it was fourth and inches. At this point, Coach Dungy made a mistake. He decided he would have his team line up and presumably attempt to get the first down on fourth down rather than try to kick a short field goal for the lead. When lining up and starting to run the fourth down play, the Colts were called for a motion penalty. This moved the ball back five yards, from where the Colts attempted and missed a 29 yard field goal. By the way, that kick would have been good from 24 yards, having barely missed the right upright from 29.
The dubious strategy of lining up on fourth down (would they really have snapped the ball?) introduced a seed of doubt and confusion into the team. That was the mistake. The situation called for a routine field goal attempt but Coach Dungy outsmarted himself.
By the way, Peyton Manning could not have thrown for a seventh interception, as mentioned in the article, since he had only thrown for five when he got the ball back with 22 seconds to play. He threw his sixth interception on the last play of the game.
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IF for Idiot Designer
[Read the article: The evolution of creationism]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Let’s look at this from the perspective of the calling card, “Intelligent Design”.
This implies that there is some overriding intelligence that is directing or creating the carbon based organisms in this world, and has been doing so for the last 6000 years (the beginning of our planet Earth). Interestingly this intelligence has created hundreds of thousands of species that have since become extinct. I suppose this questions the intelligence of the designer, but that’s asking for a subjective answer.
This intelligent designer has created man in his likeness (sorry woman, you were made in man’s likeness, thus you do not rate as a first class citizen; but fortunately you are afforded the privilege of serving the first class citizens). His likeness may not be too appealing.
The intelligent designer has a lot of ‘splaining to do! Question Number One for the Intelligent Designer, Did you pass Design School?
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Rendition, et al.
[Read the article: When did we become like Syria?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]What I find particularly disturbing about this case of rendition is that it is symptomatic of an accepted policy of opinion deciding guilt or innocence, rather than adjudication. I do not understand how so many agencies within the U.S. government are allowed to bypass the basic tenants of traditional English law.
We should also consider the legality of military attacks on civilian populations. Many times we have read about U.S. missile attacks against a suspected terrorist holding up in a housing complex. Apparently others in the housing complex have no rights other than the right to die. Neither does the suspected terrorist, who many times is not a terrorist. How does the qualification “suspected” roll over into being “confirmed” and “convicted”?
We have become an authoritarian regime where suspicion alone equates to guilt. It’s documented as part of Chaney’s 1% solution. The law of the land has become the arbitration of the powerful. This affects every citizen of this country.
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Adios Mr. Blumenthal
[Read the article: Goodbye, Mr. Bush]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I have enjoyed and will miss Mr. Blumenthal’s articles. He has a battle to fight, and I dare say it is a battle to the death, perhaps the greatest political battle in the history of United States.
For those that are not aware, Hillary Clinton worked for the House Committee on the Judiciary during the impeachment process of Richard Nixon. As mentioned in the article, Cheney, et al, were convinced that the impeachment process was purely politically motivated; that it was an effort to remove an elected Republican president from power and to destroy a Republican legacy that was in its infancy. Some Republican conspiracy theorists believed that the effort included removing Nixon, and Agnew (due to non-Watergate charges) at the same time and replacing them with the Democratic Speaker of the House. Revenge was on the Republican’s minds, and still is. This is a battle that has been brewing for over 30 years, with armageddon looming.
So good luck to you Mr. Blumenthal! My only advice is to never consider that there is a tactic that the Republicans will not use against you. To them the ends are the only goal. The means can be rationalized.
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No racing past racism
[Read the article: Is race dying? ]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Racial angst, as interpreted in Mr. Kamiya’s article, owes its existence to small minds, to lazy minds who blame their shortcomings on others. This elevates the small mind to a fantasy where he or she would be a big person, if only others would not have interfered. It removes responsibility for the creation of the disease in one’s heart from the self to an ubiquitous other. Thus they can continue to live, no matter how shallow and tormented.
Paradoxically, by blaming others for one’s disadvantages, one’s disadvantages multiply. Those who blame do not recognize the uniqueness and grandeur of themselves. Everyone who has the ability to read this or any other letter is an artist who can improve their version and vision of the world. Most know this but choose to condemn such feelings to a sealed pot.
If one knows the grandeur of oneself, one knows the grandeur of all others.