K-9 racism
Regarding “Bill would allow cities to ban or restrict specific dog breeds” (News, Jan. 17): State Sen. Patrick Anderson’s proposed legislation, while possibly well intentioned, is simply misguided. It’s born of the same kind of lazy thinking that perpetuates stereotyping and racism in other realms of human thought. It is, in fact, K-9 racism. Anderson would be advised to rethink his legislation and instead concentrate on the ignorance and cruelty of dog owners who tether, isolate and train aggression in their dogs.
Pit bull terriers are, no doubt, the target of this backdoor attempt to stereotype a particular breed. But with a little forethought, it should be obvious that this breed is the preferred target of people who want to either have guard dogs or want to fight them, all because of their muscularity and physical strength. My plea to Anderson is this: Go after animal cruelty. The link to this and violence to humans is documented. Perhaps some real changes in our high murder rate could be achieved with such legislative initiatives.
BAD OWNERS TO BLAME
Regarding “Bill would allow cities to ban or restrict specific dog breeds” (News, Jan. 17): Surely Oklahomans won’t be influenced by state Sen. Patrick Anderson’s lack of knowledge and understanding of animals. “Pit bulls make me nervous” said Anderson, R-Enid. “I wouldn’t want them around my children. My bill’s not designed to go after any breed in particular, but my personal feeling about pit bulls is I wouldn’t own one.”
While working at a veterinary clinic for over eight years, the only breed I’ve ever been “fearful” of, or bitten by, is a Chihuahua. It would seem pretty silly to “ban” such a small breed of dog. Hundreds of dogs may have some part of pit bull in them; DNA results aren’t as conclusive as they should be. Has Anderson been to an animal shelter lately? Should we euthanize them all because of his own “personal fears?” Shame on Anderson; pit bulls get a bad name because of people like him and bad owners.
SCIENCE STUDIES BIASED
In response to J. William Kinsinger (Your Views, Jan. 12): A recent magazine article claims people who remain sexually active enjoy better health and increased longevity. Using Kinsinger’s logic, perhaps government assistance should be withheld from priests, nuns and those who otherwise refrain from boudoir rendezvous — especially “those in the lower socioeconomic sectors of society.”
Kinsinger’s unsubstantiated claim as to the “true primary cause of skyrocketing costs within our health care system” makes Chicken Little believable by comparison. We all know the ease with which so-called scientific studies can and do produce practically any results desired by their funders. Then there are those who claim smokers have a much shorter lifespan — thus saving society trillions in long-term medical care expense — to say nothing of their shortened Social Security benefits.
As a 75-year-old lifetime smoker (since age 12), I’ll gladly compare my used sick leave and medical history costs to any of my upper “socioeconomic sector” peers.
PITTS DESERVES AN A
Leonard Pitts Jr. (Commentary, Jan. 16) always writes an interesting column. I recently read his first novel, “Freeman,” and recommend it. “Freeman” doesn’t read like most first novels — amateurish. Yes, it may be called a message book, the message being that “slavery was wrong, egregiously,” but it’s a good novel. I’d give Pitts an A for his book, but doesn’t getting an A also reduce his blackness? Am I, a non-black, allowed to jest about blackness as Pitts did without being accused of being racist?
Rob Parker’s comments about Robert Griffin III, cited by Pitts, were apparently not made in any form of jest and did no good for anyone. Instead, they continue to exacerbate the racial divide. When will those in the self-appointed black elite, including most black members of Congress, realize that it’s valid for a black person to hold some non-liberal views? When will they stop labeling such persons as “cornball brothers” or “Uncle Toms” or worse? When will they reach out to their fellow Americans?
Until that happens, they remain part of the problem and don’t get an A for civility or understanding or problem-solving or brotherly love.
PROBLEMS OVERLOOKED
Regarding “Fallin makes push to repair state Capitol” (News, Jan. 18): How great is this thinking? Spend megabucks on building a dome on the Capitol building, only to realize it’s the basement that needs megabucks for repairs. Can you imagine this happening in your household and not even being mentioned as you look for more bucks from the taxpayer?
TOW UNINSURED MOTORISTS
In response to Jack Dill (Your Views, Jan. 18): I also believe Oklahoma’s vehicle insurance laws should be tightened. The luxury of being able to drive a vehicle on state-owned roads and highways is a privilege, not a right. A collision involving two parties who both have vehicle insurance isn’t cheap when you factor in rental cars, time off work and possibly having to buy a new car due to the damaged vehicle being totaled. To be involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist makes things even more costly.
Let’s make it mandatory for vehicles with no proof of insurance to be towed. I’m sure that after a driver pays to get a vehicle out of tow a couple times, he may feel that it would be worth looking into getting insurance.