Where are our rights?

"Every move I make, I make in You; You make me move, Jesus...," will not heard at the Rosemary Clarke Middle School talent show this year.

"Why?" you ask. As was explained to the singing sixth grader, there may be a couple of atheists who will be upset by the many references to Jesus in the song. Tryouts were not even over, there had only been four auditions out of 40, she was told she was good, but... She may not have been in the top 11 when all was said and done, we have to give credit to the RCMS administration, they were honest with her and did allow her to try out with a different song. This was a talent show where the rules were clearly stated: "Please be aware that behavior deemed not acceptable in the school setting will not be acceptable for the show. This includes inappropriate dress, actions, dance, language, music or anything else at the principal's discretion..."

This fell under the assistant principal's discretion. Apparently the school did not want a fight on its hands when a child or an adult went to the school board to complain of Jesus being sung about at the middle school. It was explained that the kids are a "captive audience," and would not be allowed to get up and leave if the song offended them. This was against their rights. How many times have you been told your child cannot have a Halloween party because there is a child in the grade who doesn't believe in Halloween? Or we now have to say "Happy Holidays," we can't say "Merry Christmas" because we might offend a non-Christian? Or Easter is a "spring holiday"?

Since when do the few outweigh the rest of us? Why can we recite the pledge every morning and have assemblies that have songs about God or concerts with songs of Jesus, but our children are not allowed to sing of God or Jesus unless they are in church?

Where are the rights for these children? Where is their freedom of speech? Why does their freedom of religion have restrictions? Why does the voice of the few outweigh the voice of the many?

In the concept, the loudest make the rules, your beliefs mean nothing. Maybe it is time for us to step up together and challenge the system, and demand the lawmakers make changes.

If more people were able to express their beliefs in God, without being harassed, the world might not be such a messed-up place. People might have better values and care about each other. Voice your opinion, call the Nye County School District office, call Rosemary Clarke Middle School, call the newspaper or write to the newspaper.

THE LAWDENSKY FAMILY

$$$ versus quality of life

Our current leaders (with a small "l") seem more dedicated to expanding their political base than in preserving the integrity of this community; they relish the power of numbers while sacrificing the well being of those who call this community home.

They tell us that controlling growth should be left to the market place. What they fail to state is that growth never pays for growth -- we, the taxpayers, do.

Ms. Hendrickson's letter to the editor of April 25 states clearly the problems that confront us as a community and calls for a common sense approach to future growth.

Limited water resources and a lack of infrastructure are issues that should be dealt with prior to further lot development and housing starts.

Furthermore, we have a continuing duty to provide responsible stewardship of this great desert land we call our home.

TOM MATTAROCCHIA

Responsible spending

It is quite commendable to hear about our citizens being involved in our community and they should be honored, especially if their contributions result in saving the taxpayers' hard-earned money.

However, the letter to the editor in the PVT on April 30, "Support for Pahrump site," by Bernard Hoffman left me somewhat confused, like a mosquito in a nudist camp.

Mr. Hoffman's lengthy article goes on and on in describing the due diligence he performed in regards to the proposed detention center to be constructed in Pahrump -- as if he were some kind of elected official responsible for this costly project.

Moreover, he included in great detail his recommendation that our future slammer be built by Correction Corporation of America, because he had performed an abundance of "due diligence" researching this outfit.

He also mentioned that he is a neighbor of the proposed site and that he is proud to be one.

Sounds as if this guy is a shill or pimp for this big company.

Interestingly, our fellow do-good citizen, for reasons unknown, failed to direct his "research and due diligence" towards the Phoenix, Ariz. area of Maricopa County.

Unless Hoffman suffers from head in the sand disease, most Americans are well aware of Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his famous tent city jailhouse.

Instead of wasting money on cement and steel bars, tents are used to house inmates and those who wish to spend their time in a positive manner, work to grow their own vegetables, maintain the housekeeping and even operate the county's animal shelter, all for a pittance of the cost to the taxpayers.

Oh, sure, the sheriff gets a lot of heat from the criminals lobby -- the ACLU -- but he gets a hell of a lot of backing from the voters, proven by the fact that tough Joe has been re-elected numerous times.

Do we really need an outrageously expensive monument type of prison to hold wrongdoers? It probably will never exceed California's 600 death row occupants.

Whatever happened to responsible, penny-pinching leaders, who before deciding to spend taxpayers' cash on expensive items and projects, would have the courage to demand: Is it absolutely necessary; can we afford it and is it constitutional?

The need for getting back to basics is now and our shattered economy is giving us the message, big time, thank you.

For better understanding,

VINCE BOGDAN

Kindness and generosity

Dear Editor,

I am writing to thank a wonderful man named Don.

My husband had just picked up our two sons from the babysitter, when he left our diaper bag on the roof of our car.

As he was driving away, Don (who was going in the opposite direction) saw the diaper bag fall off. He pulled off to the side of the road and picked it up.

He found our phone number inside the bag and called us.

Our diaper bag had very important items in it that couldn't be replaced.

Don didn't take a single item out of it.

Because of Don, he has reassured our family that there are still some kind and generous people left in our world.

On behalf of my family, I just want Don to know how much we appreciate him for his actions.

CORINNA MIKA