LETTERS: Portaro family has history of kindness
To the editor:
After reading the “Power of forgiveness” editorial in Sunday’s Review-Journal, then having my wife read it, she reminded me why the family name was familiar to us. Richard Portaro was our son’s soccer coach years 20 ago.
Near the end of a game, mostly “bunch-ball” for 8-year-olds, other teammates were telling our son that his missed kick could have tied the game and that the team lost because of him. On the sideline, as his tears started to show, this coach got down in front of my son’s face and said, “Great game,” and hugged him! That was a coach-of-the-year move for us.
Mr. Portaro showed all of us sideline parents and some players what really matters and how a grown man, showing compassion, impacts those around him. My wife and I can’t imagine the loss that his wife, Cynthia Portaro, turns over to God these days, but we remember a small part of her husband’s impact. Thank you for sharing Mrs. Portaro’s story in the editorial.
KARL REINARZ
LAS VEGAS
Protecting the ‘City’
To the editor
I was raised in Nevada and have worked and lived here most of my life. As the head of design for Wynn Design and Development in Las Vegas, I have spent much of my career looking for inspirational art and architecture from around the globe.
Our state, whose rugged beauty is often under-recognized, will soon have one of the most iconic American sculptures ever conceived, a work by Michael Heizer called “City.” Mr. Heizer is an artist who has made Nevada his home for more than 40 years while creating this unique complex of abstract forms that reaches more than 1 1/2 miles and draws parallels to ancient monuments with its grand and ambitious scale.
Mr. Heizer made a purposeful choice to build his sculpture in a remote location, three hours north of Las Vegas, within an awe-inspiring landscape surrounded by nothing but the earth and sky. Sen. Harry Reid has introduced a bill that would protect this unprecedented artwork while also conserving this pristine area that is part of the Great Basin (“Lands bill could hamper Yucca Mountain Project,” Feb. 20 Review-Journal).
This is an area that, in addition to “City,” contains significant petroglyphs, as well as unusual desert life found only in Nevada. We must support this initiative to preserve “City” and the land that surrounds it. “City” is a cultural resource that will bring visitors from around the world to see it, just as sites such as Mexico’s Teotihuacan and South Dakota’s Mount Rushmore do.
If we think about the great destinations around the world, they often include cultural artifacts and nature in its grandest form. It’s up to Nevadans to preserve the land and the artwork that is “City” for ourselves and for generations to come.
ROGER P. THOMAS
LAS VEGAS
Dog owners’ responsibilities
To the editor:
Regarding the story on the dog attack (“Woman hurt in attack by four dogs,” Feb. 21 Review-Journal), what is wrong with this picture? Animal control employees get complaints regarding the dogs, and they find a home with more dogs than allowed without a permit and conditions of neglect and abuse. And all they do is issue a summons? Really?
All these infractions and they slap her on the wrist, and now two people are injured and one of the dogs is dead. Why weren’t those dogs taken away during animal control’s visit? They could have been evaluated and perhaps given a chance to go to a good home. Now they might all be destroyed.
It is awful that this poor woman was attacked and suffered such severe injuries just being outside her home. Thank God for her neighbor rescuing her, or who knows how bad it could have been. If people are going to get any large-breed dog — or any dog for that matter — they need to be responsible for those animals.
BRENDA LATTA
LAS VEGAS
Middle East turmoil
To the editor:
The turmoil in the Middle East has been going on for centuries and continues today. The good guy, America, sends young men to be killed and maimed, with no clear vision of ever winning this insane mess. Let us not even consider taxpayer money and borrowed money thrown into this bottomless pit.
I will be in my urn for decades, and this fight to win against religious fanatics will still be going on. There is seemingly no way of winning against these people.
Actually, there is one way: by having every adult in Middle Eastern countries become well-educated. This will never happen, because the rich in most of these countries want their citizens ignorant. Ignorant people can be told to believe what the non-ignorant want them to believe.
Does that sound familiar, my fellow Americans?
JOHN TOMINSKY
LAS VEGAS
New company, same slant?
To the editor:
Will the sale of the Review-Journal to New Media Investment Group change the political slant of the editorial page? I have always enjoyed the R-J’s coverage of pro-Republican Party policies. I hope that this does not change.
NIKOLAI ZAVADSKY
LAS VEGAS
