.....Advertisement.....
.....Advertisement.....

Opinion

  • Letter: No war machines flying...

    Regarding the Air Force proposal to do low flying training missions over northern New Mexico: I am married to a war veteran.  PTSD is a daily reality in our home.  Any reminders of the traumas of war are very unwelcome.

    The sounds of the war machines set off the hypersensitive adrenal glands, rattle the frayed nerves, unleash the painful memories.

    How many veterans of how many wars seek solace in the quiet spaces of northern New Mexico?

  • Letter: Keep mosque out of ground...

    People are people and we have friends from many cultures and religions but the Cordoba Mosque seems like more of a political statement than just “freedom of religion.” In 711 AD, Islam conquered Spain and in the city of Cordoba, as a statement, razed the Christian church there and erected their mosque. There are many examples of this happening in their conquests. Now, after 9/11, they want to erect the “Cordoba” mosque at ground zero in spite of the governor of New York offering land elsewhere.

  • Commentary: Keeping It Simple

    I want to thank those Optic readers who contacted me about my last article (“Saving things for just in case”) and shared their own saving oddities with me.

    Comedian Ellen DeGeneres likes to poke fun at common day occurrences such as the difficulty in opening a well packaged new CD, or wrestling with a toilet paper dispenser while sitting in a commode at a public bathroom. This article is sorta like what Ellen does, but the focus is on the tendency we human beings have toward trying to outdo each other in almost everything.

  • Letter: Mil Gracias

    I would like to thank the merchants and persons from Las Vegas that made our Feast Day at Our Lady of Sorrows Church a great success.

    I would like to thank every one who purchased raffle and dinner tickets from me. Thanks to the merchants that were so generous in donating certificates that were used for door prizes, that were given out at the Parish Hall.

  • It's a person's...

    Readers of this column may recall treatises on single words and short phrases. Over the years, I’ve tackled individual words like “so” and its myriad meanings; “myriad,” “like,” “ya know” and “sorry.” More recently, there was a bilingual plunge into the words “tú” and “usted.”

  • Cut from the top

    We’re not infatuated with tax increases, but we feel compelled to consider the future based on today’s realities. And one of the realities the next governor will face is a serious shortage of money.

    There are a lot of reasons to be concerned about this — especially in a city like Las Vegas where state-supported jobs are prevalent — not the least of which is school funding. A little sidestep last summer illustrates the looming severity of the situation.

  • Did the secrecy help anyone?

    Can you imagine if the Police Department stopped releasing information on those they arrested and, instead, said that would be the responsibility of the suspects?

    Very few people would want to announce to the world that they had been arrested. That’s information they’d prefer to keep secret.

    But this scenario is business as usual for the New Mexico Activities Association.

    Recently, a lawsuit filed by parents of the Robertson High School football team assault victims indicated that the team had been placed on probation for two years in 2006.

  • Letter: Children and the race for...

    I am a member of the New Mexico Pediatric Society and I provide for the health of the children of Las Vegas. I am one of many pediatric colleagues from around the state who is concerned that the gubernatorial candidates address the issues that affect children and their families.

    In July we submitted the following letter to both candidates. We have not yet heard a substantial reply. Again we ask them to address our concerns and we urge all New Mexicans to ask the candidates these same questions.

    Dear  Ms. Denish and Ms. Martinez:

  • Unrealistic promises

    In their gubernatorial campaigns, Republican Susana Martinez and Democrat Diane Denish are trying to point out their differences.

    But on major budgetary issues, they are very much aligned. Both candidates promise not to raise taxes and pledge to protect schools and Medicaid from cutbacks.

    Of course, both are politicians and know it’s bad politics to advocate budget hikes and spending reductions.

  • Letter: Massive publicity is...

    The Heritage Week Committee — consisting of the Las Vegas Arts Council, El Zocalo Gallery, Meadow City Camera Club, Las Vegas First Independent Business Alliance, Immaculate Conception School, Hispanic Folk Art  Show,  Citizens’ Committee for Historic Preservation, and Blessing of the Waters (a collaboration between Our Lady of Sorrows Church and Immaculate Conception Church),  MainStreet Las Vegas, Fort Union National Monument, Tome on the Range, Ilfeld Auditorium, Ray Drew Gallery, Plaza Hotel,  Fort Union Drive-In Theater, Arts & Cultural District of L

  • Letter: Few jobs, but lots of...

    I sympathize with A.M. Maestas about lack of work in the county. I would love to see full employment here in El Valle. I’m one of many who are underemployed, and I don’t want to see anyone unemployed.

    At the same time, I’m thankful that the county commissioners are taking a hard look at what an industrial wind facility would bring; besides a few jobs for local residents (the vast majority of the work would go to out-of-state people).

  • Letter: Give city a seat, then move...

    Las Vegas is the annual Fourth of July Fiesta, and the Fiesta is Las Vegas.

    The enormous undertaking of the Fiesta Council may not be fully realized by the rest of us.  For years the council has successfully put on the best Fiestas, second to none. We owe much gratitude to those serving and those who have served on this very important council.

    Not being privy to all the facts of what happened this year, I can only say that since the city contributes a large amount in services, it seems logical that the city be represented in this council.

  • Editorial Thumbs

    Thumbs DOWN for ... SEPTEMBER 11 RESIDUALS. On the eve of the ninth year since “our world changed,” we can’t help but ponder our national condition. We are winding down one war that we were deceptively pushed in to, while escalating another war that, had we kept our focus, may have been resolved years ago. And at home, we’re arguing over the right of a particular religion to build near our future national monument at ground zero.

    Let’s hope we’re doing better at the 10 anniversary.

  • Letter: Remembering a sister's...

    My sister died on Aug. 29 of cancer. She bravely battled this wretched disease.  In Timothy, Chapter 4,  he said: “He peleado la buena batalla, he terminado la carrera, he guardado la fe.” In English, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

  • Letter: A well-written, reasonable...

    I opened the Sept. 6 Optic to find what I thought was an opening volley in the race for New Mexico’s governor. Instead Susie Tsyitee’s letter was well-written, clear, to the point and, most importantly, it didn’t attack anyone. It was a pleasure reading her letter and while I may disagree with Ms. Tsyitee’s political preferences, I certainly will examine the stands of both candidates.

    Milton Deemer

    Las Vegas

     

  • The Fiesta meeting

    When folks ask us if the Optic has an agenda, we readily admit that we do — pushing openness.

    In August, the Las Vegas Fiesta Council saw fit to kick out the public at the beginning of its meeting. That meant that City Councilwoman Diane Moore, 2009 Fiesta queen Carmela Montoya and an Optic reporter had to leave.

    The reason given: The council planned to discuss pending litigation.

  • Work of Art: Time to 'tutear...

    Last week’s column on the use of “tú” and “usted” taught me a word that I would have thought of purely as slang, something conjured up for the nonce, for lack of the precise word, like when we use “typiar” as Spanish for “to type.”

    We invent words. We give them the familiar Spanish verb ending and sometimes get by. To “wreckear” un carro is common, and to “watchar” one’s back has become a language staple for many.

  • 1st Amendment is trump card

    It doesn’t take much for the government to violate people’s constitutional rights. That’s why Americans have to be ever-vigilant to prevent this from happening.

    We in the media have a special responsibility to fight this cause, given that our whole industry depends on the First Amendment.

  • Mil Gracias letter

    On behalf of the children at La Plaza Little League, we would like to extend a big thank you to all our sponsors and volunteers in helping us make the 2010 season a great success and a memorable one for our young athletes. See you next year!

  • Eliminating an eyesore

    Many of us, when we get on Interstate 25, take the south or north exits. We don’t usually drive on I-25 through town.

    But many others who pass through out town do, and they’ve been getting a bad impression because of a growing junkyard on the highway’s west side.

Copyright © 2013

The Las Vegas Optic is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in San Miguel County and Las Vegas, NM, and the surrounding area.