The Public Pulse: February 1

Grateful for Holy Name support

We are writing to express our gratitude that Omaha's Holy Name School has found such a wonderful group of supporters. Holy Name has offered our children an education far beyond our hopes.

Our boys have very different educational needs, and Holy Name has individualized and adjusted the learning environment to maximize their abilities. We've seen Holy Name do the same for other families as well. Children are welcomed, included and expected to succeed.

Holy Name lives out the acceptance of diversity of race, religion, economic situations and personal abilities. Children come from so many different backgrounds, but there is no room for teasing or isolation in the environment that the staff creates.

Of course, negative peer interactions occur in any group of children, but Holy Name takes proactive and immediate reactive measures to extinguish these behaviors.

This school is truly a unique and special environment that would be very sad to lose.

John and Annie Mitchell, Omaha

Catholic education under siege

The Meitler study, regarding the closings of Omaha's Sts. Peter and Paul, Holy Ghost and St. Stanislaus schools, could mean the elimination of Catholic education in South Omaha, with the exception of a school designated as a Hispanic-serving school. The study suggests parents send children to St. Bernadette in Sarpy County, St. Gerald in Ralston or Our Lady of Lourdes, Holy Cross or St. Thomas More in central Omaha.

If the study's recommendations are accepted, Catholic education in the heart of South Omaha would be nonexistent. Some families would be able to make arrangements for their children to attend Catholic schools outside the area, but, for many, I suspect this gap would be filled by the Omaha Public Schools.

As a parishioner at St. Stanislaus, I doubt that the Meitler study and the Archdiocese of Omaha intend this result, but this may be the unfortunate reality for many South Omaha parents.

Nancy A. Schlesiger, La Vista

Military alternative to school

I agree with Darlene Cisar's Jan. 30 letter and her concern about requiring kids to stay in school until they're 18 years old.

Before any age 18 rule goes into effect, teachers need to be given back the right to control their students. Teachers — not disrespectful students — are supposed to be in control of the classroom.

Disruptions of class time and disrespect to a teacher should be dealt with by the teacher or school administration. This problem has been out of control for far too long.

Maybe mandatory service in the military could be an option after age 16, if students are not in school. I guarantee disruptions would cease on the first day of boot camp.

Terry G. Harpster, Ewing, Neb.

Speak out on mountain lion bill

I urge Nebraskans to take a stand against Legislative Bill 928, which would allow hunting of Nebraska's endangered mountain lion, so the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission can justify getting money from raffle tickets to kill the shy and rare creature.

I have many good friends at the commission and know the agency is struggling for funds or it wouldn't dream of devising ways to get money.

It's wrong that Nebraska relegates the important work of the commission as dependent on gambling money, such as that which powers the efforts of the Environmental Trust. But it's also wrong to propose the killing of even one mountain lion for money.

I'm not aware of a mountain lion ever attacking or killing a person in Nebraska. It is already legal to kill a mountain lion in self-defense or to protect livestock.

By statute, Nebraska's wildlife belong to the people, not to the commission. If people care enough, they can oppose LB 928 at a public hearing on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in Room 1525 of the State Capitol Building.

Angelika T.L. Byorth, Lincoln

Police wrong to fire at teens

I was horrified that two Omaha police officers fired 25 shots at three teenage girls last month (Jan. 29 news story).

I think the officers should be fired. They could have killed those girls. I do not think these officers were in any way justified to shoot. Teenagers do stupid things — always have, always will — but they do not deserve to be shot and possibly killed.

I hope the two officers were suspended. I am just as horrified at the comments saying this was a justifiable shooting, until the car drove away. This is not the Wild West.

Barbara MacLennan, Omaha

Can't afford higher gas prices

Does anyone remember that three years ago gas prices bottomed out at about $1.60 per gallon after reaching a historic high of more than $4? It seems like decades ago.

Washington, D.C., politicians keep proposing hikes in energy taxes, which are disguised as offsets for a payroll tax cut extension or as stimulus in President Barack Obama's jobs bill.

Nebraska consumers can't afford to pay another penny at the pump. Keep taxes low and it'll help keep the lid on insane prices.

Alexander Gage, Lincoln

Think of the country, not party

As an independent conservative who votes for the person — not the party — I'm appalled at the partisanship clouding the minds of many conservative Republicans.

Above all, they want to beat President Obama, whatever the cost, and this is foolish. How else can one explain conservatives supporting an admitted adulterer such as Newt Gingrich?

Gingrich is an ethics violator and special-interest lobbyist. He does not represent conservative, moral, core values and is not qualified to president. Conservative Republicans need to wake up and do what's best the country, not the party.

Nathan Feldman, Omaha

Don't use taxes for campaigning

The day after his State of the Union address, President Obama (in campaign mode) climbed aboard Air Force One to begin a three-day trip to five states considered to be critical to the 2012 election — Iowa, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and Michigan.

It costs $181,757 per hour to fly Air Force One. The president's trip was eight hours and 48 minutes of flight time for a total cost of $1.6 million for air travel alone — plus security, ground travel and food.

These are hard-earned taxpayer dollars critical to our nation's financial health that the president is using for campaigning.

Our country is having serious financial problems, and the president wants to increase taxes and raise the debt ceiling so we can borrow and spend more. The other option is to spend less.

For starters, stop spending tax dollars for campaigning!

Sandy Gregory, Omaha

It's about greed, not coveting

I realize Cal Thomas (Jan. 26 More Commentary) is neither stupid nor ignorant, but where would he come up with the idea that we are coveting wealth when we show concern that the top 1 percent of our nation control a large percentage of the wealth?

It's a matter of justice — the belief that those with plenty can share more with those who have little. It's quite biblical, as Thomas should know. He might want to pay attention to the vast majority of Jesus' teachings, which come down pretty hard on those with too much.

May I alert Thomas to the Seven Deadly Sins, one of which is greed? Greed is desiring more than one really needs, often at the expense of others.

It's not jealousy that causes us to ask those with huge apple pies to at least share more of the crust with those often trembling in the cold. It's called the desire for justice. The prophet Amos had much to say about it.

The Rev. David R. Holmes

Council Bluffs

Trying to eliminate tax loophole

Much publicity has been made about the tax code allowing the rich to pay less than what is considered fair. But many common tradesmen illegally pay less taxes by being paid in cash, rather than by traceable check.

Thus, payment received is often not declared. Tradesmen sometimes give the option to pay a lower price, if paying in cash, and many "honest" citizens do this

This practice can be prevented by a consumption tax. I'd support such a tax if it included everything except groceries and was used to reduce debt. Such taxes are efficient and fair.

Paul T. Filipi, Omaha

Only pay a fair share of taxes

A Jan. 27 news story quoted Warren Buffett as saying that his secretary "is being treated unfairly in the tax code, as are tens of millions of others, compared to me." Buffett added, "They shouldn't change the rates on all the other people. They should change mine."

If Buffett wants to pay more taxes, he's free to donate more to the IRS. He also could not use tax loopholes.

People should work, save and be responsible for their financial futures. I worked a lifetime, and I'm not complaining or asking that I pay more taxes, because I worked hard, invested and saved my money.

Mildred Van Winkle, Omaha

Dundee market will be missed

I thank Lou and Paula Hyland for their years of service to Omaha's Dundee neighborhood.

Grandpa C's Mart at 5018 Underwood Ave. was a place where we could get milk or eggs in a heartbeat or find that crucial spice for a recipe that was already started. If the Hylands didn't have the spice on the shelf, they'd let us have some from the deli.

But most importantly, this was a place where (even if they didn't know everyone's name) they knew people's faces and greeted everyone with a smile and a kind word.

They were a wonderful part of our Dundee community and will be sorely missed. We wish them well in all of their new adventures (and maybe even a few more hours of sleep). God bless them.

Janet Koenig, Omaha

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