Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: Sublime to ridiculous

Thursday, Oct. 10, 2002 | 8:32 a.m.

HAVE YOU EVER gone to a ball game or place of entertainment and had the evening spoiled by some loud and thoughtless individuals? Most of us have had such experiences and, sad to say, have come to expect such annoyances. Many times the problem is caused by young people who don't know any better because they receive no guidance at home or school.

Allow me to tell you about some of our young people who do know better and are considerate about the feelings of others. Examples of these young people can be found at churches, youth forums, proms and in gatherings at homes.

Let me also give you an example that took place at the UNLV-UNR football game. We sit in a section where many times our view of the field is blocked by thoughtless individuals standing up and fooling around during play action. They have more interest in showing off than they do in the game.

Last Saturday evening six young athletes, wearing the colors of Cheyenne High School, sat in front of us. Their conduct as gentlemen and knowledge of the game was refreshing. Like us, they had come to enjoy a competitive football rivalry and were pleased by what they watched. They traded comments back and forth and responded to the excitement on the field. No vulgarity or attention-getting activity.

You can tell that we were impressed and hope that their teachers, coaches and parents know what fine young men they are teaching and raising. There are a lot of good, solid young citizens in our schools and six of them were sitting in front of me at the UNLV-UNR game last Saturday.

Nobody should be surprised that Las Vegas City Councilman Michael McDonald, a Republican, joined in the attacks on Clark County Commission Chairman Dario Herrera who is running as a Democrat for a seat in Congress. McDonald is an adept politician and has a track record of successes when engaged in political activity.

What was surprising, and more than a little amusing, was McDonald going to the press claiming he had received political threats if he didn't back off of his attacks on Herrera's relationship with the Las Vegas Housing Authority. Was McDonald or his family threatened with physical violence? No, he reported them coming from his own political supporters. He claims those supporters, unnamed, now say they will find opposition for his next run to retain his seat next spring.

Any officeholder with McDonald's political moxie and experience successfully fighting ethical accusations, which threatened his time in office, shouldn't even blink when receiving such threats. Every person in elected office, for any length of time, has irritated people who then threaten to get them the next time their name is on a ballot. Unlike McDonald, seldom, if ever, do they run to the press for coverage.

Will this fiasco be used next spring as a political advertisement when McDonald runs for office? I don't know, we will just have to wait six or seven months.

The members of Congress who recently visited Iraq did nothing but embarrass themselves. The three wandering Democrats didn't influence the debate going on back home.

There would be nothing wrong with going to Baghdad if they had only observed and kept their mouths shut. The leader of the group, Rep. Jim McDermott of Washington, when discussing the Bush administration, according to The New York Times said, "I believe that sometimes they give out misinformation. It would not surprise me if they came up with some information that is not provable, and they've shifted. First they said it was Al Qaeda, then they said it was weapons of mass destruction. Now they're going back and saying its Al Qaeda again."

McDermott's statement made in Washington, D.C., wouldn't bother me. It would only be part of an extensive debate that is expected in our free society. Making it in Baghdad put him on a list of fools who always seem to show up in such places when they should be at home doing the jobs they were elected to do.