Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Manifesto makes point perfectly

Ruthe Deskin

Thursday, Jan. 16, 2003 | 8:21 a.m.

Raising teenagers in today's society is a tough job.

Unless decent, morally responsible adults begin to speak out, the job will get tougher.

Our children are living in a world dominated by sexual overtones and questionable role models. We cannot remain silent on this subject much longer.

Not too long ago, I received a letter from a prominent local resident, who will remain anonymous by my choice. I do not want him subjected to snide remarks because of his statements.

But what he has to say surely reflects the thinking of many concerned residents in our city.

Following is his reaction to the recent brouhaha over "lap dancing," nude dancers, adult entertainment, etc.:

"I am offended by Mayor Oscar Goodman's expressed attitude concerning what is referred to as lap-dancing as it is conducted in certain so-called gentlemen's clubs in Clark County, Nevada.

"I am also offended by the appellation of 'sin city' to Las Vegas and the very concept that any conduct between consenting adults is all right, even if conducted in a licensed public business, notwithstanding its lewd and lascivious nature.

"In my view, most, if not all, of the residents of Las Vegas are hard working, moral people, trying to live in and raise their children in a decent society.

"I personally cringe every time I see a billboard that pictures half-nude women advertising that they will come to your room. I also cringe when I see the pictures on the back of taxi cabs featuring women's rear ends.

"To call the strip joints legitimate businesses, and to say they shouldn't be regulated because it will put girls out of work, seems ridiculous to me.

"The argument that a society cannot constitutionally protect itself from a public display of nude, obscene and lascivious conduct is unbelievable to me."

Me, too.

Assemblyman Wendell Williams is an intelligent man. So why does he continue to flaunt the law and neglect to file campaign reports?

Filing the reports would be a lot less expensive than paying fines for not doing so.

Local poet Jeanne Chretien continues to have her work chosen for publication. The latest is a poem "My Walk in the Holy Land," which has been chosen for inclusion in the Best Poems and Poets of 2002.

To read her work is to understand why she is consistently chosen as one of the best.

During World War II, a gold star in the window meant that the family had lost a loved one in battle.

I think I saw too many gold stars. The thought of beautiful young men and women being slaughtered in battle makes it difficult for me to heartily endorse a war against Iraq to rid the world of Saddam Hussein.

'Tis said the problem with public officials is they too often have a difficulty for every problem.