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nikobesti (Anonymous) says…

Mr. William's drug of choice kills thousands of kids every year in overdoses. Thousands more are hurt or killed in alcohol-related domestic violence. Families are shattered by alcohol abuse all across America.

And Byron has the audacity to spout off about a “family-friendly environment?”

nikobesti (Anonymous) says…

We all see Mr. Williams in various establishments around town drinking alcohol, usually starting sometime before noon every day. Yet he disdains those who would use marijuana in the privacy of their homes. Byron gulps down his drug of choice in great proportions but insults and attacks other who do the same.

Hypocrisy can cost you a city council seat, hu Byron?

nikobesti (Anonymous) says…

It seems pretty clear Tracy does not have a scholarship and I can't help but think an opportunity was squandered here. Maybe the high scoool/guidance councelor and his parents could have done a better job marketing Tracy and giving him the guidance he needed to secure a scholarship.

However, maybe the problem is that there is very little money available for college soccer scholarships for men. Most of the money schools get for male athletic scholarships go towards football, then basketball. Soccer probably lies near the bottom of the list. Still, this young man is quite talented so I'm surpriseed some college in the region didn't offer him something.

Or maybe Tracy isn't interested in attending college at all. (Although if his love is soccer, this move would be the best option for him.)

nikobesti (Anonymous) says…

Why doesn't this young man have a scholarship to play soccer at a college? Tracy is one of the best players on the Western Slope, I would think some college would be happy to hand out a scholarship to have him.

nikobesti (Anonymous) says…

So, editorial board, by your logic, you would support flying the Chinese flag over New Orleans. After all, they helped a great deal after Katrina. Facts from Wikipedia:

“On September 2, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it will offer $5 million along with emergency supplies, including 1,000 tents, 600 generators, bed sheets, immediately for disaster relief. China also offered to send medical care and rescue workers if they were needed. This aid package consisting of 104 tons of supplies later arrived in Little Rock, Arkansas. A chartered plane carrying the supplies arrived on September 7.”

If you have no problem with a foreign flag flying over Haiti, you must have no problem with this either. Glad to know you’re consistent and not hypocrites.

nikobesti (Anonymous) says…

I personally also believe such situations you describe (as well as the one described in the letter) are “unhealthy.” It is definitely inappropriate and although I have a relatively liberal view about nudity, I wouldn’t stand for it in my house either.

I just read today that the UK is unveiling a new TV show called “Undress for Success” where office workers come to work nude:
http://www.aolnews.com/weird-news/art…. This reinforces my point about different perceptions of nudity, as some folks might think this is sick and perverted while others think little of it. However, I realize my analogy isn’t completely appropriate, as a bunch of nude coworkers is different than naked teenagers in your house. I think even most Europeans would have issue with a bunch of naked teenagers running around in their houses. While I advocate keeping an open mind, I think this crosses the line in most reasonable people's book.

nikobesti (Anonymous) says…

Hi Eric. You misunderstand my posts if you think I inferred that homosexuality is “wrong” or “abnormal.” It is neither in my opinion. People are born gay and have been born so forever. I’m not sure where you’re reading that in my posts. I my first post I wrote “So although this behavior may not ‘normal,’ it’s not necessarily harmful.” I meant the behavior of walking around naked, not homosexuality. In my second post I wrote, “But if they did [walk around naked] I wouldn’t automatically assume something was ‘wrong’ with them.” Again, I’m referring to nudity, not homosexuality. I am countering the argument that nudity would mean anything about their sexuality (which is why I put “wrong” in quotes, as this is what some incorrect people might think). I am confused as to how those statements infer that I think something is “wrong” with them if they’re gay.

Interesting cultural note about Somalis and nudity. Most Africans are very socially conservative when it comes to sex, Somalis included. It’s not a Muslim vs. Christian thing. You reinforce that by saying they don’t allow women to watch. Nudity amongst one gender might not be a big deal but nudity between unmarried men and women is generally quite a no-no. I chose to respond to Anita’s remark about Somalis to stifle any stereotypes about all Africans running around in the nude like perverted barbarians. That’s nonsense.

nikobesti (Anonymous) says…

My point, Anita, is that nudity is subjective. It doesn’t mean the same thing to everybody. Not even everybody in America. (By the way, Somalis are very conservative and cover themselves from head to foot. Europeans, on the other hand, don't find nudity to be as “dirty” as we Americans do).

I would not be comfortable with my teenagers and their friends walking around naked in my house either. But if they did I wouldn’t automatically assume something was “wrong” with them. I’m not going to judge people because of it.

nimrod: nice one.

nikobesti (Anonymous) says…

Some of you are jumping to conclusions about what nudity means. Nude men/teenagers together does not have any correlation with homosexuality whatsoever. I highly doubt these teenage boys are gay. In fact, it might not have anything to do with sexuality at all. Nudity, and societies’ reactions to it, is cultural. Different cultures react differently to nudity. In some cultures nudity is quite acceptable. Just because family members are nude together does not mean anything sexual is going on. Some Americans of the more prudish persuasion get a bit too worked up about naked people. Different ages react definitely also, and as the letter mentions, I remember having no problem skinning dipping when I was a teen. Now I would definitely think twice.

I’m not saying people don’t need to be careful in these situations. I understand the concerns. And in “American culture” (if there is such a thing) nudity in public or around others is at least viewed as bad taste. So although this behavior may not “normal,” it’s not necessarily harmful.