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Worse Than Hitler?<br />
By: Dan Roberts / Roberts Rules<br />
“<br />
Hey A-Hole, you know the difference between<br />
you and Adolph Hitler? Hitler was better<br />
looking.”<br />
I admit that anonymous letter caught me off-guard. Naturally, I gave<br />
it to my Rana to get her thoughts.<br />
After about a minute of silence as she very slowly and carefully<br />
read and re-read the correspondence, my Ladylove replied, “Pay it<br />
no mind, it’s ridiculous. You’re better<br />
looking than Hitler.”<br />
How’s that for my PILL (partner in love<br />
& life) having my back?<br />
It’s been a tumultuous month at The<br />
Vegas Voice. Besides the veto from our<br />
Governor regarding our Final Wishes<br />
petition drive (see page 8) we received<br />
other not-so-pleasant emails concerning<br />
our efforts and columnist’s articles.<br />
Allow me to repeat what I’ve<br />
always requested from readers. We<br />
unconditionally welcome your comments (good or bad) regarding our<br />
magazine, radio program, podcasts and YouTube videos.<br />
But I remain amazed and continue to shake my head in disbelief<br />
over the tone and language some people use to express themselves.<br />
In the “Hitler letter” the person expressed his/her displeasure and<br />
opposition to our Final Wishes/Death with Dignity petition drive. Out of<br />
nearly 2,700 total petitions favoring such legislation, we received only<br />
10 (make that 11 counting Governor Lombardo’s veto) in opposition.<br />
And as for the 10, two referenced my similarity with the Fuhrer while<br />
3 more advised that I will be welcomed at the gates of Hell when my<br />
time comes. Why such language and references?<br />
By the way, the other five gave insightful, thoughtful reasons as to<br />
why they opposed the legislation. And while Rana and I disagreed as to<br />
their assessment, we appreciated their messages and opinions.<br />
But wait, there’s more. Our Vet-to-Vet columnist Chuck Dean’s article<br />
last month regarding his thoughts on gun control drew some of the<br />
Happy Birthday Rita!<br />
Rita Lim with her friends and fantastic performers at her “Birthday<br />
Party” show last month. The show and performers can be summed up in<br />
one word: Outstanding. Photo courtesy of George Foster<br />
nastiest, meanest, degrading comments in the 20 year history of The<br />
Vegas Voice.<br />
One promised (among other unsavory activities) an effort to get<br />
readers to boycott our magazine while another claimed that we made<br />
his “mother cry” (even though she is a “avid reader) and will no longer<br />
read the magazine.<br />
Now, this is what I fail to understand. If any article makes you upset,<br />
annoyed or even extremely angry, why would you continue to read it?<br />
Why can’t you simply turn the page or if so furious that you can’t<br />
contain yourself and are about to explode<br />
in uncontrollable rage, how about<br />
ripping up the page? Especially if you<br />
enjoy reading the other 32 Vegas Voice<br />
columnists.<br />
I offered the dissatisfied readers the<br />
opportunity to submit a “guest column”<br />
outlining why they believe we are wrong,<br />
or in the alternative, permission to print<br />
their message (even anonymously) in a<br />
“Letter to the Editor” to be published the<br />
following month.<br />
I get a kick when they don’t reply to my offer and the one “that didn’t<br />
believe me so he will not do so, but let me tell you again, why I now<br />
hate your publication” is not even worth discussing.<br />
Calling me an A-Hole (like my partner Ray does) or that I should<br />
visit Satan’s residence (as my Rana may occasionally suggest - but let<br />
me quickly add that she is always right) is fair game, but why dispute<br />
my offer to submit a counterargument?<br />
Such individuals are nothing more than cowardly bullies. While they<br />
love to rant and rave, the only way to treat these people is to challenge<br />
them. And you better believe we will continue to do so, but with one<br />
promise.<br />
As my mom taught me when I was much younger, I can say what I<br />
want, but I better do so without her reaching for the soap to wash out<br />
my mouth. “You can disagree without being disagreeable” my mom<br />
advised - and why would anyone go against mom?<br />
What Do<br />
You Think?<br />
Do you agree with our columnists?<br />
Did anyone get you angry, make<br />
you think or simply put a smile<br />
on your face? Please tell us by<br />
forwarding your comments,<br />
thoughts or suggestions to Publisher<br />
Dan at: dan@thevegasvoice.net.<br />
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