VIEWPOINTS
Friday, May 9, 2008 Editorial
The News Standard - A3
Send a word to your mother
You’re not a bad child. Mother’s Day sneaks up on everyone. Consider this editorial a public service announcement to remember how much you love your mother. Sure, she spanked you when you were little and embarrassed you in high school, but looking back, you can finally admit that you probably deserved it. So call her, stop by or at the very least, send a letter and thank her for doing all the things you never had the whereabouts to thank her for before. If you’re a parent, you understand how fleeting your child’s youth is and how important it is to savor special moments. If you’ve lost your mother, you realize the impact she’s left behind. Take time from your day this Sunday to really consider the importance of your mother — for better or for worse. Spend time with her, talk about the past and consider plans for the future. You don’t have to be sappy, but you do have to be honest. Many can vouch that you don’t know how much you need your mother until she’s no longer there to hold on to. Do her a favor — and yourself, too. Celebrate your mother.
Oklahoma-like land grab should come later rather than ‘sooner’ Surely Northern Kentucky condemning property. But University land-grabbers we will — one way or andon’t think they can use emi- other — get this property to nent domain to seize build our new baseprivate property for Bluegrass ball diamonds, track a new athletic comfield, tennis courts Beacon plex. Or do they? and parking lots. You never know If owners don’t acwhat people in powcept our (a.k.a. fairer, who seem to dismarket value) price, dain the sacredness we’ll condemn their of private-property land.” rights, are capable of The university doing. president didn’t say NKU officials left that, but a local real the door open for Jim Waters estate agent did, eminent domain and he knows emiwhen announcing nent domain when plans for the new complex he sees it. planned for nearby private Jim McCord got involved property – even before re- in the outrageous eminentgents approved the plan or domain case in which the offered owners payment. city of Newport condemned And the property, essential- homes in the well-kept Cote ly placed in limbo, makes it Brilliante neighborhood to tough for owners to sell now assist a land grab by develthat potential buyers know opers for a shopping center. the university’s plans. McCord predicts local Who wants to buy prop- government “will have to erty with an “up for grabs” use eminent domain” in the sign stuck in the front yard? NKU neighborhoods on FarThe university doesn’t en and Sunset drives just as have the cash right now to it did in Cote Brilliante. buy the coveted properties. “Have to?” For tennis Playing the eminent-domain courts? Not hardly. card forces other potential Still, I believe McCord’s buyers to fold. right. NKU will try eminent The Cincinnati Enquirer domain if property owners reported that NKU Presi- don’t want to sell. dent James Votruba said the Are freedom-loving Kenuniversity “will try to avoid tuckians going to stand by using eminent domain.” and allow government to Votruba might as well take private property owned, have said: “We’ll try to avoid maintained and invested in
WWII vets claim PTSD benefits Veterans Post Freddy Groves
After World War I, it was called Shell Shock. After World War II, they called it Battle Fatigue. After Korea, it was War Neurosis, and after Vietnam it was called Vietnam Syndrome. In 1980, the DSM-III (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) came out with a new label to describe the anxiety and life-changing stress that comes from combat: PostTraumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. The veterans of World War II came home, marched in a tickertape parade and went to work. They created large families that had to be fed, and what better place to stuff bad memories and feelings than behind a strong work ethic. But now they’re in their 80s, the accumulation of life experiences has piled on while they do a life review, and they’re stepping forward to seek treatment for PTSD and to file claims for their benefits. As well they should. As many as one in 20 World
War II veterans today could be suffering from undiagnosed and untreated PTSD. For some of them, the stresses get worse watching the war news on television, and that’s what brings them in. A search through the Board of Veterans’ Appeals Decisions Results shows that in many cases these claims are being granted — often not on the first try, but at appeal. After all these years, documentation is lost, but much can be gleaned from the details of a DD-214: medals awarded, dates and locations. As of last year, there were more than 24,000 World War II veterans receiving benefits for PTSD. Audie Murphy, one of the most highly decorated veterans of World War II, also suffered from undiagnosed PTSD. He went public and called on the government to give PTSD benefits to veterans long before it was even called that.
by their fellow residents for a tennis court? The founding fathers created a Constitution that allowed eminent domain tactics, but sparingly and only as a means to attain land for the public good – to create utilities, highways and railroads. Shopping centers? I don’t think so. Even with legitimate cases, eminent domain should remain a last resort. Jesus said divorce was “allowed” in certain cases, but he didn’t make couples separate. Likewise, even as a last resort, eminent domain isn’t the best way. The university anticipates some owners seeking more than a distorted appraisal determines their property is worth. Others simply don’t want to sell. This led Votruba to promise that NKU “will work to develop a plan that addresses (property owners’) interests as well as we can.” President V. should check with one of his professors who teach constitutional law and get a primer on the Fifth Amendment: “No person shall be . . . deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” He’ll find that situations
such as this aren’t just about the “interests” of privateproperty owners, but rather about their constitutional rights. Ken Ramey, NKU vice president of administration and finance, promised property owners fair value based on appraisals in similar neighborhoods. But the Constitution says nothing about “just compensation” hinging on “appraisals of similar neighborhoods.” Rather, it says “just compensation.” The founders never intended for the government to wrest private property for projects cavalierly identified as necessary for “public use.” In those rare instances in which the government must take property, the owner must get full satisfaction. If these property owners in Northern Kentucky are smart, they’ll hire a sharp lawyer. If their elected officials are smart, they’ll send President V. this message: Let property owners determine “just compensation.” Then let NKU pay up — or shut up — about eminent domain. Jim Waters is the director of policy and communications for the Bluegrass Institute, Kentucky’s free-market think tank. You can reach him at jwaters@ bipps.org.
Eight Belles blame game is out of control
Write to Freddy Groves in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to columnreply@ gmail.com.
The Kentucky Derby is no doubt one of the most prestigious events in our state, with a longevity that parallels few other sporting events nationwide. After the 134th Kentucky Derby held Saturday, opinions have been flooding the airwaves, Web sites and local news after the misfortune of Eight Belles at the end of the race. After suffering from two broken front ankles she was euthanized on the racetrack. Let the controversy begin. I was one of the many spectators who were sobbing at the tragic fate of the star filly. After the race, speculations began that the alleged neglect of Eight Belle’s trainers, jockeys or owners led to her death. That speculation is appalling, but it’s typical for society to look for someone to blame after a tragedy. But,
sometimes things just go wrong or are not meant to be — that’s life. Some animal rights activists have voiced their opinions to end horse racing because of this recent tragedy, which occurred a little more than a year after Barbaro endured his injury and eventual euthanization. But to suggest horse racing as cruelty to animals is simply crazy. Horses are not typically used for pulling wagons, plowing or everyday transportation like they were hundreds of years ago. Racing is one claim they stake in today’s society. It’s what gives these thoroughbred horses a reason of being, and it’s how they earn their way. You could say it’s how they put food on their table. What will these horses do with out their jobs or reason for being? I would hate
for someone to take my job too much is insane. away and send me to pasThe jockey, Gabriel Saez, ture just because something didn’t make her do anymight go wrong. thing she wasn’t People get killed bred to do. If you driving down the think differently, road, working at you must not know their jobs and somean extensive amount times doing nothabout horses. ing more than sitSociety doesn’t ting on their couch. have to always find It just happens. blame and point What some spectafingers when a trautors watching that Charlotte Fackler matic event occurs. first Saturday in Though the event May may not understand, is was terribly sad, it couldn’t that horses are injured and be predicted, so just let it die every day. Horses die be. at pasture much more than Celebrate Eight Belle’s they do on racetracks. legacy of being one of few Everyone involved on a fillies to win second place personal level with Eight during the Kentucky DerBelles is surely very heart- by — one the world’s most broken and wishes she was famous horse races. Take here today, practicing for an comfort knowing that she upcoming race. died doing what she did Trying to place blame on a best, and her name will be 118 pound jockey for whip- part of horse racing history ping a 1,200 pound horse forever.
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