Tiger’s troubles; Toyota’s software; a debate on ‘Redskins’

Tempest over Tiger

Re “A charmed life may be feeling the squeeze,” Nov. 30

I can understand Tiger Woods’ right to privacy. I can understand him not being able to play in his tournament due to his injuries from the car crash.

What Tiger should do is attend the final day of his golf tournament at Sherwood Country Club to thank the golfers and the fans who attend, and to acknowledge the financial benefits to his Tiger Woods Foundation.

Blake Boyle
Big Bear Lake

Woods, the most successful golfer ever, rakes in money doing what he loves. He raises millions of dollars for his charities.

Maybe he slept with another woman, and maybe his wife beat the snot out of him, and maybe he crashed while trying to flee.

It’s sad how society chooses to ignore wars, millions of people without health insurance, the homeless and climate change, yet it has no problem with getting into someone else’s business. Many have no problem eating up gossip that will have absolutely no effect on their lives.

People, get a clue.

Michael Figueroa
Glendale

Is cars’ software tested enough?

Re “Data point to Toyota’s throttles,” Nov. 29

The Toyota acceleration problem, which may result from cars’ “drive-by-wire” electronic throttles, is a harbinger of future problems related to software in consumer devices.

The modern software running in more and more devices is too large and complicated to release to the public with just a few certification tests. There are so many logical paths in the code that it is impossible to test all of them in a timely manner.

For this reason, agencies have developed standards and approaches to developing software when all paths cannot be tested.

The Toyota situation is one that can be addressed in the future if companies focus on safety instead of the economic savings of producing software the traditional way.

John Wisniewski
Lake View Terrace

Another coup for the U.S. to bless

Re “Another coup of sorts in Honduras,” Nov. 28

After hemming and hawing over the Honduran military coup that overthrew President Manuel Zelaya, the U.S. has finally blessed it by throwing its support behind Sunday’s “election,” which candidates representing the military and wealthy elites were always certain to win.

A mainstay of American imperialism has long been to support dictatorships allied with the privileged classes throughout the world, and especially in Latin America.

For a while it looked like President Obama, who initially condemned the coup, would chart a different course. But imperialist ways are difficult to shelve, especially for a country used to lording it over the world.

Financial and other upheavals will eventually doom this imperialism, but until then it reigns supreme.

Roger Carasso
Los Angeles

Iran has obeyed nuclear rules

Re “The nuclear cop,” Editorial, Nov. 29

The situation with Iran needs to be put in context: At least this nation has signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and has allowed the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect its nuclear facilities.

Iran’s reward for its good behavior has been constant badgering by the West to stop enriching uranium, which it has every right to do for peaceful purposes under the terms of the treaty.

Instead of continuously putting Iran under a microscope, why doesn’t the West challenge the three nations that have never signed the NPT -- Israel, India and Pakistan -- to sign this treaty and adhere to the same standards we are now demanding of Iran?

John Grula
Pasadena

When sheep have the right-of-way

Re “A flock of sheep, a swarm of bikes,” Column One, Nov. 27

I’m sorry that Renee Legro was attacked by herding dogs when she rode her bike in Colorado.

But to demand jail time for sheepherder Sam Robinson, even after his two dogs were euthanized, seems vindictive and overreaching.

The fault lies with the Vail Recreation Department, which failed to inform the herders of the cycling event. Robinson could not prepare in advance by locking up his dogs.

As an owner of a Great Pyrenees, I can tell you that they are loyal and loving dogs, and his two dogs were only doing what they were trained to do: guard his flock. As a result of the state banning trapping, the dogs were his only means of protecting his sheep.

Compared with a few yuppies being unable to ride their mountain bikes, Robinson’s loss of his livelihood is a far greater injustice.

Emily Moe
Los Alamitos

Legro faults Robinson for not seeing her side of this story.

Why does her right to recreational bike riding take precedence over Robinson’s right to make a living in the same way his father and grandfather did?

She didn’t belong where she was, but the sheep and the dogs did.

H. Gilbert
Los Angeles

Central to the story were the flock of sheep and guard dogs. I assume that the sheep are raised only to be slaughtered for meat.

Two of the dogs made the mistake of biting humans. Instead of rehabilitating them or finding them a new home, their owners had them killed.

So, while the humans pontificate and bicker, the animals pay with their lives. A very sad commentary on humans.

Cheryl Kohr
Redondo Beach

No blushing over ‘Redskins’

Re “ ‘Redskins’ is wrong,” Editorial, Nov. 27

As the leading newspaper in Southern California, can you find nothing to complain about here at home?

The Skins are a tradition -- something the entire SoCal area lacks.

For years, there was absolutely nothing one could do in D.C. except wait for the Skins to play. As a kid, I listened to my team on the radio (always losing) every Sunday afternoon. In law school, my three roommates and I bought season tickets. We love our Skins.

You may not know this, but the Redskins fight song originally included the line “Fight for old Dixie.” When civil rights became an issue, the team changed the words.

Let us be happy with our memories of more than 70 years.

Lee Dribin
Los Angeles

Explain why your objection to the use of the term “Redskins” by the National Football League’s Washington, D.C., franchise isn’t made a mockery of by your Sports section’s free use of it.

I counted four instances of “Redskins” the very day you published your damning editorial on the subject. Four instances in which you could have substituted “Washington” at no cost to the accuracy or clarity of your reporting.

You’re under no compulsion to report on that team -- much less use a term you find so offensive.

To square your practice with your principles, you should leave it merely at “Washington.” Until you do so, there is no choice but to see The Times as part of the problem you seek to remedy.

James McCarthy
Granada Hills

You say, “A football team called the Crackers or the Darkies probably wouldn’t be tolerated for long.”

I was born and raised in Atlanta and, like most Atlantans at the time, was proud of our hometown baseball team: the Atlanta Crackers.

The Crackers played for some 50 years and finally went out of business when the Milwaukee Braves announced they would move to Atlanta, in 1964.

I always was -- and still am -- proud to be a Georgia Cracker.

Jack M. Smith Jr.
Woodland Hills

Just a few suggestions off the top of my head: The Washington Oligarchs. The Washington Elites. The Fightin’ Plutocrats!

This could be fun.

John Teeple
Rubicon, Wis.

The Redskins’ team doesn’t have to change its name, just the symbol it uses.

Instead of a caricature of a Native American, it could use one of those little potatoes.

Dave Lindell
Hacienda Heights