Please, only human animals at sports events

Sports bring out the best of us as Americans. They define our resilience and humanity after devastating floods like in New Orleans, or the 9/11 terrorism. They represent the child in each of us as we wait with expectation for the Olympics. We love our cross-town rivalries, and we shake our heads and laugh when other teams refuse to let us here in Chicago purchase tickets in their stadiums.

Sports also bring out the worst in us. Nashville Predators fan — a grown man — runs over a catfish with his truck and stuffs it down his pants. He then goes to a Penguins game and hurls it to the ice. In any other context, he would be viewed as mentally unstable, and we would shake our heads in disbelief and sadness. However, we are being conditioned to believe there is an expanding, acceptable relationship between dead animals and NHL hockey.

Advocates apparently include Carrie Underwood (an animal-rights activist when her husband Mike Fisher — no pun intended — isn’t playing), the mayors of both Pittsburgh and Nashville, who hope this silliness will be thrown out of court, and by a group of fans who will crowd fund not only this man’s court costs, but future ticket purchases and probably fish purchases too.

It is unacceptable for a human to willfully abuse an animal. This baseline standard should not be questioned. However, sadly, there are people who do not make the connection between animal cruelty and sporting event zealotry.

These will probably be the same people who say I’m writing this letter just because I’m angry that the Preds swept the Hawks. You’re missing the point, but since you don’t get it, I ask just one thing of you. If your team loses, please don’t take it out on an animal.

Bill Duggan

Arlington Heights

On JFK at 100

For most baby boomers, the two most indelible events of their lives were the assassination of JFK and the 9/11 attacks. It is sad that these devastating events may be the last times that America has stood as one. “Ask not what your country can do for you; but, what you can do for your country” is still a clarion call today.

Lawrence F. Buettner

Long Grove