Soccer play too rough
Thanks for your article on soccer risks ("Head This Way," 10/1/10). As parents of a soccer player, we are concerned that Wisconsin youth soccer from the age of about 10 seems to be inordinately rough and inadequately refereed.
In four years of play at recreational and classic levels, our daughter has been sworn at and slapped in the face, shoved by opposing players using elbows or hands, charged (while playing goalie), and deliberately kicked, tripped and stomped on - often far from the ball, and for no apparent purpose other than intimidation.
In those four years, she has not seen even a single yellow card in any game she's played, let alone a red card.
The referees seem to feel their job is to ensure the score is fair. As parents, we are vastly more concerned about our children's safety. However, after conversations with soccer officials last year, we have concluded there's currently no effective mechanism of accountability for referees, or for coaches who encourage rough play.
Kids are encouraged to play soccer to learn sportsmanship. However, too many kids seem to be learning that the rules are there to be ignored.
Vicki and Dave Glyer
Praise from a pastor
A quick word of appreciation for your article "Loved By His God" (10/1/10). It was well written, covered the nuances of Presbyterian debates and polity better than I have seen it elsewhere in the press, contains fair balance, and conveys great grace and care for Scott Anderson [the gay man seeking to be ordained a minister].
I'm not sure what other feedback you are going to receive, but from this Presbyterian Church USA pastor, you have my gratitude.
Chad Herring, Southminster Presbyterian Church, Prairie Village, Kan.
Jewish millennia not countless
In "Loved by His God," attorney Whit Brisky notes (in opposing gay ordination) that "Christians for two millennia and Jews for countless millennia prior to that have believed that sex is essentially part of a marriage between a man and a woman. The scripture is clear on that."
Since the current year in the Jewish calendar is 5771, I count fewer than four millennia "prior to that." If he can't count to four, what can he do? And how does he explain my lesbian rabbi?
Steve Rankin
