Mailbox for Jan. 10: Trump cartoon; football injuries; assisted suicide |


Passing Medical Aid in Dying measure was right decision

Colorado voters legalized assisted suicide on Nov. 8. This was a right decision for the voters to make.

We as human beings have the right to end our lives because no one has control over us except ourselves. Also, this brings less stress to the family because it can end families seeing a loved one suffer for a long period of time and family members don't have to spend thousands of dollars on medicine and machines.

Lastly, negative thoughts can end because it will make the person who is suffering feel in control of themselves. Thanks to voters who passed this law.

Tamara Quinonez, Kersey, 9th-grader, Platte Valley High School

Is football a danger to your child?

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There has been a debate for a long time whether parents should let their kids play football. Some think it is not that bad when kids get hit in the head and others think it could ruin their child's life.

Depending on the severity of the condition, the child can have a risk of manifesting symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, also known as CTE, like major depression, memory loss, suicidal thoughts and actions, loss of intelligence, as well as dementia later in life.

Dr. Bennet Omalu, a physician and neuropathologist, has studied brains and noticed, "There can be evidence of brain damage at the cellular level of brain functioning even if there were no documented concussions or reported symptoms."

Even if someone plays football and does not show symptoms of a concussion, they still show damage over time. Aaron M. Yengo-Kahn wrote: "A study published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience in August found that kids who did more aerobic exercise had more compact white matter in the brain, which is linked to better cognitive function."

The more aerobic exercise kids have the better they do in school. If it were my kid, I would let them play if they wanted to. I might wait until they are older or if they get a concussion make them wait a while to play again.

Robert Meireis, Kersey, 9th-grader, Platte Valley High School

Trump cartoon tasteless

Political learning aside, I found the Jan. 3 "Drawing Board" offering to be tasteless and offensive.

Perhaps you believe Donald Trump to be tasteless and offensive. That is your call, but why not use your newspaper to promote unity rather than validating divisive agendas.

Bill Hopkins, Greeley