Editorial voices from elsewhere
Excerpts from recent editorials in newspapers in the United States as compiled by the Associated Press:
South Carolina is once again in the national spotlight. Video of a school resource officer throwing a Spring Valley High School student to the floor and arresting her is, as Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott put it, disturbing. The video and the arrest rightfully captured the attention of our state and nation.
Understandably, parents, students, administrators and the public have questions about what happened in that Spring Valley classroom. All have the right to seek answers, offer opinions and express concerns. A public discussion is healthy.
We had similar discussions in April after a white North Charleston police officer shot an unarmed black man; in June after a young white man massacred nine parishioners at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston; and just a few weeks ago after widespread flooding damaged thousands of homes and left at least 19 dead statewide. …
Our responses this year have been praised by national media and by politicians across the political spectrum, from Gov. Nikki Haley to President Obama.
Thankfully, the Spring Valley High School encounter did not end in the loss of life. But it is disturbing, as Sheriff Lott said. South Carolinians should ask questions. If any laws were broken, we should expect justice.
But in our response, we should continue being who we are – a community that will not be divided.
Outgoing U.S. House Speaker John Boehner may save his party – in spite of itself. And for that – once the dust settles – he will be viewed by history as a hero.
Boehner struck a deal with his Democratic counterparts and with the White House that will not only head off a possible government shutdown in December but will prevent similar budgetary showdowns for two years – and that means after the 2016 presidential election.
The genuinely disgruntled in the House GOP – such as some members of the Freedom Caucus – no longer have any weapon to use against the departing Boehner, and they know it.
Bacon, hot dogs and steaks – medium rare, please – are delicious. But like so many things in life, excessive consumption is risky.
The World Health Organization made that reality clear once more Monday by declaring meat, particularly processed meat, probably contributes to colon, stomach and other types of cancer.
The World Health Organization, part of the United Nations, said in its opening statement that if reported associations are proven to be causal, the Global Burden of Disease Project estimates diets high in red meat could be responsible for 50,000 cancer deaths per year worldwide.
Not to discount the impact on health from the excessive consumption of meat, processed and otherwise, but a little perspective is in order.
Smoking is linked to about 1 million cancer deaths annually worldwide. Alcohol accounts for another 600,000 cancer deaths. Air pollution is responsible for 200,000 cancer deaths annually, the agency said.
The World Health Organization lists many other issues worthy of concern. Traffic fatalities account for 1.25 million deaths annually. Violence accounts for 200,000 deaths of people between the ages of 10 and 29 annually. Hunger causes 3.1 million deaths of children under the age of 5 annually. Think about that. The city of Los Angeles has 3.8 million people.
We in the United States consume more meat than almost any other nation. That has impacts on the environment, climate change and health.
We would be wise to eat a little less of it, and, while we’re at it, drive more carefully, exercise more regularly, and, for those who still smoke, try a little harder to kick the addiction.