For the sake of eight to 10 tailgating events a year, the Bengals are willing to prevent the construction of a venue that could host events 365 days a year?  Cincinnati should be a city with balanced entertainment.  With the newly announced MLS designation, the Reds and the Bengals, isn't it time to let the city blossom with something other than sports? 

I find the potential veto of a concert venue from the Bengals/Brown family to be such a contrast to the announcement today from the Cincinnati Zoo of the $50 million gift from  Harry and Linda Fath. (Thank you, Fath family!)  It seems that one family is contributing to the city and the other family is doing the opposite. Just because the Bengals have the "right of first refusal," does not mean they should exercise that right.  For once, let the Bengals think about good corporate citizenship and not about how to take more money from Cincinnati and Hamilton County.  

Theresa Burnside, Delhi Township

Trump wrong on the anthem issue

Do you think it would be alright for NFL players and other professional athletes to kneel if the verse supporting slavery in the United States were played and sung during the national anthem?  It could be that the NFL and President Trump are not even remotely aware that such a verse exists!  But I believe they are aware of the unequal treatment people of color are given by those in authority and power and who are tasked with upholding justice in a fair and equal manner in this country. 

If Trump is so supportive of our military why is he considering a pardon for Mohammed Ali?  At least Ali refused to serve because of his beliefs.  Trump refused to serve because he was and remains a coward.

Forrest L. Buckley, Westwood

Our nation was founded on the right to protest
Those people agreeing with the president in demanding that players stand during the National Anthem must have slept during American history class in high school (as the President must have done as well) or they would know that America was founded upon the right to protest and upon the right to free speech.
The true patriots are those who have the courage to take a stand, no matter how unpopular the issue may be. The right is guaranteed. And the President, who did everything he could to avoid serving in Vietnam, offering no idealistic reasons for doing so, years ago forfeited his right to comment upon who is patriotic and who is not.
Enforced patriotism is fascism. We lost 407,300 lives in World War II to guarantee that fascism would never come to America. We must be ever vigilant.
John F. Hussong, White Oak 

Bridge is falling down, but stadium going up

Surely someone besides me has noticed that the city’s new budget shortfall of $32 million roughly equals the $34 million the city gave away for the new soccer stadium.  Now the shortfall has to be made up by increasing fees and taxes.  So the public is on the hook again to pay for another new stadium that I for one will never use. And I’m sure there are many like me. Hey, let the poor kids go hungry.  Take away the common meeting places of the elderly.  Let our highways and overpasses collapse.  While they are at it, let the Brent Spence Bridge fall down.  A new soccer stadium is in the works!  Go Cincinnati!  This is progress?  This is insanity. 

Penny Harris, Kenwood

Thanks to the Faths for zoo donation

A very sincere "thank you!" to Harry and Linda Fath for your generous gift to the Cincinnati Zoo. It is wonderful to read good news for a change and it doesn't get much better than people acknowledging the importance and impact our zoo has on the city as well as the world.

As a long-time member and part-time volunteer, I get to see the zoo more often than many others and marvel at the incredible effort and environment into which it has evolved. The proposed updates and changes will be spectacular. Instead of hearing about NFL players kneeling, the Bengals thinking about throwing a wrench into the Banks music venue plans, the silly streetcar and more, we get to read about a world-class environment for hundreds of species having an even greater impact on our natural world.

Mike Biere, College Hill



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