Readers’ touch upon Native American graves, library bullies, street work chaos, AI risks and extra

Carry the ancestors dwelling

My first response after studying in regards to the Native Individuals’ issues over museums holding on to the stays of ancestors (RN&R, July 2023) was that the majority Individuals have the identical factor occur to their distant ancestors in Europe. I don’t care if my Druid grandfathers are exhumed in Britain or French archeologists gather historic Gauls’ skeletons and show them in museums.  (And) as a Catholic, it’s a practice in my faith to revere the bones of Saints as holy relics. Skulls and stacks of human bones are displayed in catacombs in lots of locations in Europe. However I don’t stay subsequent to the previous graves and my linage will not be in a direct line with these long-dead folks. In keeping with the story, Native American custom is to permit their lifeless to relaxation in peace undisturbed perpetually. It’s time we revered their tradition and return Indian stays for reburial. 

– Kevin Powers, Fernley

Boycott bullies who disrupt conferences

Perhaps it’s time to call the bullies at native conferences (RN&R, July 2023) and expose them. A pleasant piece about who they’re and what companies they run would assist the general public make selections on whether or not they wish to proceed enterprise with such hate-filled folks. – E.D.P., Reno

Gun management works elsewhere

In response to April Pedersen’s “weapons are perpetually” letter (RN&R, July 2023), one solely wants to have a look at how we did really ban assault weapons nationally below the Violent Crime Management and Legislation Enforcement Act of 1994. Or have a look at nations the place the residents determined “sufficient is sufficient” (New Zealand, for instance). Banned weapons are first rounded up utilizing buy-back packages. Over time, extra banned weapons are eliminated as they’re confiscated as a part of crime investigations. Primary logic: if it has been performed earlier than, it may be performed once more, if we select to take action.

– Michael Rottmann, Reno 

Sizzling August site visitors cones

Yearly the Metropolis of Reno and the RTC watch for the Sizzling August Nights (RN&R, August 2023) occasion earlier than they begin tearing up the streets and make Reno and Sparks into an impediment course of development gear, holes within the street and site visitors cones.  I actually assume the engineers get an enormous chortle out of that earlier than they in all probability go on trip and go away the remainder of us to take care of the outcomes. – Manny Rodriquez, Reno

AI is a harmful expertise

One of many risks of Synthetic Intelligence (RN&R, August 2023) comes from extreme reliance on it with out verification. For example, a New York federal decide just lately sanctioned attorneys who submitted a authorized transient written by the bogus intelligence instrument ChatGPT, which included citations of non-existent courtroom circumstances. People are lazy sufficient by nature with out AI encouraging us to be even much less diligent. One other even higher hazard is the rising capacity to create deep pretend movies which can be nearly indistinguishable from actuality, with the power to alter the result of elections. Within the worldwide enviornment, I can simply see nations even going to battle primarily based on provocations that by no means occurred, credibly faked on a pc. And among the instruments utilized in social media to extend consumer engagement will be repurposed to incite mass concern. So I can see (actually) explosive outcomes coming from dangerous actors utilizing AI to control human feelings.

Then again, perhaps AI will solely be used for good, maybe to make much more lovely pet and kitten movies for YouTube.

– Gary Marks, Reno

Trump and his minions trash democracy

Former President Trump has now earned his fourth strike as a public official however nonetheless insists on standing as much as bat. The truth that his supporters connect no significance in any respect to his wild swings on the plate signifies that a big minority of the voters have change into incompetent residents, unable to acknowledge the distinction between proper and mistaken, good and evil. Traditionally, the lack of discernment by the “mob” of citizenry turns into a canine whistle for the rich class to say an unique proper to control. That’s precisely what is going on in America. Trump supporters have backed virtually fully away from consideration of the large proof of legal exercise rolling out into the general public view over the previous few months. They consider the propaganda narrative “I alone can do it,” not the historic, authorized, political, and constitutional proof that he can’t do it alone, particularly whereas breaking the legislation. Democracy by very definition requires that everybody be a collaborating hero, not only one rich white man, and never only a single flock of obedient sheep.

— Kimball Shinkoskey, Woods Cross, Utah

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