The Odessa American from Odessa, Texas • D5

THER OICES SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2015OAOA.COMPAGE 5D THE IDLE AMERICAN A sk any chiropractor, masseur or masseuse, and answers will be similar. Most Americans are tense, on the wrong side of the frazzle equation. They are sheep if you will figuring if the finish line is reached without indebtedness, so be it. To live positively is considered wishful thinking, perhaps attainable only with medication or something stronger. Generally, we are in a mode, as if our avoidance of or is critical to keeping the glow on our Maybe the Arrid deodorant ad people were right in the and asking, be half In a broader sense, we feel even that secure.

Nowadays, even 50 percent achievement of what someone called seems a stretch. Maybe we spend too much time in the and locked As a late friend commented during a final visit with his doctor, having no trouble the getting That being said, a certain admiration for a smattering of people choosing litigation pursuant to their ongoing and paid football season ticket rights. The same rights apply to the Super Bowl XLIX fans denied seats purchased for The former are Texas Aggie faithful who are challenging changes encountered despite assurances for season ticket rights. In short while one might rightly question why fans shell out princely sums to attend athletic events reason to cheer for people with legitimate beefs who simply going to take it sitting down What could have been the simpler issue was at the Super Bowl. The National Football League admitted error.

One would hope be acceptable remedies short of the courthouse. There are certain events for which there are no Ask photographers whose wedding pictures turn out. Or ask NFL officials why tickets were sold for seats that in place. Harder to understand is the issue at Texas University, where a few families and foundations wrote checks for lifetime rights to purchase season tickets at the without additional charges imposed annually for the right to do so. Unless prevail, Texas may catapult to the front of big-time institutions where sports gallop out of control.

Again, forgetting intercollegiate initial and fundamental purpose. Further, lines formerly dividing them from professional sports grow exceedingly blurred Texas with its newly acquired law school may need to roll out its biggest cannon in response to class-action lawsuits brought against both the university and its respected 12th Man Foundation. Plaintiffs filing suits are not small fry. Some are including the former executive director of the 12th Man Foundation and two former presidents of the Houston Aggie Club. Curiously, the foundation has been assigned the task of in the soon-to-open expanded Kyle Field.

Foundation leaders, having navigated troubled waters before, had best prepare for a tsunami about about prestige. about money. about Texas having the largest collegiate sports venue in Texas and in the Southeast Conference. also about forcing loyal fans to pony up with over half the renovation costs about $230 million through annual by season ticket holders. The new Texas president has an interesting contract.

Like several others, it sounds like an NFL contract, calling for an annual salary exceeding $1,000,000, and a of $800,000. also eligible for four $100,000 annually at the discretion of Chancellor John Sharp, who like several others opted for academia following government service The new other Aggie on the high wire, sans net. No matter which side prevails, the cost will greatly exceed mere dollars. Damage will be inestimable. Critics will point to the code of honor: Aggie does not lie, cheat or steal or tolerate those who A non-partisan prayer might begin, Lord.

Show us the right way. Help us to know when to whether up or down. May we avoid blaming Johnny Manziel even though his dazzling grid exploits may be the primary impetus for a bigger stadium. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Pull up a chair NEWBURY DON NEWBURY Newbury is a speaker in the Metroplex. Email: akerdoc.com.

Phone: 817447-3872. Twitter: bury Website: www.speaker doc.com. ACCORDING TO GLENN FODEN Messed With Texas Last week, I was in west Texas driving from Lubbock to Odessa. I took the route of Highway 62 which merged into Highway 385 in Brownfield. After I got to Andrews, I continued my drive and was both shocked and saddened to see the amount of trash that can be found on both sides of the road between Andrews and Odessa.

I have driven many miles in Texas and can say, with honesty, that I have never encountered a stretch of road which is more littered than Highway 385 between Andrews and Odessa. Texas definitely has a litter problem throughout the state. Some areas are less littered than others, but in my opinion, if one can see one piece of litter on the side of the road, then that area has a litter problem. Using that rationale, Highway 385 between the great cities of Andrews and Odessa has become a disaster. I know that there are many great people in west Texas; people who can solve any and all problems.

I would challenge the great people of Andrews and Odessa to come up with a plan of action to clean the roadsides of Highway 385. It may seem impossible, but there is nothing impossible when there are good people to overcome the task. I know that the great majority of people in the area care as much about preserving this earth as I do and I also know that there is a small minority who trash our beautiful world. The majority can overcome if they put their minds to it. I wish you all the best and look forward to driving through your area again and seeing only the great, natural beauty which exists between your two great cities.

JOSE RODRIQUEZ HUNTSVILLE Law enforcement not above the law Should the sheriff and deputies be above the law? Most people would think not; they might even think they should be held to a higher standard. But, that is not the case here. After being arrested for PI, while walking to our house, my husband, Bruce, was maliciously Tased four times while in handcuffs and two of the times while he was lying face down in the back of the patrol truck. We filed an official complaint with Inspector Bright. As in all official complaints, they are recorded and during our meeting, Inspector Bright acknowledged that he heard the dash cam recording made during the arrest.

On the recording you can hear Bruce asking for help to get into the vehicle. You can hear Deputy David Escudero, a deputy that by Sheriff own words has PTSD, say me get him, let me get him, let me get All while you can hear one of the other two deputies trying to call him off. Deputy Escudero also cursed and made comments such as it was very very selfish, (as if he enjoyed Tasing my husband). It is no surprise to me that this same deputy has been arrested for a state jail felony and a misdemeanor assault as reported in the Odessa American. Because of the official complaint, it is Sheriff duty to examine all the evidence.

And again, in Mark own words, provide a fair and thorough investigation. One of the best tools for that would be the three dash cam videos and the two recordings made during our official complaint; which are based on fact, what you see is what you get. At this point, Sheriff Donaldson was at the crossroads of honesty and deceit. He chose deceit simply because honesty was to damaging to the department. He chose to take the words of deputies who perjured themselves during the trial, associates, and friends of Deputy Escudero rather than basing his decision on recordings that are not bias and do not lie.

He again made wrong choices when he chose to approve of the unjustified Tas- ing and to withhold evidence; the evidence being the dash cam videos, which were requested by our attorney through the discovery process. Even though the recordings were withheld and the deputies perjured themselves, Bruce was still found not guilty. Because Sheriff Donaldson chose the path of deceit by withholding evidence and conspiracy, the deputies at the trial proceedings had no choice but to perjure themselves when they stated no recordings were ever made because the lights were not on and the lights have to be on to activate the dash cam video recorder, therefore, no recordings were ever made. Well, they do say everyone has a choice. They simply could have told the truth and make a liar out of their boss, Sheriff Donaldson, not much of a choice.

About two months after the trial, we received two of these non-existing, never made, tapes through the Texas Public Information Act, Chapter 552, Texas Government Code. However, the most illuminating recording from the arresting cruiser is to this day, among the missing along with Inspector tape recordings. I am just a layman, but it sounds like a conspiracy by withholding evidence, aggravated perjury, excessive force, and why not throw in a little tampering with governmental records; and while we are at it, what about criminal responsibility of another. Again, I am just a layman, but I know why, that sounds corrupt to me. Which is exactly what Bruce told District Attorney Bobby Bland, through his administrator, Susan Glass, in June of last year.

He tried numerous times to talk with Mr. Bland with no success. With Susan Glass being the go between, I explained everything to her just as I am doing here. After three or four conversations, Bobby Bland, through Susan told me they do not take complaints from citizens, they have to be submitted by a law enforcement agency. They then recommended I call Brian Burney with the Texas Rangers knowing fully well that the Texas Rangers require a letter of intent to prosecute from the DA (Bobby Bland).

A few weeks ago, I tried to call myself believing I might get to speak with Mr. Bland. I went through the same routine. I was promised that either Susan Glass or Mr. Bland would call me back.

To this day, neither of them has returned my call. Talk about a catch 22. This makes him part of the problem, not the solution. To sum it up, I guess I answered my own question, the Department is above the law and it appears they have the District approval to operate with impunity. Withholding evidence, perjury, and conspiracy to mention a few, all of this over a class misdemeanor.

One has to wonder what they would do with a more serious case. DEBBIE HENKEL ODESSA YOUR OPINION IS WELCOME All submissions to the Odessa American must be accompanied by the name, address and phone number. We may reject or edit any submission. Credits or bylines may or may not accompany published submissions. By submitting a letter or column, you assign to us all rights, title and interest in the submission, including all copyrights.

Letters should be mailed to: Editor, Odessa American, P.O. Box 2952, Odessa, TX 79760-2952. Letters may be faxed to 432-333-7742. Email ACCORDING TO LEE JUDGE.