Letters to the Editor Mar. 05, 2010

Don’t jeopardize Talking Crow

Regarding the March 2 article (“Harbor, studio in dispute over rent proposal”), Talking Crow Studio is the best addition to Del Norte County in years! It is all about art, sharing art, and has been a labor of love created by Rika Blue.

It’s time to act on climate change

Every American should be aware that we are at a unique moment when it comes to climate change. Last June, the House of Representatives passed legislation aimed at curtailing global warming pollution for the first time. The Senate is now considering versions of a similar bill. They all include the elements that need to be part of any effective and sustainable legislation, such as long-term emissions limits, effective cost-management tools and strong incentives for the development of efficient energy technologies.

If we act now, we have an opportunity to show global leadership on this issue and spur the growth of a clean energy economy. If we do nothing, we must prepare for another era of dependence on foreign oil and many other consequences.

I stand with many Americans in saying that this is an issue that our leaders cannot ignore. I urge our senators to take action and all Americans to make their voice heard on this matter, regardless of their viewpoints. The time has come for the science and solutions regarding climate change to be at the center of our national conversation.

It’s time to define our decade.

Erica Moore

Crescent City

Stand up for public education

This is being written on March 4. Today students, teachers, school workers and many Americans who value public education are rallying across the country to call attention to the sustained assault on public education which is going on in this country. But there is no indication in the press or online that there will be any such protests in Del Norte County. That’s too bad; if the students, teachers and other education workers do not stand up for public education the politicians will continue to starve and dismantle our community schools.

I am a senior citizen. My kids are long since out of school and there are not yet grandkids in the family. So why do I support the idea of restoring adequate funding to our public schools and colleges? Education is the key to future success. But more than that, support for public education is an investment in democracy. We need well educated citizen voters who can see through advertising and news propaganda to understand what is really going on with our government. We need educated voters to throw out the bums and to keep the political influence of giant corporations in check.

I went through school and college at a time when the schools had plenty of resources. Don’t young people today deserve the same opportunity?

Felice Pace

Klamath

Why do people mistreat pets?

I can’t figure out why some people own pets. I have gone to the Front Street park with my dogs (they are always on a leash).

I have observed on several occasions people with their dogs, unleashed, but the owner walks with the leash in hand. A man was crossing the road to go to the park with his dog. He was at the corner crosswalk (dog not leashed), he looked both ways for cars (good man!) but his dog decided to proceed without his intelligent master, into the street in front of an oncoming vehicle. His well-trained master yelled at him and then hit him.

I saw this same man again with his poor dog at the park, his dog did his business in the grass and then ran out to the street, master of course doesn’t know what a leash is for, this poor dog got kicked in the hip! Then the intelligent human puts the leash on.

Can you idiots who do these things to your pets please tell the rest of us who can’t figure you out, why you have a dog? Why leave them tied to a tree out in the bad weather? Why do you beat them? Why can’ you just find someone who would care about them? Or have pity on them and just stop being abusive, or surrender them to the pound, at least they have a chance for a better life.

I’ve seen a lot worse treatment toward other dogs in Crescent City and Klamath, too many to list. Animals don’t understand our language. If you were in a foreign land with no knowledge of the language or customs, and you unknowingly broke some law, and were yelled at in a language you don’t know and beat or kicked, and tied up to some post or tree, you would be begging for someone to contact the U.S. embassy to get you help.

You would know how it feels to be a mistreated animal. Some of you you would deserve it.

Patrick Robinson

Klamath