Assembly-line cruelty

There are over a million pounds of meat being recalled because of cruelty. It’s about time a slaughterhouse finally faces consequences for its actions. Watching a downer on the news being hosed in the nostrils because she can’t get up is heart-wrenching, but so is stunning, throats slit and skinned alive. Slaughterhouses are assembly lines, and the animals are merely commodities.

We love our cats and dogs, and rightly so, but do we have feeling for barnyard animals? They also are God’s creatures, and we will be held accountable for our cruelty toward them.

They are neat and sterile, the Styrofoam containers with choice cuts covered with nice clear plastic so we may view its freshness and make sure that it is still blood red.

In reality, they are piles of flesh from bodies that enjoyed life, the morning’s sunshine, the taste of cool water, the smell of green grass and the love of fellow beings. We, not from want but for taste alone, become partners with those who cause the blood to flow and death.

Barbara Gisler, Lebanon

Attitudes that hurt U.S.

Several letters have been written lately denouncing America. I don’t know if they are written as the apex of ignorance, out of a hatred for America or a hatred for President Bush, Republicans, conservatives and religion. It really doesn’t matter as they all will aid in the ruination of this country.

A few writers only talk about how America and Israel are bad and Palestinians are the victims. How many times have these writers condemned the bombing of Israeli school buses, markets and innocent women and children? Never! How many times has Israel bombed Palestinian school buses? Same answer: Never!

A few have railed against the use of torture in interrogations claiming that “waterboarding” will open the door for the enemy to use that tactic on our MIAs and POWs. When has there ever been a letter written by these few condemning the use of “beheading” by those same terrorists they wish to coddle? Same answer as above: Never! Waterboarding vs. beheading? Tough choice.

And now, in a speech by Mrs. Obama, the wife of the person who wants to be the president of this great country, came the most egregious remark ever made when she stated that this was the first time in her adult life that she was able to be proud of this country. And this was why? Because her husband was about change.

For those mentioned above I can assure you as a person who has lived and served in other countries, this is the greatest country. If your comments are out of ignorance, learn. If your comments are out of hatred, move. If you want this country to flourish and remain the most giving, the most compassionate and the strongest country in the world — think before you spew.

Larry Crompton, Scio

Do homework on LNG

Clearly to those of us who have studied LNG for years, who have worked on LNG projects, who have read the SEC reports on the private energy investors financing and gaining from these terminals, and who will now have our pristine valley ripped apart by not one, but two pipelines, your editor who blasted Jeff Merkley and his position on LNG has not done his homework on the effects of having three LNG terminals being sited in the state of Oregon.

Even these companies admit in their meetings and FERC reporting that very little of the natural gas will be used by Oregonians. Your editorial seems to quote verbatim the myths being perpetuated by the natural gas companies.

I urge your writer to come and tour the approximate 33,000 acres in the blast zone of these pipelines that will rip through organic farms, timber lands, through our streams that are just now getting salmon back after decades. I urge him to explain to the workers who will be laid off as farms, tree farms, foresters, fishermen, tourism are ruined exactly how LNG is profiting them individually.

Our lands will be taken by eminent domain even as we have to pay taxes and insurance on these easements that will provide no benefit to our communities. If you think these energy companies are looking out for the good of the average citizen, visit some of the people affected, read the claims of the LNG people to their investors.

Study the real facts—very few permanent jobs will be gained, energy prices never go down, and Oregonians don’t need more natural gas.

I urge you to get your facts straight before blasting a person who has the guts to oppose huge corporate interests who want to take away the rights and lands of Oregon’s citizens. We need more people like Merkley.

Linda C. Martin, science writer, Gales Creek, Ore.