Letters and Comments for March 17, 2009

Hansen, Sykes, Jackman, McCracken, Garoutte

Trapping article unbalanced

To the Editor:

In regards to “Traps and Pets,” I am thoroughly disappointed in how unbalanced this article was written.

Being a Wallowa County native myself, I grew up hunting and trapping with my dad. My father has had every finger caught in a trap numerous times and has never even suffered a broken bone. When people take their pets into the wilderness, there should be an understanding that the animal could encounter things such as traps, cougars, bears and, most recently, wolves. I don’t hear many complaints to get rid of the bears and cougars.

There was one piece of important information left out of this article. Under the Nova Scotia Wildlife Act, any dog allowed to run at large by its owner in wildlife habitat is against the law. The dog must be under immediate control and within sight of the handler at all times.

I noticed that the “victim” in this article said “she was not able to open the trap that caught her dog.” Earlier in the article, it was quoted that they “were able to free their dog from the trap and he was not seriously injured.” So which is true? Apparently the latter, since the dog appeared in the picture.

Go ahead, let’s ban trapping. When our agricultural crops and our property are damaged, and our children are being exposed to diseases such as rabies and giardia because we have an overpopulation of fur bearers, those who are opposed to trapping will be the first ones to complain. If we are going to co-exist with wildlife, we can’t let them become overpopulated.

In future articles, quotes should come equally from people like Jim Soares and Mike Hanson as from groups like Trap Free Oregon.

Natalie Hansen

Cove

Trappers, citizens and ODFW

To the Editor:

Joyce Osterloh wrote an excellent article. I would mention that in addition to leg-hold and Conibear traps, wire neck snares, which must be cut to be released, are also widely used. The Observer has printed at least two letters by La Grande residents whose dogs were caught in snares, one fatally.

The continual setting of traps in popular areas is, at best, discourteous, and Owsley Canyon, where a dog died in a snare, and Hurricane Creek Road are both high-use places.

With all the public land available to trappers, it’s a wonder they persist in setting traps where their neighbors may come to harm.

Anybody whose dog has been trapped knows the powerful shock and dismay of the experience. The resulting fear of traps never departs, coloring outdoor excursions from then on. To injury is added insult — this happens on land we all share. But the sharing is unequal. As Ms. Osterloh pointed out, there are few restrictions on placing traps and they’re never posted. The law favors the trapper — if you touch a trap, beware!

This is unfair. The ODFW has a poor record of educating the public about trapping. Information is available at their website and offices, but few have reason to look for it. If the ODFW does put anything in the media, it’s usually in response to a news story. This is especially unfair when a person is prosecuted for “tampering” with a trap when his pet has just been trapped in it. Not only are most Oregonians unaware of trapping, they are flabbergasted to find themselves prosecuted for angrily removing the trap and reporting the outrage to the ODFW.

Fur trappers are showing the same disrespect to their fellow citizens as to the Oregon wildlife they trap, and the ODFW supports them.

Wally Sykes

Joseph

Reinforcing family’s values

To the Editor:

Gratitude filled my heart as so many people stood to support what was right, even while I was gone caring for my mother.

Since my first objection to the high school play in the beginning of January, I have come to appreciate words like “home,” “family,” “strength” and “values” when thinking of

La Grande. I was and still am amazed to see such an outpouring of support and to see how “one parent” could speak with such a loud voice as this community has.

Gordon B. Hinckley once said, “No nation can rise above the strength of is homes or the virtue of its people. The time has come for good people everywhere to demonstrate that they stand for something — something that is virtuous and clean and worthwhile ... and to return to our society the element of goodness on which it was founded.”

Thank you to everyone who has done just that. Thank you for reinforcing the values my husband and I work so hard to instill in our children. You’ve opened our eyes and hearts to see just how large a loving, caring family can be.

Melissa Jackman

La Grande

Tactic amounts to bullying

To the Editor:

The controversy over “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” is an obvious example of how some churches and assorted zealots try to dictate to society at large. Public schools were established to provide quality education for all children. It is wrong to allow curriculum to be hijacked by minorities.

Religious machinery is plainly at work locally. Some church members can be counted on to vote, hire and shop pretty much as a block. In a demography such as Union County, this tactic is very difficult to overcome and even more difficult to live with. But we may be witnessing progress.

Strong-arm tactics such as threatening to remove a group of children from public schools is adult bullying. Small wonder if some students are experiencing discomfort during this theatrical showdown. Things will settle back down.

The current confrontation shows “how things are done” in La Grande unless citizens unite, resist and persevere. I suspect the most damaging long-term affect is in undermining the judgment of highly qualified teachers. Certainly Kevin Cahill deserves our full respect and support.

I was raised Catholic and sent to parochial schools back when Catholic girls were given the choice of becoming a wife/mother, nun or outcast maverick. A female’s sex life was a matter for husband or God. I suspect “family values” sexual taboos are still advanced primarily to maintain patriarchal control over women’s minds and bodies.

I look forward to seeing “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” performed and supporting the theater scholarship that will commemorate this diverted fiasco.

Mary McCracken

La Grande

Support director, students

To the Editor:

I have been following the articles and comments in The Observer concerning the controversy over the LHS play that Kevin Cahill is directing. I have been particularly interested, since one of my granddaughters is in it.

I am not writing this to try to change anyone’s mind or air my opinions, because it is obvious that there are people on each side of the issue, and I don’t believe anyone will be swayed by anything I say. Besides, everyone is entitled to their opinion. It is a free country after all.

I just simply want to express my support for Kevin Cahill, the students and the EOU Democrats who are making it possible for the play to be performed.

Mary Helen Garoutte

La Grande