Monday, December 21, 1998

Letters to the Editor

Needless killing

Finally, someone claims to know the “true reasons” why hunting is enjoyable and honorable, according to Shane Jennings (Dec. 17). He claims he was taught honorable and ethical lessons while hunting, and he eagerly waits for the chance to take his own children out to kill animals.

What foolishness to suggest we can teach love, respect and appreciation for nature through such needless destruction of life. Ninety-four percent of Americans have discovered nature by venturing into the woods with binoculars, a camera, a walking stick or simply with their eyes and ears open to the world around them.

That same 94 percent find other ways (not killing) for parent-child bonding through countless other activities. When we choose an activity to participate in with a child, it seems an important moral message regarding what constitutes acceptable recreation. The very essence of animal hunting is the implicit message that it is tolerable recreation to kill and maim animals.

Hunting as a form of family entertainment is destructive not only to the animals involved, but also to the morals and ethics of young children who are shown or taught that needless killing is acceptable recreation.

Mr. Jennings, the fact is that more and more hunters are giving up hunting. The number of hunters has been declining steadily for decades, even as the human population has been growing. Hunting is no longer a socially acceptable activity, and for the vast majority of us, it never was.

JAMES MERRICK

Abilene

Arabs’ Ramadan

While working a number of years among the Arab countries of the world, I learned a few things first hand. One thing I learned was that Moslems take their religion seriously. It is, in essence, the law of the land. Ramadan is part of their religion.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is their holy month. Their calendar months are shorter than ours; therefore, Ramadan does not come at the same time each year.

During their holy month, the Arabs are not supposed to eat or drink from sunrise until sundown. Most Arabs look forward to this observance of daytime fasting. Very few of them cheat. It is a rarity to find one with food stashed away or carrying it in their clothing. If they are ever caught by the authorities, they are severely punished.

After sundown, they eat, drink and are merry. Sidewalk cafes flourish. Bakeries sell loaves of bread by the arm-full. They drink no alcohol, only coffee, soft drinks and water. During these times of revelry, the Arabs could care less about the troubles of the world. Sometimes the eating and drinking continues all night.

At sun up, the metamorphosis is astonishing. Eating places, bakeries and food stores are closed. During Ramadan, the Arabs share in little daytime activity. They save their energy for after sundown.

Ramadan is an intrinsic part of the Islamic religion, and there isn’t a Moslem anywhere on Earth who doesn’t observe it.

JASPER COOK

Cisco

Via e-mail

Really in control

I just wanted you to know that you did a great job of reporting on the rape at the Robertson Unit.

TDCJ-ID is great at covering up things. You see, we have to keep the inmates happy so the public will think we are really taking control of the problems. What a joke.

I bet that inmate is really worried about getting another life sentence. But that poor officer will live with this for the rest of her life. But she gets paid for this, hazard duty pay, $7 a month.

I know this for a fact because I have several relatives who are correctional officers.

JEAN RICHARDSON

Sweetwater

Via e-mail