LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, Aug. 29
By:
Killing deer is not humane
To the editor:
A recent Packet editorial (Aug. 22) incorrectly describes Princeton’s deer-killing plan as humane.
There is no "humane" killing of animals short of their natural life spans, other than to end irremediable suffering. There is no such thing as a humane deer kill.
The dictionary defines humane as: "marked by compassion, sympathy, or consideration for humans or animals, and characterized by or tending to broad humanistic culture."
Any discussion about what is humane should consider the definition. Given the definition, I do not believe that a bolt through the head could be considered humane. It would seem that killing is in fact the antithesis of humane as it is marked by a lack of compassion and sympathy and consideration.
Killing and maiming deer with arrows, with high-powered rifles, or with retractable bolts to their brains is not "humane," is not euthanasia and is not sanctioned by the American Veterinary Medical Association or the Humane Society of the United States, contrary to the propaganda being fed to Princeton residents.
In short, the officials in Princeton are misrepresenting the true nature of their deer-slaughter program by describing it with words like humane and euthanasia when, in fact, the true nature of the program is bloody, cruel and brutal.
Nancy Bowman
Oak Creek Road
East Windsor
Numbers take on life of their own
To the editor:
Unlike words, numbers are inherently trustworthy, reliable, believable, solid. They should be. We expect them to be.
Unfortunately, numbers can be wrong, and misinform. We don’t expect that, but it does happen. And so it was on Aug. 8 that The Packet brought us news of the gathering at the Woodrow Wilson School, a gathering commemorating the bombing of Hiroshima.
At this gathering, Mr. Ryuma Miyanga, a bomb survivor, said "240,000 of Hiroshima’s 340,000 residents died." That number 240,000 is grievously wrong.
Writing in the Political Science Quarterly (Fall 1995), James R. Van De Velde, dean of political science at Yale (not to be held against him), informs us that "a single incendiary attack on Tokyo on 10 March, 1945 killed 100,000 Japanese, 20,000 more than were killed at Hiroshima."
And J. Samuel Walker, in his book, "Prompt and Utter Destruction," (University of North Carolina Press, 1997) maintains, "The U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey, which studied the effects of the atomic bombs shortly after the war, estimated the number of deaths from the blast at between 70- and 80,000."
In my recent book "You’ve Been Had!" (Rutgers University Press, 2002), I note William J. Shull (Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission, who spent 50 years in Hiroshima studying the effects of the bomb), who placed the figure at 70,000-plus deaths.
Numbers do take on a life of their own, and although many eschew a single death as one too many, it is incumbent upon us to respect numbers, and not to offer them blithely as fact or accept them.
Melvin A. Benarde
Thorngate Court
West Windsor
Area businesses support Night Out
To the editor:
The Plainsboro Police Department would like to thank the area businesses and volunteers for making our annual National Night Out Kick-off Rally at Morris Davison Park on Aug. 4 a success.
National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug-abuse prevention awareness; generate support for and participation in local anti-crime efforts; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know our neighborhoods are organized and dedicated to being crime- and violence-free.
We would especially like to thank the following for donating food and prizes for the event: Aljon’s Pizza & Sub Shop, Ben & Jerry’s Princeton Forrestal Village, Meadows Opticians, Monday Morning Flowers, Plainsboro PBA Local No. 319, Plainsboro Wine & Liquor, Prime Tyme Video, Romeo’s Restaurant & Pizza, Mark Schulman DC, Super Fresh Food Market and Toys-R-Us in Lawrence.
PRO-COP Unit
Plainsboro Township
Police Department
Plainsboro
Sept. 11 and 19 are special days
To the editor:
I would like to take this opportunity to remind your readers of two significant dates in September.
Sept. 11 will mark the second anniversary of the horrific terrorist attacks on America. Day of Remembrance, also known as Patriot’s Day, ceremonies will be conducted throughout the land to honor and remember the victims and heroes of that terrible day and the days that followed.
Posts of The American Legion will also participate in ceremonies that will be conducted to remember our Prisoners of War and Missing in Action. National POW/MIA Recognition Day was established to remember the more than 88,000 soldiers, sailors and airmen who have been classified as POW/MIA since World War II. The American Legion conducts a ceremony at each of our meetings to remember these individuals, but Sept. 19 offers an opportunity for all Americans to show that they have not forgotten them.
I encourage everyone to show that they will never forget by attending Day of Remembrance and POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremonies in their community. Let us show the families of the victims of Sept. 11 and those who remain unaccounted for that they will remain in our hearts forever.
Marshall "Ted" Behr
State Commander
The American Legion
West Hanover Street
Trenton
Celebrate recovery from addictions
To the editor:
September marks the 14th annual observance of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. We encourage everyone in the Garden State to celebrate recovery from addictions.
There are hundreds of thousands of people in our state who are recovering from the chronic but treatable diseases of addictions. They include our employers, neighbors, colleagues, friends and maybe our relatives as well as ourselves. Most of us know someone who is in recovery.
We applaud these individuals in recovery for coping successfully with their problems every day. Treatment for addictions is effective and recovery is possible.
For the more than 706,000 New Jerseyans who are in need of treatment for their addiction to alcohol or drugs, we encourage you to get help. We urge families and individuals in the throes of addiction to reach out for help. There is hope and there is help available.
On Sunday, Sept. 21, Recovery Walk 2003 will take place at Liberty State Park. For more information, call (888) 872-3979. We ask people to join us in a celebration of recovery from addictions.
September is the special month to celebrate recovery from addictions.
Barry W. Johnson
New Jersey Association of County Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Directors
Freehold