Letters to the Editor 12/17/2008

To the Editor:

On Wednesday, December 10, at about 3 p.m. my daughter was standing on the playground of Sisters Christian Academy watching a herd of deer graze. As she watched, two middle school-age boys appeared and started chasing the deer. I'm sure they thought it was great fun making these wild animals panic and forcing them to jump the fence of the baseball field.

What they may not have noticed is that one young male, too young to have even sprouted his antlers yet, didn't quite make it over the fence. I am sorry to say that this magnificent animal didn't make it, most likely the result of a broken spine.

As a result of these boys' thoughtless actions, a wild animal died needlessly and in great pain, and a tender-hearted young child is devastated by it.

Shame on you.

Nick Kidwell

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To the Editor:

Matt Wessel believes that our country's economic system is becoming Communist. I think he is mistaken; it appears to be going Fascist to me.

In Communism, an egalitarian, classless society owns the means of production. In Fascism, "the government leaves nominal ownership of the means of production in the hands of private individuals but exercises control by means of regulatory legislation." (From Wikipedia).

I will agree with Mr. Wessel, we certainly aren't a capitalist country any more, and I fear that soon we will not be a democracy either. The Bush administration has completely gutted the bill of rights. The executive can spy on any citizen by any means necessary including searching your house without a warrant, and the president can sign a declaration that you are an "enemy combatant," whatever that is, there is no legal definition in our system of laws, and "disappear" you leaving you without any rights or legal recourse.

Dean Billing

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To the Editor:

I got to see Tom Davis' photo show the other day at Sisters Library. Outstanding! He is a true artist. He has raised the bar for lesser photographers. I particularly like and learn from some of his minimalist photographs, and black and whites that remind one of the master AA. Not to miss.

Conrad Weiler