THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 10, 1996 TAG: 9605090157
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
This is to Lee Tolliver, the author of the article entitled ``Shame on PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) for confusing kids,'' published in the Chesapeake Clipper, May 3, that applauded and vehemently defended a child's ``right'' to maim and, or kill, fish.
Let me make sure I understand you, Mr. Tolliver, the tournament you are alluding is based on the premise that instead of doing drugs, kids should hurt fish?
You boast how thousands of children write essays in an attempt to be a participant in the preliminary hurting of animals, and just a few lucky ones will go on to hurt more animals on luxury boats? Am I quoting you correctly?
You say last summer's luckies caught and released several blue marlins. Do you think that the marlins with the holes ripped into their mouths felt lucky?
This is a tradition, you proclaim! A tradition, indeed. A tradition of continued desensitization toward the rights of other species, a tradition of doing whatever we please to animals if it serves our purposes.
You question what will people who thrive on the fishing industry do if fishing is called off? How about do something else?
You say that what the children will do in the fishing tournament is ``very much right.'' Killing and maiming is a right? You say that ``what PETA is doing is incredibly wrong.'' When did helping an oppressed, voiceless group become incredibly wrong? Surely you wouldn't want the children believing you wish to represent that kind of logic?
I used to be like you, Mr. Tolliver. I used to go to McDonald's, browse in pet stores, gawk at animals in zoos. I even fished once, but what separates us now is that I look at the violence in our world and realize that it cannot be stopped until killing is no longer condoned, praised, and even encouraged by people like you.
Susan Perna
Rabbit Run Republican mockery
First, I am a citizen of Chesapeake and a proud Republican. Let me say I for one am ashamed for parts of a letter published on May 5 in the Clipper.
A letter written by the chairman of the public relations committee of the Chesapeake Republican Party.
In this published letter the chairman denounces four Chesapeake citizens by name.
The chairman makes a mockery of these citizens for expressing their thoughts, ideas and/or opinions before the City Council. I for one firmly believe that these citizens or any other citizen have a right to address the City Council.
I believe that these rights are guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.
The Constitution guarantees free speech to ALL citizens. Not just what the chairman would cause us (the populace) to hear (censorship?).
It seems to me that anyone else in his (published) opinion is just a ``gadfly.'' And they should not be heard.
I for one do not wish to be associated with any party or person who derides, ridicules or makes a mockery of any person or persons who wish to express their thoughts, opinions or ideas.
Apparently the chairman believes in a double standard. What he states is worthy to be published. However, when certain Chesapeake citizens speak, it is ``utter insignificance.''
Perchance Mayor Ward acting not as a mayor nor as a Democrat but as a professor of history could take the chairman aside (in a woodshed?) to explain and/or read him the First Amendment.
Finally, as a citizen of Chesapeake and a proud Republican, I wish to apologize to any or all citizens of Chesapeake who were shocked or angered, as I was, by parts of the chairman's published letter.
This chairman does not speak for this Republican citizen.
Walter Valley
Mill Pond Drive by CNB