North Coast Journal Reader

Editor: Thank you for your illuminating cover story “Beasts and Children” (March 14) regarding “People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals” (PETA). While I firmly agree that treating animals and our other fellow life forms with respect, dignity and compassion is our moral duty as a (supposedly) intelligent species, I have nothing but contempt for […]

Editor: I was a PETA kid, started animal rights groups in high school and college, went vegan, etc. However, the good/evil dichotomy got more complicated as I got older. Many studies have demonstrated that each free-roaming pet cat can kill dozens of native animals, like birds and lizards, per year. When we fostered kittens down […]

Editor: Adara’s mom here. I just finished the article (“Beasts and Children,” March 14), and I think it’s wonderful. I do think the issue is more complicated — animals at no-kill shelters that are kept in cages for extended periods can end up physically damaged, as my mom’s cat was. She has a hunched back and can […]

Editor: The College of the Redwoods, our community college, is not representing, at all, the will of the community at large (“CR faces the music,” Blog Jammin, March 14). It has become another top-heavy institution, prostituting itself to the whims of the cronies serving on its board. To eliminate the programs which actually serve this community is […]

Editor: We commend Deidre Pike for discussing the damage to marine mammals by dogs running loose on beaches (“Unleashed,” March 7), and we commend the Journal for publicizing this long-standing problem. Another serious result of allowing dogs to run free is that they chase birds. Birds have a very high metabolic rate and have to feed […]

Editor: Who wouldn’t be horrified by a dog attacking a baby seal? Deidre Pike begins and ends her article “Unleashed” with vivid stories of dog mayhem (sandwiching a close-up color shot of dog turds). The article seems meant to stoke the sentiment that dogs should be absent or on-leash everywhere. Outdoor recreation is regulated by […]

Editor: Thomas Jefferson famously wrote that he would prefer newspapers without a government to a government without newspapers. By enabling outsiders to challenge the government, freedom of the press provides a potential check against abuses from government. I’m glad your editor exercised freedom of the press by describing her recent experience with a Eureka police […]

Editor: I would like to respond to the two letters (“Show Some Remorse,” Mailbox, March 14, “Fire Wasn’t Trivial,” Mailbox, March 7) the Journal has published recently about the character of Barry Evans and Louisa Rogers and their story (“The Fireball” Feb. 21).  Barry and Louisa are friends of mine. I met with Barry shortly […]

Editor: I was amazed at the in-depth article regarding the Fair Association Board and what appears to be its small town, petty attitude (“Ferndale Gothic,” Feb. 28). Regardless of who owns and publishes the Ferndale newspaper, the Fair Association Board should conduct its meetings professionally — according to the article, Ms. Cindy Olson “feels threatened by using […]

  Editor:  Unleash some context please! “Unleashed” (March 7) seems willing to kick the hornet’s nest. People and their dogs is a touchy thing. Freedom can be found in one of its finest forms running on the beach. For some of us our freedom is lived vicariously through our dogs. Call it therapy if you […]

Editor: We now have a new addition to the hollow class of liberals that so pervade the redwood curtain. Joining such classics as “The Patriarchy Hurts Men Too,”  “I’m Not Homophobic; I Have A Gay Friend,” and “I Hate All Races Equally,” we have “One Man, One Penis!” Charlotte Stuart’s letter, “No Lady Parts? Hmmm” […]