Letters 5/29-6/5 | The Source Weekly - Bend, Oregon

IN REPLY TO A LETTER FROM "THAT JACK ELLIOT" RE: "SPORTS ARE SO GAY 5/8"

The flawed notion of "born this way" does not become fact simply because of some questionable science from a quarter century ago, pop culture bombardment, and media complicity. So Elliot, if being gay is actually nature over nurture, please educate us on what biological "survival of species" factor homosexuality serves. For the record, I don't really care what or who you do. I do object to that activity invading my life through the homo hustling of the media with stories like the hype about Michael Sam. Fringe prospect and he managed to get drafted. Mission accomplished. He is not the new Jackie Robinson. Unlike players of color in MLB, there has never been an active ban on gay players in any sport and once again Robinson couldn't choose his skin color.

—Jon Jegglie

IN REPLY TO A LETTER FROM "VERONIA NAKULSKI" RE: "THE MANY PROBLEMS CAUSED BY FREE ROAMING AND FERAL CATS 4/3"

Veronica, the comparisons you make equating cats to humans are ridiculous. Domestic animals are our responsibility. If feral cats cannot be tamed and given a home, then they should be properly fenced in or enclosed or euthanized. See information about TENVAC at the link below. There are a variety of anthropogenic factors affecting wildlife mortality. We need to address all of them, cats included. TNR is not a solution and comes at the expense of wildlife, public health and property rights, and the cats themselves. Information and stats that indicate that TNR is ineffective and that cats are decimating wildlife and that there are public health risks associated with free-ranging cats, even ones in "managed" colonies, are based on rigorous peer-reviewed research, including but not limited to, Longcore et al 2009, Gerhold & Jessup 2012, Loss et al 2013, and Roebling et al 2013. Papers available here: www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/cats/helpful_resources.html

—NO TNR

IN REPLY TO "LOCALLY GROWN RADIO TAKES ROOT" 5/21

Radio is a hot medium. Combine competent local news websites with local talk radio and specialty programming; we could run corporate "brain mange" out of town. I have a local news website in Newport but no radio to ride shotgun. I have 55,000 unique visitors a month coupled with over 400,000 page views a month. Radio smart talk would be a great supplement, not only for raising more money for more reporters but also for more authentically local news and information services to the community. It's coming. It's comin'....

—Dave Morgan

IN REPLY TO "ELECTION RESULTS: JOHN HUMMEL" 5/21

Congratulations Mr. Hummel. Flaherty had a kind of caustic air to him that I'm sure a lotta people picked up on. Powerful positions often attract people who can't feel powerful without a name tag...then proceed to butcher the office. Congratulations Mr. Hummel. Do the people proud.

—Dave Morgan

MEASURE 11 ELIMINATES IMPORTANT CHECKS AND BALANCES

I am fighting against Measure 11 and I wonder how many of you out there really know what it is. Measure 11 gives the DA the power to be judge, jury, and executioner. It takes away the checks and balances of our justice system. With this measure we have no need for judges as the DA makes the decisions as to the sentencing. It gives no one a second chance, it is one strike and you are out. The minimum that you will be sentenced to is five years even for a first offense, with no priors. This goes for 15-year-olds and up, they will be put in adult prisons at the mercy of adults and seasoned criminals to be possibly raped, murdered, etc.  No second chance. This horrible law has been in effect since 1994. It has overburdened the prison system to the breaking point. I am not a bleeding heart liberal, we need prisons, but we need reform. Those prisons that we have, time is the enemy for those prisoners. They are offered nothing to do, no educational opportunities, no real counseling, no church services, no nothing. We all know what happens when kids have time on their hands, trouble can ensue, with the prisoners and all that time on their hands what do you think happens. For first offenders, with no priors, etc., there could be parole, mandatory counseling, mandatory education, community service, GPS, house arrest, sex offender registration (if needed), public speaking at schools to warn kids of consequences. This could be done with first offenders, but the DA wants re-elected.

—Barbara Dickerson

IN REPLY TO "A RIVER KIND OF RUNS THROUGH IT" (5/21)

What about the millions of kilowatts of clean energy generated by these damn dams!? Until we find a better source of clean energy, I say we keep a few of them. Unless you would rather see coal power plants or nuclear on the Columbia?

—Your Mom

Letter of the Week

Mom—Who gave you back your computer privileges? But yes, you are right. Hydropower can be a great source of clean energy. The dam in Bend, however, does not fall into that category, with barely enough power to turn on a light bulb. How about stopping by (it's been too long since we've seen you) and picking up your Letter of the Week gift certificate to Crow's Feet Commons. And I can tell my latest "Your mama" jokes.

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