Letters to the Editor

Mail letters to Letters, Santa Fe Reporter, PO Box 2306, Santa Fe, NM 87504, deliver them to 132 E. Marcy St., fax them to 505-988-5348 or email them to the editor.

Man's inhumanity
I am thankful to Douglas Johnson for his critical analysis of my letter concerning Linda Durham's interview [SFR Talk, April 1: "Start Wearing Pink"]. Mr. Johnson is absolutely correct. The act of genocide and the murder of 500,000 human beings was perpetrated by muslim Arab militia against non-Arab Africans who are also muslims. My error was not an effort to mislead but simply an error in misinterpreting my research.

This, however, in no way dilutes my point in saying that Ms. Durham and her Code Pink colleagues have an agenda when it comes to mourning man's inhumanity to man.
Alan H Langer
Lamy

Veggies on Rye
This Wednesday's [April 22] Earth Day observance should encourage every one of us to leave adequate natural resources for our children and grandchildren by making needed changes in our driving, our shopping, our recycling and our diet.

Yes, our diet. A 2006 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization blamed meat production for 18 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. That's more than automobiles! Carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas, is emitted by burning forests to create animal pastures and by combustion of fossil fuels to operate farm machinery, trucks, refrigeration equipment, factory farms and slaughterhouses. The much more damaging methane and nitrous oxide are released from digestive tracts of cattle and from animal waste cesspools, respectively.

Moreover, meat and dairy production dumps more animal waste, crop debris, fertilizers, pesticides and other pollutants into our waterways than all other human activities combined. It is the driving force in worldwide deforestation and wildlife habitat destruction.

This Wednesday and every day, let's celebrate Earth Day by replacing meat and other animal products in our diet with a healthful, eco-friendly spread of vegetables, fresh fruits and whole grains. More information, including recipes, is available at
greenyourdiet.org.
Sam Lostus
Santa Fe

Kudos
Secretary [of the Interior Ken] Salazar should be commended for prioritizing renewable energy and on curbing the efforts of the oil industry to expand the use of dirty fossil fuels. In particular, he shows that he understands he is a steward of our public lands. I am thrilled to support this step forward and I look forward to more reforms in the future. Public lands belong to all of us, not just to the big oil and gas companies.
Carol Smock
Santa Fe

Affect Effect
To the unidentified caller who left a rather lengthy and angry message in response to my letter voicing concern about the Santa Fe Police Department's recruiting strategy, I first want to apologize for having given the impression that I do not appreciate the SFPD and the work they do. To the contrary, I am extremely grateful to those who serve our community as police officers despite the obvious risks they undergo. They deserve our support and respect.

I gathered from your message that SWAT teams make you feel safer. They make me feel less safe, as does a recruiting strategy that emphasizes that kind of activity as being the norm for law enforcement. There may be occasions when being heavily armed and armored are appropriate, but I would hope they are more the exception than the rule.

As William McDonough, permaculture architect, once said, "Design is the first signal of human intention."

By the same token, do not underestimate the power of a message to attract a corresponding response. If the SFPD's message is, to quote Ann O'Halloran, join the SFPD and "bash heads," I fear that message may be more attractive to "head bashers" than to those who would wish to serve and protect.

As to going back to where I came from, it is 34 years since I have been from anywhere but here.
Angela Werneke
Santa Fe

The Reporter welcomes original, signed letters to the editor. Letters (no more than 200 words) should refer to speci?c articles in the Reporter. They may be edited for clarity and space. Include address and phone number for veri?cation purposes; these will not be published.

Santa Fe Reporter