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June 4, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels May 7, 2004 Fujas unfairly targeted in letter I was surprised to read Brent Thompson's description of Elizabeth Fujas in his recent letter to you. I have known Elizabeth for 20 years and she has always shown herself to be very concerned with the interests of the farmer and thoughtful land use in our beautiful valley. I think she will be an excellent member of our planning commission. Linda Stevenson Ashland Does "all" include Crabs? The Tidings reported (April 14) on an essay contest sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ashland-Lithia Springs, who also sponsor the annual Crabfest (or, as I like to call it, Cruelfest). They're promoting ethical behavior, they assert. "The 4-Way Test" that is to be the subject of the students' prose includes the questions, "Is it fair to all concerned?" and "Will it be beneficial to all concerned?" Consider whom we include in "all." Not long ago, "all" in this country meant white men. In our society today, racism and sexism are generally unacceptable. I posit that speciesism is as wrong as racism and sexism, and that it is wrong for the same reasons. Speciesism is defined by Peter Singer as "a prejudice or attitude of bias toward the interests of members of one's own species and against those of members of other species." In order to have interests, one must have the capacity to suffer. Crabs, having nervous systems, certainly have the capacity to suffer, although those who like to eat them may persuade themselves otherwise, if they think about it at all. Crabs who are to be cut up are killed by having their backs broken, while those to be sold whole are boiled alive. Is a cruel death ethical and justifiable because humans like the taste of crab flesh? Is it fair or beneficial to the crabs? How far does "all" extend? Shouldn't "all" include all who suffer? Or should we exclude Rotarians? Ron Elterman Ashland A Mother's Day reminder This Sunday, is Mother's Day, when we celebrate the cherished bond between mother and child. Unfortunately, dairy cows, recognized widely as the symbol of motherhood, are denied the opportunity to nurture their own babies. The dairy industry impregnates cows artificially each year to boost milk production. The newborn calves are torn from their mothers and chained by the neck for life in tiny wood crates, covered with their excrement. They are denied natural food and water, bedding, movement, fresh air, sunshine, and mother�s milk and love. They suffer from chronic anemia, diarrhea, and respiratory disorders. The product of this misery is just as sickening. The calves are kept alive with antibiotics that jeopardize the consumers� defenses against deadly infectious diseases. They receive hazardous hormones to boost their growth. Their flesh is laced with saturated fat and cholesterol, which have been linked conclusively with chronic diseases that each year kill 1.3 million Americans. The 70 percent drop in U.S. veal consumption shows the consumers� revulsion at these abuses, and many institutions have stopped serving veal. The veal crate has been banned by the European Union. Yet the U.S. diary and veal industries have resisted all efforts at similar reforms here. This Sunday and every day thereafter, we should honor motherhood by dropping veal, milk, and dairy products from our diet. Allen Thiel Ashland Put food in your mailbox Just a reminder that this Saturday is the 12th annual letter carriers' food drive. This is your chance to get back at us for continuing to deliver all those bills despite repeated warnings to the contrary. Make us haul a heavy sack of food away from your mail box! Seriously, this is the one day I don't mind going home from work with a sore back. Even in a town like Ashland, the good people at the food bank work hard to keep up with the demand. There are many families that still struggle to put food on the table. So when you're doing your shopping this week, if you can pick up a little extra for those in need, it will be greatly appreciated. They need everything from canned tuna, chili. stew, fruits and vegetables to cereal, rice mixes, pasta, and peanut butter. It all goes to the Ashland Emergency Food Bank right here in town. We'll even bring you a bag to put it in. Thanks in advance for helping. But as for those bills, I'm afraid they'll keep on coming. David Maas Ashland DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams