Jul 19, 2008

Letters to the Editor

Daily News

Animal adoption

Dear Editor: It's kitten season at the animal shelter. Many are adopted by kind people who visit and can't resist the furry little charmers.

Meanwhile, the older cats wait in their cages.

Sometimes a kitten is the right choice - but before you decide, consider that an adult cat may be calmer and more predictable, maybe even better with children.

Cats like Bubba, a handsome tom who jumped hopefully into a potential adopter's lap only to be passed up for a tiny tabby. Or Sasha, a healthy, companionable gray lap cat who barely gets a glance once folks note her senior status. Or Topaz, a tortoise-shell beauty who would blossom in a quiet home with a loving owner if she only had the chance.

Many others are waiting - some, like Decker, Mara and Miss Kitty, are wonderful with kittens. So if you can't resist a kitten and can make a commitment to two cats, consider also adopting an "aunt" or "uncle" to help you raise the baby.

Larkin Lapides,

Volunteer, Palo Alto Animal Services



Mideast conflict

Dear Editor: I wish to respond to Mary Werther's letter of July 10. Sadly, Werther's letter betrays her obvious bias and disdain for the truth. It appears her primary motive was to deflect criticism of Israel and deny the brutal attack on Palestinian journalist Mohammed Omer, with racist innuendoes. The savage assault on Omer was reported widely in the world media, including the New York Times. Perhaps Werther is unaware that Mohammed Omer was returning from a trip from London after receiving the prestigious Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism. His award citation reads, "Every day, he reports from a war zone, where he is also a prisoner. His homeland, Gaza, is surrounded, starved, attacked and forgotten. He is a profoundly humane witness to one of the great injustices of our time. He is the voice of the voiceless."

A former Dutch ambassador commented on Omer's ordeal: "This is by no means an isolated incident, but part of a long-term strategy to demolish Palestinian social, economic and cultural life." I am aware of the possibility that Mohammed Omer might be murdered by Israeli snipers or bomb attack in the near future."

I would urge Werther and her ilk to invest their time and energy urging Israel to call an immediate halt to its brutal, illegal occupation and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians.

Jagjit Singh,

Los Altos



Lobbyists

Dear Editor: Corporate power is replacing democracy, and we all need to be concerned. Not only are our representatives focused solely on pleasing their corporate sponsors, but our very diplomatic and economic policies have been commandeered to further corporate interests at the expense of the American people.

It is not clear what can be done, but global capital appears to be in the driver's seat, and the results are showing up in shrinking paychecks, rising debt, degraded environments and expensive wars not in our true national interest.

Only active, informed and aroused citizens can reverse this creeping unification between multinational corporations and our once-proud American government.

Ed Taub,

Mountain View