Letters to the editor: Wrong to call out Brownley; defending the wolves; student loans
Unfair criticism of Brownley
Re: Ryan and Humera Kompanik’s April 14 letter, “Islamic community being ignored”:
Sincerely, what should Congresswoman Brownley do?
I admit surprise at the letter writers’ criticisms. Setting aside the factual and linguistic manipulations in the submission, it is common for representatives to focus on specific legislative priorities, especially ones impacting the day-to-day lives of constituents.
For staff to respond with a form letter about faraway concerns over which Brownley has little to no impact is understandable.
Let’s not forget that in this very Congressional district, dueling protests on the war resulted in the death of a pro-Israeli Jew whose slayer, accidental or otherwise, was released on bail. One imagines that might not be the case had the roles been reversed. Further, the demographics of CA-26 are not those of Dearborn or Brooklyn. If they were, Brownley would have to course “correct” or be voted out of office.
What does she have to gain by paying more than lip service to the plight of a foreign people whose leaders bear this nation ill will?
Perhaps the representative is akin to a human Gharqad tree, but as her larger coalition includes the “Squad,” that does not seem likely.
In other words, inaction is due less to “cowardice” than self-interest. Hard to blame her there.
Hector Hazbien, Oxnard
Animals are not walking meals
Re: Keith Gallagher’s April 16 letter, “Wolves don’t need protection”:
Mr. Gallagher calls environmentalists naïve in his letter. He also states that infrared videos showed cattle grouping together when a wolf was in the area, stopped eating, and unable to gain weight.
Unable to gain weight so that folks like Mr. Gallagher could then butcher them for their hamburgers?
Animals deserve our love and understanding. They are not walking meals and not meant for target shooting. Animals are sentient and aware. When we hurt them, they feel it. There is hardly an exception to animals use that does not harm them and all animal abuse is unjustified and unfair.
Mr. Gallagher utilizes some extreme dog examples in an attempt to justify his cruelty. Dogs behave in a manner they were raised. I have come across pit bulls that were very sweet because they were raised that way, just like humans. Love animals, eat plants.
George Pohoski, Camarillo
Plan isn’t loan ‘forgiveness’
Please stop referring to Biden’s student debt plan as loan “forgiveness.” The loans are not forgiven. The debt is simply transferred from the person who signed up for the money and promised to pay it back to someone who never asked for the loan and never gained any benefit from it.
Taxpayers who are working to pay a mortgage or perhaps saving to send their child to college now have to pay for someone else’s useless college degree.
Georgia Robertson, Ojai
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Letters: Wrong to call out Brownley; defending wolves; student loans
