Putting U.S. in peril

Dear Editor,

Moral courage is the ability to do the right thing even when it is hard. Those who fight for their beliefs are terrified of the opposition. But they have something stronger than their fear: their belief in equality, justice, and compassion.

The first step in activating moral courage is noticing that we are failing to honor our beliefs. The next step is deciding what we can do to remedy the situation.

Perhaps an example from history will help. In April 1940 the German fascist troops invaded Norway. What happened then is much like what is happening now.

Sixty days later, the government surrendered, led by the Norwegian leader named Vidkun Quisling. His name is now synonymous with the word “traitor”, as he cooperated with the Nazi invaders. Soon after gaining power, he attacked teachers and schools, demanding they teach Nazi ideology.

However, 10,000 teachers refused to change their curriculum in favor of Fascism. Some 1000 teachers were sent to concentration camps. In response, the teachers’ community members together supported the families of the teachers while they were imprisoned.

Quisling eventually released the imprisoned teachers, because of the outrage of the Norwegian people.

Today the invader is the unelected one, (Elon Musk) who is demolishing our government.

The current resident of the White House and the Republicans in Congress are the Quislings. To those ‘leaders’, the feelings of empathy, sympathy, and caring for others are only for the weak, the losers. The billionaires, who are only interested in their own profits, are dismantling agencies that keep us safe and firing government employees who serve us.

We each have only one small voice. We must band together, like the people in the example above who saved the teachers in the prison camps. We need to call our Senators and Representatives to protest the demolishing of our government. We must vote out candidates who have capitulated to the ruling Republicans.

We must vote in candidates who pledge to restore a fully functioning, efficient government. Together we can save our democracy!

Oran Stewart,

Warren

Another menu

Dear Editor,

Within the past month, you printed a rather eye-, heart- and mind-opening article on the sad and serious subject about which is the best way to eat animals, namely cows.

In all actuality and honesty — and in answer to that age old dilemma — there is no good, kind, compassionate or humane way to eat cows, pigs, chickens, fish, ducks, bunnies, horses, dogs or cats.

First of all, factory farming and animal agriculture are two of the leading causes of climate change and the planet cannot sustain these brutal,inhumane practices any longer.

Don’t take my word for it though. If you have any concerns,questions or even an ounce of empathy, kindness and compassion in your body, I would strongly like to recommend that you watch one or all of these following movies and see for yourselves which is the “best” way to eat animals. They include: “Earthlings,” “Dominion,” “Cowspiracy,” “Seaspiracy,” “Why on Earth,” narrated by Clint Eastwood and “Forks over knives.” I’ve got several more if you are interested, but for now this is a very good start.

Like I said, don’t take my word for it. Watch one or all of those excellent movies and see for yourselves and then you will know the answer on which, if any, is the best way to eat dead animals or not.

It is way past time to begin taking better care of our planet — and all the other Earthlings we share it with, including the animals and not just our pets,but all of them.

T M Foley,

Warren