Letters to the Editor for Wednesday — January 07, 2004

• Hunting questions

• Heroes still live

Hunting questions

Hello, my name is Timothy Mattos and I’m writing to discuss a controversial issue that has been around for quiet a long time. Hunting! Some people in society believe that hunting is wrong and is an act of cruelty towards animals. They think hunters are ruthless and disrespectful towards animal life. Where do they get this from? They get it from movies that depict hunters drinking while hunting, killing over the bag limit, and destroying the forest life around them. They hear of poachers killing animals only for their skin, teeth, or other parts they may use for trophies or profit. Sad to say, some of this is true. There are poachers and there are people who disrespect nature and wildlife, but the majority of hunters are good, respectful, and ethical conservationists. These are the hunters that eat what they kill and leave the forest better than how they found it. The pig population has been a problem for quite some time. Pigs pretty much eat anything you can possibly think of. They’ve been a menace towards the sugar cane industry as well as the preservation of native plants in Hawaii. By hunting this animal, we hunters can control their population and if you control them, the less of a hassle they will be.

If I could get any point out, it would be that hunting is not an act of cruelty, but a way of getting food, for sport, and even for some families like mine, a tradition.

TIMOTHY MATTOS,

Kekaha Gardens

Heroes still live

In this world we live in today some people don’t believe in heroes, and roll models anymore.

In the past we had many heroes to pick from. Some were sports heroes, like the Babe, Mickey Mantle, Johnny Unitas, and so many others in all sports to vast to mention, but no matter what they played, they all had one thing in common. They gave their best for the love of the game, and the respect of their fans.

As children we also had our fictional heroes, who helped us to believe that right would always win over wrong. There were many of these characters at least one for each of us to admire. As a child my hero, and the hero of so many others, was the Lone Ranger. He always fought for justice and good over evil. But as always when his job was done he didn’t stay around for praise and glory. If you remember some didn’t even know his name.

I always wanted to grow up and be like him. I got that chance when I became a United States Marine. Marines do what is needed of them, then quietly go to where they’re needed next. They live by the code “Sempe-Fidelis” which means ALWAYS FAITHFUL.

Thanks to my Kauai Marine Corp League Brothers, who quietly every year give of themselves to make a needy child smile at Christmas. Doing “Toys for Tots.”

TED DAWSON

GLEN HING