Art Rescues
A giant leghold trap sculpture by Santa Fe artist LC Shank displayed on public land (where trapping is allowed) adjacent to Eldorado.
Cover, October 10: “Running at Power”
Do-nothing Dude
I am a native New Mexican, born and raised in Hobbs. I lived there for 25 years and have seen oil boom and bust and boom again—and bust again.
Steve Pearce was not born in Hobbs, but lives there and made his fortune there. A $12 million fortune.
I have spent the last month trying to contact Representative Pearce, both at his campaign headquarters and at his Congressional office, because I have a question. After Pearce sold his business, Key Fishing Tools, for $12 million, what did he do for Hobbs?
His campaign staffer assured me that Pearce loved living in Hobbs. Okay. I'm glad for him. But what did he do for Hobbs? Well, he has represented the area and done blah, blah, blah. Yeah, but he was elected to that position and that's his job. He gets paid for that. What did he do for Hobbs with just a tiny piece of that $12 million? I never got an answer to my question from either the campaign office or the Congressional office. I even tried to contact the editor of the Hobbs News-Sun, the daily paper, but they wouldn't return my calls or answer my emails. But I bet I can tell you what Steve Pearce did for Hobbs after he made $12 million, because I know how oilmen think and what life is like for the majority of people who live in Hobbs who don't have $12 million in the bank.
He did absolutely nothing.
Georgellen Burnett
Santa Fe
News, September 25: “Sen Diagram”
Gloves Off
It was a long time ago that Gary Johnson was our Republican governor. … I will never forget Johnson's attitude toward gay people. At the time, gays were desperately seeking equal rights and trying to enact hate crime legislation to protect ourselves from those that despised us. Year after year, Johnson was presented with a hate crime bill, and every year he tabled the bill to appease his conservative supporters. One year he agreed to meet with a gay delegation seeking equal rights. It was reported that Johnson put on rubber gloves to shake the hands of the gay delegates. This was the time of the AIDS epidemic and he was obviously misinformed. I am surprised he didn't wear a mask. This gives true meaning to the word homophobia.
During the same period, during a KUNM radio interview, I heard Johnson claim that he had never known a gay person and that he did not want his children to associate with one in school. …
And how does the great flip-flopper regard us now?
Douglas Johnson
Santa Fe
News, October 10: “License to Speed”
Trained? Skilled?
Slow drivers are sometimes the most dangerous. We love Grandpa and Grandma but they cross lanes, turn out in front of traffic and hold up normal driving speeds. Cops do 90 or better on the interstates because they're trained, skilled drivers with places to go. The autobahn has much faster speeds and it is much safer. Why? Good drivers and lane courtesy. Speed limits are largely political, particularly out on open highways, like laws on pot and other things. Does anyone remember the absurdity of 55? No one is making the old, slow drivers go faster. So likewise, you old, slow drivers don't make the rest of us go at your speed.
Warren Peary
Santa Fe
The Enthusiast, Oct. 10: “Snared Conversations”
Senseless Blight
It is appalling that the cruel, archaic steel jaw (leghold) trap is still used in the 21st century. More than 85 countries have banned or greatly restricted its use. Unfortunately, the US continues to allow millions of innocent animals to suffer and die in its horrendous grip—mostly for the fur industry and ranchers. Fish and wildlife agencies grossly underestimate the total number of animals who die slow, agonizing deaths: In 2011, 6.8 million deaths were officially reported. Millions more are not, including endangered species.
When an animal is caught in this barbaric device, the pain is unbearable—imagine how painful it is when you get a finger/hand caught in the door.
I once rescued a coyote from a trap, which was in the process of sawing off his foot on the fencing upon which he was caught. Most animals suffer long and hard until the trapper finally comes to kill it, often stepping on its throat to suffocate it—or shooting it.
All this senseless suffering for what? For the vanity of fur—or to appease a rancher. Disgusting, and a blight on New Mexico.
Rosemary Lowe
Santa Fe
Handful of Sadists
This is a case of a handful of sadists who profit immensely from animal torture imposing their will on a public that is overwhelmingly opposed to trapping. The continuance of trapping keeps New Mexico in the dark ages. The tiny but well-funded lobby of trappers basically owns the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. Why, when humans have already wiped out 83 percent of all other species on Earth and are wiping out another species every minute, do we even have a department that calls animals "game"?
Cate Moses
SFReporter.com
Faux is Fun
Why should ~500 trappers be allowed to hold an entire state hostage for a practice so cruel it has been banned in over 100 countries? It's not like we need the fur.
Charles Fox
SFReporter.com
A Final Thought…
Assume Nothing
I've always assumed that there were more of "us" than "them." But who are the "us"? Americans who believe in equal rights and equal opportunities for everyone. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and the right to self-determination. Does that not include affordable health care, a fair wage, and the right to our own bodies? Americans who believe in helping the less fortunate. … Americans who believe we are the steward for our planet and all the creatures on it. This was the America under which I was raised. Polls seem to show that this is still the majority of Americans. Then why are our beliefs not reality? Our rights are being eroded. Our planet's in meltdown. The rich get richer. The middle class is dwindling into history. I remember a time when it took only one breadwinner to support a family.
The promise of the American dream is giving way to the dream by lottery. The #GreedToo movement has triumphed and been filled with followers content to live under the rule of the cruel. Looking out for me and mine vs. us and ours. … Maybe if all of us get out and vote this November, "they" will see just how many of "us" there actually are. And maybe then they won't be able to make an ass out of you and me!
Barbara Kalb
Santa Fe
Correction
In our Sept. 26 issue's events calendar, we featured the above mixed-media piece, "Alchemy" by Jodi Balsamo, but erroneously attributed it to another artist. SFR apologizes for the error.
