‘Goodbye old friend?’ You don’t lock your friends in unnatural, tiny spaces, do you? | Opinion

You don’t treat old friends like this

In reference to the Aug. 11 article “Goodbye, Old Friend: Beloved elephant Suki dies at 60, Tacoma zoo announces,” I’d like to point out that we don’t cause beloved friends to suffer. Science is clear that Suki’s solitary confinement in a barren cell and in a pitifully small yard was physically and psychologically unhealthy for this intelligent, social and far-ranging wild animal. Scientific American calls these harsh conditions “tortuous.”

Alyne Fortgang, Seattle

Nuclear war must be taken seriously

There’s nothing funny about nuclear war — but the apocalyptic humor in cartoons, graphic novels (“Nuking Alaska”) movies (“How I Learned to Love the Bomb”) and now billboards, as The News Tribune recently reported, grips our attention like no other topic.

We’re 34 miles from the biggest US nuke stockpile in Bangor, and about 34 minutes as the missile flies from North Korea or Russia; both of whom threaten nuclear war. We’ve been covered by nuclear treaties with Russia since 1994. START I resulted in the removal of about 80% of all nuclear weapons held by both; followed by START II, that will expire in 2026, with no on-going negotiations.

With so much else to worry about, it seems futile to take on another cause. But when treaties expire, nations re-enter perilous times. We need a new treaty.

To learn what you can do, tour the Golden Rule anti-nuclear war sailboat that’s touring around the Puget Sound region. See vfpgoldenruleproject.org to schedule a sail.

Breck Lebegue, Steilacoom

Nuclear war wouldn’t end life

Given that Biden, Patty and Maria, are so determined to drag us into full-scale nuclear war, there should be some interest in what that means.

Most think nuclear war will end with nuclear winter and total depopulation of planet earth. I beg to differ.

Actually, mankind has already survived a nuclear war, which was won in 1945.

If you define a nuclear war as one in which both sides are fully loaded then look at the arms race that followed V-Day.

After 1945 there were about 100 atmospheric nuclear detonations near Las Vegas and 67 at the Marshall Islands. Worldwide there were about 2,000 nuclear weapon tests in total.

If you want to get up close and personal with “Nuclear Winter” and depopulation of planet earth then visit Las Vegas, the Marshall Islands, Hiroshima, Nagasaki or Albuquerque.

Battles fought with swords were horrible. With the evolution of firearms, things got much worse. Add nuclear weapons to this deadly mix and the horror is multiplied many times. But, as to this notion of nuclear winter and total depopulation of planet Earth? That’s not going to happen. Get over it.

Robert L. Crocker, Chehalis

Why I won’t vote the party line this year

I am avoiding the mistake of voting the party line. Here’s a tidbit from a 2017 report by KUOW entitled, “Why is Rep. Dave Reichert leaving Congress? Trump is one possibility.”

“Reichert has big differences with President Donald Trump on issues like health care and immigration. He has opposed the Trump administration on the Dreamers immigration controversy. He also voted against the repeal of Obamacare — a longstanding Republican goal in the House...”

Reichert — a seven-term member of Congress helped expand the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area, improved our foster care system, combated sex trafficking and secured equipment and resources for first responders.

He would accomplish what we need as the state’s governor, in spite of that pesky R printed on the ballot.

R. Jay Press, Olympia