July 2005 | Letters to the Editor
Less Dazed by Radio Days
As a daily commuter, I have been feeling a bit better about my drives for two reasons: Al Franken in the morning and Randi Rhodes in the late afternoon (EM, “Left on Your Dial,” June). The arrival of Air America (on KPTK 1090-AM) has changed my car radio from FM-only choices, especially the local public radio stations.
While Franken can be a hoot, I have to say Rhodes is growing on me as my car stops and goes. You never know quite what she will say to listeners or guests on the show. One thing is for sure: She is never boring.
I am starting to hear her voice even when I am not in the car. I don’t know if that’s good or bad.
—Ben Crawford, Internet
Editor’s note: For more local schedule information about the Al Franken and Randi Rhodes Shows and other Air America programming, check out www.am1090seattle.com.
Still Taking It or Cleaving It
I want to commend Silja J.A. Talvi for her thoughtful, balanced and well-researched piece “Take It or Cleave It” (EM, May). Many of us know the horrors experienced by animals on factory farms or in slaughterhouses. We know the devastating environmental effects of manure on lagoons. We know the wastefulness of feeding millions of grains of wheat and assigning millions of gallons of water to animals that in return produce a proportionally negligible fraction of edible “product.” We also know of the health benefits derived from vegetarian or vegan diets.
But we still struggle with the “To be or not to be” question. Our culture, evolution, upbringing and need as pack animals to fit in socially make choosing a plant-based diet a daily struggle akin to an addict pining for a hit of something he’ll later regret taking.
One of the groundbreaking books not mentioned in the article is John Robbins’ “Diet for a New America.” A modern-day version of “The Jungle,” it was one of the first to expose the unimaginable cruelty factory-farmed animals endure and the fact that slaughterhouses are still extremely dangerous places to work.
Unfortunately, the side effects of our choices at the grocery store now result in environmental devastation and a society that continues to increase its meat consumption while its waistlines expand and overall health declines.
—Diane Dash, Internet
How the Rest of the World Lives
Regarding “Shell Game” by Steve Lerner (EM, May): What a great story! Thanks to Steve for writing about it. Praise and thanks that there are people like [activist] Margie Richard in the world.
It would be great if people in power and control would only understand how the rest of the world lives.
—Jim and Mary Stone, Internet
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