Fresno Bee readers sound off on forest fires, climate change, gay Pride and more

Not really caring about the forests

Congratulations to Chad Hanson/lawyer/John Muir Project on filing another lawsuit to prohibit removing dead trees from the forest. The lawsuit was filed to save Yosemite Park from burning, supposedly. Really? Hanson states that felled trees are being sent to sawmills rather than left to biodegrade as part of the ecosystem. I’m curious to know how many decades that would take!

There were thousands of dead trees at Huntington Lake three years ago. The biomass needed to removed from the forest. But, no, the “ecologist” (lawyer) Hanson stepped in to stop logging, and over 385,000 acres burned in the Creek Fire. I wonder how many Pacific fishers, great gray owls and red-legged frogs were saved.

So-called ecologists claim dead trees brought into mills are primarily for the purpose of money and greed. Really? John Mount, retired forester from Shaver Lake, in a recent article in The Bee, predicted what was going to happen. Yep, Yosemite is on fire.

Folks, the Indians had it right, and educated foresters have it right. Chad, keep filing those lawsuits and make sure you collect your legal fees because you really don’t care about forest health.

Save the money to help the kids

I will be hard pressed to donate on “Kids Day” or to any other fundraiser for Valley Children’s Hospital if they give Fresno State $1 million to get their name on the football stadium.

I am sure the children need that money, and perhaps they might even improve their short staffing.

Commentary misses point about Pride

Regarding the commentary last month, “Fresno, Clovis pastors right to voice their concerns about gay pride events,” brava, Diane Pearce, for teaching children homophobia and intolerance of nonconformity, and for raising suspicions that those reactionaries who signed that infamous letter, as well as their supporters, could be suppressing fears about their own sexuality.

What Pearce euphemistically terms the “faith community” is really a bad-faith band of religious zealots using religion as a pretext for bigotry. When will this fanatical minority learn that misogyny, homophobia, and intolerance are far more harmful to children than anything they might see at a Pride parade?

On mass murders and weapons used

A letter to The Beeen was headlined, “Not understanding the US gun culture.” Some other points to consider:

In 2019 there were 46,000 knife crimes in the UK. In September 2002 in China, 43 children were killed, 400 were hospitalized, poison was used. In October 2021, Oslo, Norway, five were killed with bow and arrows. In July 2016, Nice, France, 86 killed when the weapon was a truck.

Same crime, different weapons. Mass murder goes on around the world. It is sad, but people kill people.

On media coverage of shootings

Any mentally disturbed person, especially a young adolescent, should not posses or control any firearm. However, when an immature, emotionally insecure young man wants to make a huge splash on society, all he has to do is a mass shooting to get the attention that he craves, and the drama queen media is more than happy to report the dastardly deed in great detail, plastering the jerk’s face all over the air, making him the total focus of attention and giving him his desired notoriety.

If the media was outlawed from publicizing these acts of depravity, there would be no attention towards the derelict’s desired publicity. Thus the media is promoting these acts for their rating sakes. Shame on you all.

Renaming Fresno State library good

I am grateful Fresno State renamed the library. My dad led the first U.S. Army 3rd Armored Division tank platoon across the German border in September 1944. They were ambushed that evening, and a German soldier shot him through the chest while he reached for a grenade.

My dad had a small entrance wound in his right armpit and an exit wound as large as my thumb under his left shoulder blade. He lost his right hand to gangrene.

Madden disparaged Jews and minorities throughout his life, closing many of his letters with ‘Heil Hitler!’ I am sure my father, buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, and many other American patriots who fought in Europe and Asia will welcome the new library name.

Consider climate when voting

With most Americans concerned or alarmed about climate change and millions suffering from air quality issues, why is the Supreme Court slowing US efforts toward both clean air and a stable climate?

The June 30 Supreme Court ruling in West Virginia v. the United States Environmental Protection Agency limited the EPA’s authority to regulate the greenhouse gasses that cause climate change and air pollution. The ruling also means that the EPA will only be able to monitor and enforce regulations regarding pollutants delegated by Congress in very specific laws.

Taking care of the environment we depend on for our lives and livelihoods didn’t used to be so partisan. The EPA was started by a Republican presidency in response to rising outrage over public health hazards in our environment.

We will be voting in November. Please plan to vote and consider carefully which candidates understand the critical need for legislation that reduces emissions while maintaining a thriving economy. Valley air is some of the worst in the nation, and record heat and drought make this worse. It also risks agriculture and the safety of outdoor workers, contributes to obesity and depression as people stay indoors, challenges our precious water supply and worsens wildfires. We can do better. We need to do better!

Americans, be careful what you plan

Accusations of Russia invading the Ukraine without provocation are totally irrational.

In 1962 America started preparing for a nuclear war when Russia put missiles in Cuba, 2,200 miles away. Now Russia is defending itself from the missiles America installed in countries on Russia’s borders, and Americans and its allies are crying foul. Both, then and now, America is caught red-handed with its continued policy of empire-building and disregard of international policies.

With this dissing of Russia, let us consider that if Canada or Mexico decides to put missiles on their borders with America, practically every American will be taking up arms to protect themselves and their country.

The question is: what gives Americans the sole right to self-defense? Along with Black and minorities, does the life of other people not matter? Along with Israel, is America the only true nation acceptable to God? As Moses tells us, the answers to these questions are not “…in the sky… or … across the sea…; but … in our mouths and hearts; you only have to carry it out.”

Americans, be aware of the evil we are planting along the way; and it will only be overcome when we act, as Moses says.

This story was originally published August 7, 2022 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Fresno Bee readers sound off on forest fires, climate change, gay Pride and more."