Duke is planning a bow hunt of deer in Duke Forest. This is an incredibly cruel form of hunting and is not necessary. More humane deer management solutions are available. The Humane Society of the United States has statistics to show that the use of reproductive control methods, such as surgical sterilization and immunocontraception, are viable solutions.
The city of Highland Park, Ill., successfully sterilized does to maintain deer populations at target densities. Also, published and forthcoming studies have demonstrated that immunocontraceptive Porcine Zona Pellucida can reduce deer populations by 10 to 11 percent per year. Both of these techniques are not only effective, they are humane. Groups like the HSUS would be more than happy to help Duke create a workable plan to humanely and effectively deal with the deer.
Bow hunting is not an acceptable solution. Bow hunting is among the cruelest forms of hunting. Large numbers of animals are not killed immediately and suffer long, drawn-out, painful deaths. Many are seen staggering for hours or days, with embedded arrows. It's cruel for the deer, disturbing for all the neighbors that see the maimed deer and completely unnecessary.
Please contact Duke and ask them to halt the planned bow-hunting of deer in Duke Forest. Ask them to investigate more effective, long-term, humane solutions. It would not only be better for the deer and all those in the community, it would portray Duke as a positive, forward-thinking institution.
DIANE THOMAS
Durham
Playing race card
Former president Jimmy Carter is an idiot. It is amazing how he played the race card regarding Joe Wilson's "You lie!" interruption of Obama's health care speech.
This has nothing to do with race. I do not care if you are liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican. Whatever party you are, if you have any sense you will agree with me.
I am so sick and tired of people being portrayed as racist if they do not agree with Obama. Was Wilson's comment inappropriate? Maybe. Was it correct?
Yes.
I guess I am a racist because I said that. Or maybe I am a racist because I voted for John McCain. Or maybe I am a racist because I see ACORN as a corrupt organization that needs to be investigated. Or I could quite possibly be racist because I think Professor Gates acted like an idiot and Sgt. James Crowley did his job and did it correctly.
This kind of nonsense has got to stop. Just because you may disagree with Obama, Acorn or anything else that the far left worships does not make you a racist. Carter should be ashamed of himself. He owes Wilson an apology.
ANTHONY SOCHA
Durham
Perseverance
As President Obama said: The journey is long. The journey is hard. And we don't have much time left to make it. It is a journey that will require each of us to persevere through setback, and fight for every inch of progress, even when it comes in fits and starts.
So let us begin. For if we are flexible and pragmatic; if we can resolve to work tirelessly in common effort, then we will achieve our common purpose: a world that is safer, cleaner and healthier than the one we found; and a future that is worthy of our children.
YOLANDA MOORE
Durham
