We have had numerous responses to the picture and story of the Stephentown father and son on an African safari that we published last week. The two letters we received are published below.
We are a community newspaper and as such we hold a mirror up to our community to show what about it is delightful, what is distressing and everything in between. We let our readers judge whether what goes on in eastern Rensselaer County is good, bad or of no consequence, but we give our readers the information to make those judgments. That’s our job. What is beautiful and what is grotesque is in the eye of the beholder. The people of Eastwick are various in their values and tastes. It is not our job to cut any of them out. Only in that way can the Eastwick Press represent the entire community.
Kieron Kramer, Editor
To the Editor,
In the July 31, 2009, Eastwick paper, I read with interest the story, with picture included, about the Spaniol father and son safari adventure in South Africa. I wondered what happened to the carcasses of the many animals that were killed for the pleasure of having trophies. The article stated the duo hunted at a private ranch of 16,000 acres. I assume that the animals hunted were grown especially for the so called sport of hunting.
I am not against hunting for a sport and for food when done in a sportsman manner. I am against hunting for animals that are in a particular area for the hunter to have head trophies to hang on the wall. For the Spaniols a baboon and a warthog are the next on the list, what a shame. Why not do something for the animals that are in line for extinction, an honorable cause.
Alice Bentley
Brunswick, NY
To the Editor,
In this time that we live in, when our planet is in peril and many animals are on the endangered species list, your paper chooses to print a photo of a kudu killed on SAFARI in Africa seems out of sync with the attitude we are hoping to instill in future generations. The kudu may be on that list soon enough.
If you need to fill space in your newspaper there are many photos you can print of species we are trying to save like the eagles in North Petersburgh – those photos were positive. I am certain that there are photographers who would be happy to contribute photos of live wild animals who share the earth with us.
Sincerely,
Pat Klein
Petersburgh, NY
Editor’s Response: As the writer of this letter points out we do publish photos of live wild animals. Please send them in, particularly if you have one of a mountain lion in this area. We have also published many photos related to hunting. I must ask you Pat, if we did not publish the African safari photo and story would that mean it didn’t happen? Isn’t the truth worth knowing? Isn’t the debate worth having?