Editor’s note:The news story “Turf war,” published on July 13, included an inaccurate account of lethal prairie dog mitigation allegedly used by Boulder County. A quote suggested that ongoing efforts to control the spread of prairie dog colonies included poisoning via pellets, a method the county hasn’t used in more than a decade. The online version of the story has been updated to reflect this.
RE: ‘TURF WAR’
Deanna Meyer of Prairie Protection Colorado used the term “war on wildlife” referring to Boulder County Parks & Open Space and its actions toward prairie dogs (News, “Turf war,” July 13, 2023). “War on wildlife” is not hyperbole, and goes well beyond prairie dogs. The starkest examples regarding what I choose to call “free-living” or “free-roaming” animals are hunting, fishing and trapping, whose legality and euphemism as “sport” is unconscionable — an atrocity — clearly a war on innocent, living, feeling individuals.
Regardless of what words one uses to describe it, the human species has perpetuated a war — exploiting, harming and killing — on virtually all other-than-human animals, be it for food, clothing, experimentation, “entertainment” and in virtually any area of life.
The root cause of this issue may be best termed “speciesism,” which Joan Dunayer (author of the books Speciesism and Animal Equality: Language and Liberation) defines as “a failure, on the basis of species membership or species-typical characteristics, to accord any sentient being equal consideration and respect.”
Our attitudes and actions toward nonhuman animals, who are legally defined as property with no legal rights, clearly exemplifies speciesism.
May we, individually and collectively, look deeply into our hearts, consider all the living entities with whom we share the Earth, and make choices that cause the least harm to any individual, nonhuman or human. Only then will we move toward a kinder, gentler, more just world for All.
— Mark Wiesenfeld / Boulder
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RE: ‘HEARING HISTORY’ — CHAUTAUQUA’S 125TH BIRTHDAY
Growing up, I lived just a few blocks from Chautauqua. Going to the movies there in the ’60s were some of the highlights of my childhood. The concessionaire sold little bags of popcorn for 10 cents. I believe the movies were 50 cents and they were always family friendly — there were a lot of Doris Day movies, and Disney movies like Pollyanna, The Absent Minded Professor or Son of Flubber.
Nights were cool; occasionally a skunk would wander down the aisles or under the seats and a few bats would flutter under the lights. My favorite memory was one night when Paint Your Wagon was playing. There was a scene in the movie with a busty “woman of the night.” A man jumped up, yelling it was filth and we should all be ashamed of ourselves as he dragged his little boy out of the auditorium. The man had his hand over his child’s eyes while he himself couldn’t take his eyes off the screen. Movie nights at Chautauqua were wonderful!
— Lise Cordsen / Boulder
