Lobster would be glad to have me for dinner
I’ve read several letters to the Editor regarding the “inhumanity” of selling live lobsters at the IGA in Ocean Shores.
It made me think of something my dad once said. Over 50 years ago my dad, while fishing in Grays Harbor, had a 16-foot great white shark become entangled in his gillnet.
He tried to free the beast but it spun around and entangled itself in a cocoon of net. The shark was half the size of his boat and was thrashing. The boat was in jeopardy. Gilbert Chillman, who had a more powerful fishing boat, saw my dad’s distress signal and came to his rescue. He towed my dad’s boat into the docks where they shot the dying shark.
I asked my dad years later if he felt badly about shooting that shark. He replied, “No, it wouldn’t have felt bad about eating me.” That sounded reasonable under the circumstances.
I’ve never eaten lobster, but I’m sure if I were a bite sized delicacy, of lobster cuisine, it would be glad to have me for dinner, the main course, of course.
I say feed them and take good care of them and when the time comes, eat up.
Elaine Rydman
Aberdeen
Time to ban boiling lobsters alive
I am writing to express my deep concern over the Ocean Shores IGA’s decision to sell live lobsters from Maine for the holidays.
While it may seem commonplace, this practice involves significant animal cruelty that demands our attention. Lobsters are sentient beings capable of experiencing pain and stress. When they are confined in cramped tanks, often stacked on top of each other, they suffer immensely.
The process of boiling them alive is undeniably cruel. Lobsters produce the hormone cortisol, the same hormone humans produce when hurt. Research shows that lobsters can be alive for up to three minutes after being thrown into the boiling water.
It is time to reconsider this outdated and inhumane practice. We have a moral obligation to treat all animals with compassion, and this includes lobsters.
I urge local businesses and consumers to join me in advocating for a ban on the sale of live lobsters. Let us work together to create a more compassionate and ethical world for all creatures.
Caleb Lowery
Ocean Shores
Lobsters have no choice but to scream in pain
I want to voice my deep concern and disgust about the treatment of lobsters.
They, and any other animals are treated as commodities, when in fact they are living creatures with blood, brain, nerves, etc. They have no voice to scream at the pain inflicted on them by humans.
I wish humans had the decency to at least offer a swift and painless death to all the animals they kill to eat, since unfortunately this world is not going vegetarian. Thank you for your attention.
Maureen Garrigan
Westport
Writer disappointed in walk-in clinic article
I am writing to express my disappointment with the recent article by in The Daily World by Jerry Knaak regarding the Ocean Shores walk-in clinic.
Mayor Elduen and this administration have achieved remarkable progress for our city in just one year, and the establishment of this clinic stands as a clear testament to the mayor’s commitment to addressing the needs of Ocean Shores residents, visitors and tourists.
This walk-in clinic not only meets a critical demand within our city but also holds the potential to serve as a valuable asset to the surrounding communities. Accomplishing such a project within a year required extensive planning and determined leadership.
This achievement is particularly notable given the contrast with the previous administration, which repeatedly said no, it can’t be done, dismissing citizens’ calls for improved healthcare access, claiming it was not the city’s responsibility to address this need.
Unfortunately, Knaak’s article contained several inaccuracies and false information that overshadowed this positive development. Such reporting casts an undeserved shadow over an achievement that directly benefits the community.
To further diminish the impact of this significant milestone, Knaak chose to conclude the article with remarks from an individual who had no involvement in the achievement of establishing a walk-in clinic in Ocean Shores. Moreover, it is clear that proper vetting of this source, including their credentials and background, was not conducted.
The nascent project referenced by Knaak has remained stagnant for over two years. Initial efforts involved soliciting funds from community members without providing adequate documentation, followed by presenting handwritten notes on scratch paper as records.
As mentioned by the person interviewed and despite claims of submitting grant applications and reaching out to foundations, no tangible progress has been demonstrated, including a rejected grant application mentioned in the article.
Did Knaak investigate these claims? Did he explore the qualifications or experience of the individual in spearheading a healthcare venture? Did he verify allegations that the city rebuffed grant discussions, or was this assertion simply taken at face value?
Moreover, Knaak seemed unaware of this individual’s contentious history, which includes threats of litigation against the city, disparagement of the mayor on a dedicated social media page, and prior instances of libel using others’ names and the city’s name for personal gain.
Facts matter, especially in journalism. Knaak’s failure to fact-check his reporting and scrutinize sources undermines the credibility of this piece and detracts from celebrating the wins that benefit Ocean Shores. It is my hope that future reporting will reflect the professionalism and diligence expected in our community, focusing on factual accuracy and recognizing achievements that bring us together.
Jane Shattuck
Ocean Shores
Editor’s note: The Daily World stands by its reporting.
