Talk Back: Can’t Bear the News

Readers were upset when the U.S. House of Representatives rejected an amendment to ban the import of sport-hunted polar bear trophies from Canada. Among the comments we received:

For shame! What does it say about us as human beings that we are unwilling or unable to protect these magnificent creatures from probable extinction? I hope my granddaughter will not grow up in a world without polar bears! —Susan M. Cassone

After hearing about the polar bear vote I called my representative, Baron Hill, who voted a disappointing "no" on the amendment. I spent several minutes on the phone with one of his aides. The young man was very nice and tried to convince me that Rep. Hill was concerned for the polar bears’ welfare and that all of the monies from this hunting go to help polar bear conservation. I respectfully disagreed with him and said people in Indiana do not want polar bear heads hanging on their walls and that Rep. Hill in all likelihood was caving to pressure from the NRA and Safari Club International. I told him Rep. Hill would be hearing more from me on this subject. I plan to write him a letter and several neighbors have asked to sign it. I hope he starts listening to his constituency! —Julia K

Please, please, please. Do not give up this fight to save the polar bears, among all the other animals. They have the right to live in peace. They are God’s beautiful creatures, and God never intended us to kill anything for sport or amusement. Please continue to fight for them and I will continue to send emails and phone calls to the appropriate individuals in Washington. Thank you so much. —Zelva Lucas

My deep heartfelt thanks for your diligence for the animals and for not giving up on the polar bears. —Barbara Miles

OUTRAGEOUS! Who in their right mind wouldn’t want to protect these beautiful animals? The good people of the world who love animals need to continue to do whatever they can to protect all innocent, defenseless creatures that so much deserve to be treated with respect and compassion as any human would want. How many people would want their heads plastered on someone’s wall? Live and let live! —Katherine Ryan

I am disgusted about how many of our Representatives vote based on their personal feelings towards their enjoyment to hunt. They go back to when their father would take them hunting and at that moment they felt special. Teaching children to respect animals is what they should have been taught instead. There are more animal lovers than non, but where are they? Animal protection is something that should also be an important issue and that’s what I take into consideration when I vote for political candidates. —Bianca D.

And reader Fred continues to support hunting of the species:

Global warming is overblown; polar bears are not endangered. I viewed the so-called polar bear hunt video; looks like it was staged to me. If you want to know the truth, go to www.polarbearfacts.org.