MONKEY KILLING

Is it time to find a new group of friends?

The young man charged with killing the zoo monkey may want to reconsider his friends if this was truly a dare. Why in the world does a father with a girlfriend and infant at home feel the need to be out at 4:30 in the morning? With his past criminal record he sounds like he really doesn’t care about being a responsible adult and would rather act like a child.

This just goes to show how Idaho is still in the barbaric days with our laws not only addressing animal cruelty, but in so many other areas. I do hope we will catch up with the rest of the states and start protecting our animals, children and ourselves.

TRICIA FEDRIZZI, Boise

A flawed defense

I guess it’s too late for the monkey to claim self-defense.

DONNA BOSTARD, Boise

Give humans greater priority in reporting

In tonight’s local news (Nov. 19) on several stations, we were told that a woman was sexually assaulted near Boise State, and that another woman is charged will killing her 2-year-old child. Combined, these pieces took up perhaps 30 seconds of airtime.

They were reported only after a five-minute segment on a monkey that was killed at Zoo Boise.

After watching tonight’s news, I am appalled, speechless and devastated. Do we really live in a community where an animal’s rights are given precedence over those of human beings?

I sit here in tears as I write this, for any hope I had of being able to change Idaho’s lax enforcement of crimes against women and children has been crushed tonight. How can I ask the people of Boise to help, when the media tell them that the ongoing crimes against human beings are not as important or interesting as one attack against one animal?

How many rapes or abused children does it take to get top billing in the news? For shame.

KAREN MCGINTY, Boise

Focus on people

I don’t get it. I think monkeys are cute, but the media attention this case has drawn is unbelievable. The case has been covered for multiple days in the news, has been on national news channels, and public outrage has been incredible. I find this crime disgusting, but where was this indignation when a little girl was killed and burned in a barrel this summer? Doesn’t it seem odd that we are more concerned over the welfare of a patas monkey than a human child?

Don’t get me wrong: I think this crime should be punished, but I think human life should merit at least equal attention.

KARIN WALTZ, Boise

Priorities misplaced

Idaho’s media values have sunk to a new low. They have spent more time in the past four days reporting on a monkey killed at the Boise zoo than they have in the past year reporting on Idaho’s heroes killed in action. And yes, I’m tired of hearing about the general’s sex life.

NICK BRIZZI, Boise

PETRAEUS

Lives of generals not newsworthy

Please forgive my aggressive tone, but it would seem the Statesman, Reuters, AP, et al, could come up with something more newsworthy than the personal habits of two highly decorated military generals, Petraeus and Allen. Personally I find this caliber of reporting reprehensible. Having read these articles I found no hint of a suggestion that these soirees were anything other than consensual. It is what it is. The media in their exuberance have likely ruined the careers of these distinguished leaders. It would be my hope that your paper would rise up and leave this absurd reporting to others.

KENT CRAVEN, Glenns Ferry

STATESMAN

No value to new service

The Idaho Statesman recently started a digital subscription service, which is quite expensive. What are we paying for? The stories the Statesman “reports” on are questionable at best. Where is the real reporting? The Spokesman-Review covers Idaho issues better than the Idaho Statesman; if anything, I’d buy a subscription from them. If I’m going to fork over some money, I want some actual journalism. And no, putting every rinky-dink DUI and low-level pot bust on the front page is not journalism.

JORDAN TAYLOR, Boise

BULLYING

Help is available to deal with problem

I desire to help families that have suffered from the effects of bullying, especially cyberbullying. While growing up I experienced the effects of bullies. I remember the fear, anxiety and lack of confidence that these experiences created within me. I had no idea how to deal with them and felt powerless to change it. I kept this to myself and just suffered through it.

So often self-worth can be defined by how many tweets, connects, Facebook likes or friends you have on social media. Youth are forced to deal with situations that they have very little real life wisdom guidance, and a cyber-environment that promotes secrecy and little respect for parents or authority figures. What can we do?

A tremendous website/author that provides guidance, resources to families, law enforcement, schools, and government officials is www.bananamoments.com. The author is Joanna Jullien. I’ve had wonderful conversations with Joanna and received so much insight as I read her eBook, “The Authority In Me.” http://bananamoments.com/resources/the-authority-in-me/

This site can be a tremendous tool to empower all of us, to strengthen our families, as we navigate through the deep waters of technology and the cyber world.

DOUG STODDARD, Blackfoot

EDUCATION

How are school boards spending money?

I might be a little simple-minded, but I don’t even know how Propositions 1, 2 and 3 even came into play. I pay a lot of taxes for the schools. Pretty sure a lot of that money is going to a school board. Where are they and what are they doing? The children in Idaho are in their care.

TERESA HUTCHINGS, Boise

VOTING RIGHTS

Politicians display unpatriotic side

As a veteran, I would like to thank all the voters who got out to vote in the 2012 presidential election. Please continue to get out and vote in all our local elections as these elections are every bit as important to our daily lives as the national elections. Our veterans and their families appreciate your show of support for their service to our country.

To those hypocritical politicians who shamelessly tried to suppress our right to vote, I only have this to say to you. You have dishonored the sacrifices made by veterans, many of whom have died or suffered lifelong injuries so that we could simply go to the polling booth and cast our vote. You have no right to wave the flag and tell us how patriotic you are. Please remove the flag from your lapel and political ads. Your behavior is anything but patriotic.

BILL RUTHERFORD, Meridian

GREENBELT

Walkers destroy biking experience

Recently I was informed that since Garden City Initiative B had passed, the Garden City Greenbelt Nature Path was now open to cyclists. Then on Nov. 15, I decided to ride it for the first time.

For most of the distance of the Forbidden Way, I was alone. I enjoyed being able to quietly pedal through and enjoy scenery previously reserved for a wealthy few. Then toward the end, I encountered a few walkers. I slowed and very politely said, “on your left,” to an elderly woman, who thanked me, then immediately met hostility from the other (also much older) walkers. One woman went so far as to try and block me. I stayed calm, politely explained that I was informed that it was open and she got extremely confrontational.

Then another couple started chanting, “Shame! Shame!” Seriously? What did I do that was shameful? Pedal too slowly? Yield to pedestrians? Act polite and friendly? C’mon, Riverside people, grow up! Your money didn’t buy you any class.

TRACI JENNINGS, Boise