How animals are treated
Re: “Fairlife accused again of cruelty — Lawsuit says firm’s claim of humane care for dairy cows amounts to fraud," Sunday news story.
Thank you for reporting on the alleged abuse of the cows at Fairlife. “Near-constant torment and torture of cows as a daily practice” should not be tolerated, and your thoughtful piece will bring awareness to this issue.
Kayla Murray, Austin
Try soy or oat milk
The horrors described in this story are nothing new to those of us who work in animal advocacy, but this paper’s welcome choice to put them on the front page could lead to real change.
While striving for better treatment of animals is an admirable goal, we should realize that when sentient beings are profit producers for giant companies, their sentience and suffering will never be the top priority. Perhaps learning about the ever-present dark side of the dairy industry will inspire readers to sample soy or oat lattes, knowing that soy milk has just as much protein as cow’s milk, and that oat milk is widely considered even more delicious. Both come cruelty-free.
Thanks to The Dallas Morning News for its willingness to give readers uncomfortable information so they can make choices that align with their own true values regarding animal cruelty.
Karen Dawn, Austin
Founder and director, DawnWatch
Ditch dairy
Just about every time an animal protection group smuggles a camera into a factory farm, the footage reveals horrific animal cruelty. Thanks, Dallas Morning News and Tracey McManus, for informing readers what goes on behind closed doors. Reading this excellent piece of journalism brought to mind the words of Dr. Albert Schweitzer: “Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight.”
I have often been told that my vegan diet is extreme. What I find extreme is abusing animals raised for food, especially when it comes to the dairy industry. Like humans, cows only produce milk as a result of being pregnant. Removing their newborn shortly after birth is inherently cruel.
Humans are the only species who regularly drink the mammary gland secretions of another species, and the only species that drinks milk beyond infancy. It is the perfect food for calves, who gain about 800 pounds in their first year of life. For humans, not so much.
It’s time to ditch dairy in favor of healthy, environmentally friendly and humane plant-based alternatives.
Stewart W. David, Las Cruces, N.M.
Suppressor doesn’t silence
I am amazed at the number of misinformed people who claim that a rifle suppressor actually silences a rifle report. The facts are that an average unsuppressed rifle has a report of approximately 165-175 decibels while a rifle with a silencer on it averages 135-145 decibels.
For comparison purposes, a jackhammer is approximately 110 decibels and an ambulance siren comes in at around 120 decibels.
The shooters and hunters who would like to have a suppressor on their firearm do so for one reason — to minimize the hearing loss associated with their legal shooting activities.
Chris Burgess, Richardson
Try smart THC regulation
As a North Texas resident, I urge lawmakers to replace Senate Bill 3’s proposed ban on hemp-derived THC with smart regulation. A ban would harm small businesses, farmers and responsible consumers, while failing to protect public health.
We already have a proven model: Texas alcohol laws. Clear age limits, childproof packaging, product testing and labeling can keep these products safe and out of minors’ hands.
Gov. Greg Abbott was right to veto SB 3 and call for a better path. Bans drive products underground; regulation ensures safety and accountability. Texans deserve laws that protect without punishing lawful commerce.
Let’s hope lawmakers use the special session to get this right.
Kevin Irwin, Flower Mound
DART grimy and gritty
I recently attended a three-day professional development seminar at the Marriott Sheraton convention center in downtown Dallas. I rode the DART Orange Line from North Lake-Dallas College in Irving to Pearl Street.
DART is a publicly funded system, yet the detritus of 2-ounce Fireball plastic bottles, cigarette butts and dozing homeless at the stops and on the trains is alarming.
Young women in shorts which look like intimate apparel, heavy-lidded addicts being ransacked by bag ladies and shirtless men slumped against one another in a domino of destitution are all part of the scene of a day on DART.
Tattooed men with Texas Department of Criminal Justice ankle bracelets blow smoke across the waiting Southwestern Medical Center patients, and workers and then toss the burning leftover on the ground next to the self-serve ticket station.
All this with inactive, but present, DART and Dallas police officers lolling about at the stops.
Dallas-Fort Worth, let’s have a little pride. Is this who we are? Dallas and our surrounding metropolitan area are the envy of the world in so many arenas. I think we can do much better.
John Fitzmaurice Boyle, Irving
It’s baseball, not a lecture
Re: “Prideful yet Prideless — Local advocate tired of waiting for recognition," by Evan Grant, Sunday SportsDay column.
During 40 years of going to Rangers games, I believe the fans do not want to be lectured on political and sexual orientation issues. We come to see a baseball game. There are other venues for people to advocate for their causes.
I think the vast majority of Rangers fans feel that political issues should not be pushed at ballgames whether we agree with the politics or not. And the fans believe the Rangers are right in this.
If Rafael McDonnell chooses not to attend Rangers games because they do not have a Pride Day, that is his right and choice. I suspect that there are contrary views he would not want pushed on him if he attended a game.
Crawford Long, Waco