Letters to the editor

Bamboo the elephant

Keepers provide good care to zoo residents

Editor, The Times:

I appreciated your balanced article on Bamboo, the elephant at Woodland Park Zoo [page one, July 13]. Northwest Animals Rights Network exposes its lack of understanding of elephants by its comment that knocking keepers down is evidence of Bamboo's aggressive behavior. Elephants are highly social animals that move up in the hierarchy of the herd by pushing other members around. The problem lies with the fact that keepers, due to their close daily contact with the elephants, become part of this hierarchy. Woodland Park Zoo has already addressed this by switching to what is called protected contact, now always working with barriers between humans and elephants.

NARN also states Bamboo has suffered a "psychological breakdown" (no evidence) and that she will likely die prematurely. Since Bamboo is currently in excellent health, this is simply speculation.

As a longtime volunteer at Woodland Park Zoo (23 years), I know the keepers and veterinarians who care for these elephants. I am impressed by the level of expertise and caring from these zoo professionals. It's unfortunate the NARN has seized on publicity about Bamboo to push forward its ultimate agenda — getting rid of all elephants in zoos.

— Janis Weltzin, Seattle

Well-deserved sanctuary

I am hoping that the publicity will finally sway in favor of Bamboo's release to the sanctuary in Tennessee. This poor old girl deserves it.

The statement by Bruce Bohmke saying that the zoo is like a spa for the elephants is so ridiculous. It is well-documented that zoos cannot give these splendid animals enough room to roam.

I will, however, agree with him when he states that, "Ultimately they want all elephants out of zoos and ultimately they want to close zoos." This is exactly what I would like to see, especially for elephants.

Perhaps existing zoos could still be useful if they'd develop a sanctuary mentality; save smaller animals indeed, rescue them when necessary but not breed them for a miserable life in captivity, especially not elephants! We definitely should educate and preserve these places in the wild where animals roam free instead of exploiting them for gawking humans eating popcorn.

— Claudine Erlandson, Seattle

Alleged atrocities

Staining the military evidently acceptable

The letter to the editor published July 12 from Daniel P. Draheim wonders where the outrage is over the accusation of rapes in Iraq.

I want to assure Draheim that when things like this occur no one is more outraged than the average soldier here on the ground. Draheim is correct in asserting that such events make the job of soldiers here infinitely more difficult. And yet Draheim falls victim to the same mistake as many on the political left do, as do so many in the mainstream media so eager to minimize our efforts: He lumps Haditha into the mix of atrocities committed by U.S. soldiers and yet no one has been tried and convicted over the alleged act.

Sad are the times we live in when the press can try and convict the military for an alleged act and hang it around their neck before the investigation is even completed. Staining the military, the overall effort in Iraq and the honor of military service is evidently acceptable in the interest of a political gain.

The people here on the ground largely understand why we are here. They understand after three elections and countless lives lost — both Iraqi and allied — whose side we're on. Thanks to media that print and broadcast only the bad news of Iraq, it's probably easy to assume that's all there is. I came here to see it for myself and there is a huge disconnect between what the news services see fit to print and what's really happening on the ground.

If history is left only to the U.S. media lackeys to judge, then yes, we'll likely be painted as immoral monsters. But let me assure you, throughout my travels in the Middle East, that's not the view at large. Of course, much rests in how Iraq turns out in the long run, but the vast majority of military men and women here uphold their end with honor and integrity.

— John Gamash, Camp Buehring (Udairi AAF), Kuwait

No justice served

I was ashamed of myself after reading Daniel P. Draheim's letter to the editor regarding the rape-slaying of an Iraqi teenager and most of her family by U.S. soldiers. I want to see all those who participated, or knew about this tragedy and did nothing to stop it from happening, brought to justice. Ultimately, I feel that no justice is ever truly served in the event of such vicious and premeditated violence. I want Draheim to know that I echo his sentiments and only wish I had written sooner. I, too, am outraged.

— Shiloh Durkee, Edmonds

Cooper, Stodden deaths

Librarian's generous act hasn't been forgotten

I can attest to the fact that Mary Cooper was the nicest person in the universe ["A mix of mourning, 'nicest' memories," Times, page one, July 14]. She was so friendly and passionate about reading and children. I attended AEII from first grade through fifth grade where she was my librarian. I am now 19 years old.

I still remember Mary and all that she taught me. She taught me to love reading and to choose books that interest me. She was always eager to get our class to care about the stories she read us during story times. This woman had a smile permanently sewn onto her face, and with it, she set the vibe for a warm and friendly environment.

I remember one time in about the fourth grade, there was a book I simply had to have. I was put on a waiting list for it, and when the end of the week came, the book still wasn't in. That Saturday I was playing in the yard when Mary pulled up in her car. She had come to personally deliver the book I wanted to read so badly.

Service with a smile. This was the most generous act and I have never forgotten it.

— Talia Schmidt, Seattle

Hiking together

I am deeply disturbed by the murders of Mary Cooper and Susanna Stodden and was further disturbed by your article's statement that these women were "hiking alone" ["Who killed 2 hikers near Mt. Pilchuck?," page one, July 13]. These women were hiking together, not alone, and they were hiking during the day and on a well-traveled trail, following all common safety procedures.

To say they were "hiking alone" implies they were violating a safety rule and somehow share responsibility for their deaths. These women did everything right and the unthinkable happened anyway. In your related July 13 article "Forest killings are still rare, but crime is rising" you say that attacks on hikers are increasingly common. We need to be honest about the safety risks hikers face, especially female hikers, even when they are hiking together.

— Lauren Stensland, Seattle