Tom Walton is not alone in his dislike of eating fish and disapproval of fishing (March 18, “A freak of nature’s confession: I don’t like fish”). Science has shown that fishes are sentient, they suffer fear and pain. The public is increasingly coming to this realization and recognizing that, like cats, cows, dogs, and other sentient beings, fishes deserve our respect and compassion.
There’s nothing sporting about fishing. The fish are victims, not willing participants. Impaling them through their mouth, eyes, gut; hauling their body through the water by a hook, suffocating them, manhandling them, etc. It’s not sport, it’s torture. Many of the ones who are returned to the water perish as a result of the injury and trauma to which they’ve been subjected.
All of the nutrients derived from fish, and from other animals, can be obtained more healthfully, humanely, and environmentally responsibly from plant sources. This includes marvelous versions of virtually every type of seafood imaginable that are made exclusively with plant-sourced ingredients.
Needlessly harming animals for food or “fun,” or any other reason, is animal abuse. It’s to the credit of people like Mr. Walton that a growing number of individuals realize that fishes are sentient beings who deserve our compassion and not cruel exploitation.
MARY FINELLI
Silver Spring, Maryland
Editor’s note: Ms. Finelli is the president of Fish Feel, an organization “devoted to promoting the recognition of fish as sentient beings deserving of respect and compassion.”
Why should taxpayers fund partisan travel?
Whether I am a Democrat, Republican, independent, or affiliated with any other political party, why should I, as a taxpayer, be funding President Trump’s travels on Air Force One to partisan political rallies on behalf of Republican candidates? Why aren’t costs for this type of event paid for by the RNC?
RUTH EUTON
Perrysburg
Judgments on new tax legislation are coming — in 2019
In The Blade’s March 13 editorial discussing the new tax bill, “Job creation is the key metric,” readers are asked if, after completing their 1040s, due April 15, 2015, they will rejoice or weep and curse the politicians.
They won’t do either because the new tax bill’s effect will not be known until we file our 2018 taxes, due April 2019.
MARLENE GUYNES
West Toledo
A plan to save all the children
Let’s save all the children. We’ll just need to pass two legislation pieces of legislation.
The first will ban all assault-style weapons to save 500 lives a year.
The second will ban all abortions, saving 650,000 lives a year.
KEVIN WARNER
Holland
First Published March 21, 2018, 8:00 p.m.
