Coyotes are partly filling a niche across Maine once filled by wolves. Nature has welcomed the coyote back to Maine to help fill the void, perhaps until the wolves return.

And I trust the wisdom of nature more than the small group of vocal and aggressive Mainers who are currently spreading misinformation about coyotes.

Regarding the decline of the deer population in northern Maine, most everyone acknowledges that this decline is due to the deep winter snows of the past few years and to human greed. Too much forest land has been clear-cut and that has deprived deer of the sheltered woodland they need to survive in deep snow. The coyotes are simply not to blame for the decline of deer in the north.

Mainers who live closest to the land, our farmers, have learned from experience that the coyote is actually a good friend of the land. They feed mainly on rodents and small animals, which if left unchecked overpopulate and eat the farmer’s valuable crops.

The truth about coyotes: They are beneficial to the land and that truth is getting drowned out by those who are determined to scapegoat this animal.

To perjure, persecute and massacre coyotes based on phony accusations is terribly unjust and should be illegal. The supposedly great Maine hunting tradition does not look so great when it is hijacked by those who act more like killers than legitimate hunters.

In 2010, it is certainly time to move beyond using mythology and misinformation as an excuse to kill off an entire species of wildlife. Hostility and hatred toward any wildlife should not be the Maine way.

When it comes to nature, love and respect is the way to go.

Robert Goldman

South Portland

 

Thomas’ views on prayer stun this longtime critic

 

What have you done with Cal Thomas and who wrote his column on May 13? I usually can’t stomach his column, but happened to look that day and was shocked!

He agrees with a U.S. judge who ruled that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional? He advocates praying in private (and quotes Jesus to back this up) as opposed to public prayer gatherings?

He says God has put in place the government led by President Obama and chastises “Christian leaders” (his quotes) for bashing this government instead of praying for it? He says that, “ultimate security comes from somewhere else (not government) not from public displays of prayer, investments, security cameras or things you buy.”

Whoa! Are you sure he actually wrote this piece?

Mallory Hattie

Buxton

 

 

GOP ‘generic’ apology setting a poor example

 

The apparent lack of concern for real restitution after the violation of the King Middle School classroom by members of the Republican State Convention “appalls” me, too.

The “generic” apology by the Maine Republican Party is woefully insufficient. A theft occurred. That’s a violation of our laws. Who, specifically, did it?

Is there any investigation by police? I feel assured that if this had happened when a group of students was using the school facilties, the outcry to find the perpetrators would be loud and the investigation thorough. In this case, the Maine Republican Party leaders likely do, or should, have a pretty good idea who was in teacher Paul Clifford’s room.

This is my party and the same party that is crying for transparency and for human rights. If they really believe that, then those responsible should be living that belief, coming forward, apologizing personally and making restitution. Wonder where they are hiding?

What a poor lesson for our King Middle School students, who arrived to find it violated. Newsman Dan Rather once said: “The 10 Commandments are not just 10 good ideas. Pay attention to them, or pay the consequences.”

Where are the consequences in this case?

Daniel Rooney

Sanford

 

 

First we had multiple front-page stories about a town official’s offensive forwarded e-mail. Now we get multiple front-page stories about an apparently stolen poster from a middle school classroom.

Get a grip. Someone at the newspaper needs to learn the difference between news and political correctness. It is time to stop shilling for the Democrats and report the news. At least there should be the appearance, just a hint, of impartiality in the news pages.

That someone would take another’s private property (the poster) is criminal behavior.

But I would hope that the newspaper would have a fraction of the concern it expresses over this petty theft for the widespread indoctrination conducted daily in our schools — from elementary schools through to our universities.

This is a greater offense to the taxpaying public than what appears to be a minor case of civil disobedience by some party activists who are apparently fed up with liberal propaganda being foisted off as education.

Jim Campbell

Peaks Island

 

 

City could save $8,000 with no vote on budget

 

Recently, during a special referendum, South Portland citizens approved a $33.7 million school budget proposal.

Also, for the next three years, they included continuation of the school budget validation process. This, it seems to me, was an example of faulty use of our taxes.

The complete voting process probably cost the city $2,000 or so (strictly my guesstimate). Since we will be repeating this three times, the total may be around $8,000. South Portland has around 18,500 voters. This decision outlined above was made by 1,341 voters with 844 in favor to the budget.

You figure the total voting percentage as well as the percentage for the 844 who approved these two issues. This certainly showed a tremendous lack of citizen interest of around 17,000 voters.

This year, with stronger leadership, I had hoped that our City Council would really take control. Instead, they chose not to do the job of elected officials and vote the budget in or out themselves. The same type of situation occurred with the Willard Beach dog issue.

A couple of councilors in particular seem to enjoy negative comments and want to micromanage the school budget. Better to get a handle on their city budget first. How can this “cop-out” approach with a select group of seven who have sworn to work hard to identify and improve our city happen?

Sure, $8,000 is not much money. However, it certainly could benefit some of our schoolchildren — isn’t that a big part of what the school budget is supposed to do?

Shouldn’t our councilors be leading the way rather than sitting on their hands?

Ralph C. Baxter Sr.

South Portland