Letters 1/4/07

Jan. 3, 2007

Enemy of Nature?
Thank you for the story on Jennifer Angus’s “Bug Art”. I had caught wind of her work on NPR and now I know it’s true.
I’m totally infuriated that God’s creatures are being used in this manner... and I’m virtually an atheist. God’s creatures are creatures of pure evolution; this is atrocious to be slabbing these little life forms for art. This is not art. This is sick. Jennifer definitely needs her brain re-tweeked.
Her own rationale is absurd... that “None of these species are endangered.”
We all know that all creatures on this planet were once un-endangered until someone or many someones proceeded to kill them, either for food or study or pleasure, and in this case, “art.” Why not just take photos of insects, make copies, arrange copies in circular patterns, step back a couple yards, and behold — the same frigging effect!
Now other artists will just as logically and massively follow in Jennifer’s path and start their own buying of these common and exotic creatures to also take up gallery space and deplete this world’s stock of little and beautiful creatures, many of which will thence be prevented from laying their eggs to reproduce.
I should also note that praying mantis and walking sticks and many strange and beautiful click beetles in our own natural environment are not considered endangered, but if anyone went around and killed and collected hundreds of these relatively harmless lifeforms, there would be a significant shortage and endangerment to their existence hereabouts. And, in fact, this rapacious slaughter has already been going on for way too many years with local biology and science teachers sending out their students to do just that.
Dogs, cats, and humans are also NOT endangered. Maybe Jennifer ought to change her focus and go for this larger crop of art props.
It is no wonder that Mankind is this planet’s greatest enemy... and now Womankind.

— Glenn Rouse • T.C.

Veterans‘ Rights
I would like to say thank you to
the staff of the Northern Express newspaper for the two articles concerning the fight I am having in the courts.
Your newspaper is the only one locally, state or nationally that would tell the story of the fight veterans are having. I salute you! (re: “Local Court Will Decide,“ 12/21.)
This is a story of how veterans are being treated after they take their uniforms off. It is not only losing benefits in court; it is also the budget cuts that the VA is taking that reduces the health care and creates staff cuts, long waits for cases to be reviewed, and the list
goes on.
For me the fight is if I have any rights as a veteran, or do I have any control over benefits that I earned? Me and other veterans want the people of the United States to know how we are being treated. They do not know. The media will not touch us. I am in touch with several active duty military personnel and they are appalled by all of this.
As I went into the Manistee Court House on Dec. 19, the flags were flying at half staff for a fallen soldier from Michigan who did not survive the conflict he was in. I said a prayer for that solider and his family and for our country, and then went into the same court house and fought for what I earned for surviving the conflict I was in.
To me, there is something wrong with this picture. My case is being delayed for three more weeks, but it looks like I will challenge this matter in the Appellete Court here in Michigan; then it is on to Washington and the Supreme Court.
People should let their State reps, senators, congressmen, news media and anyone else who will listen that they should look into how veterans are being treated. We have to make things better for the ones that are coming home from harm’s way and let them know we care.

Calvin Murphy • Manistee

He Earned It
I just read the article about a vet being taken to court over a divorce and giving up his disability pay. Preposterous! I was under the interpretation that alimony wasn’t granted in Michigan.
From personal experience mind you.
If the person who was injured for our country is receiving any kind of pension, then that is his or hers. They earned that with blood.
I might understand if they were married when the injury happened: then they have a beef for going through therapy and being there from the beginning; but if they came into it after the injury, leave it alone. That spouse has no right to that money and no judge should have any say in giving that to that spouse.
As stated, it is for family; I see that as being the added benefit of children. Shall a divorce ensue, I would hope support for the children would continue for the kids. If it happens 20 years after kids are gone and the marriage dissolves, no disability should be paid to that spouse. Money earned together is one thing, but leave that minuscule disability to the person that truly earned it.
Maybe all injured personnel coming home from our current wars should sign prenups before getting married to hopefully safeguard that little thank you from our government and us. It isn’t much, but it is something they alone earned.

Joe Deater • Lake Ann