Anyone who has children will attest to their penchant for stuffed animals. From wolves and dogs to whales and seals, my own girls still have their original "bedtime companions." Children have a kinship with the planet's critters. Those critters fill our children's books, inspire their imagination and ignite their curiosity. Those animals fill our literature, cultural stories, and they even adorn our money.

Now, consider this: 23 percent of all mammals, 12 percent of all birds and 33 percent of all amphibians face imminent extinction. Will our children's stuffed polar bears, whales and Koala bears become nothing less than a grim reminder of what once was? When your children or grandchildren ask about the world's great mammals and why so many are gone, how will you answer them? Children will not understand or accept lame excuses. They will see through the economic lies and empty pursuit of having "more stuff."

How will we explain to parents of children that have cancer, that 25,000 species of plants are facing extinction many that hold promising treatments for disease? We must recognize the countless ecological functions plants and trees provide for humankind.

When you put your child to bed tonight and he or she is clutching that fluffy or threadbare companion, tell them a story and make a promise. Explain that all living organisms have a right to exist and have a purpose. Promise your child that the companion they clutch into the night will live for generations to come.

John F. Borowski

Philomath

Letter mixed up ethnic history

Jeff Limon's Aug. 2 letter, "Lebanon bombing justified by events," is a good example of why I wrote my Aug. 1 letter, "Take care when stating absolutes."

Limon states: " 'Iran' originates from the word 'Aryan,' the race embraced by Hitler as superior to all others on Earth … so to refer to Hezbollah as Nazis, is actually fairly accurate."

There are racist connotations in many words; take the word "fairly," for example:

I'm part Aryan. They originated in northern India and wrote the Vedas. It was a term used by Indo-Iranians as an ethnic label, as well as a spiritual one in Sanskrit and Persian. It was a way to follow blood lineage, as all cultures have done. While many would differentiate this lineage from the semitic one (as the Torah does), I am willing to bet more race-mixing occurred than elders would like to admit.

The term was used by Hitler, in reference to "Nordic-Atlantean" supermen, because German scientists linked "pure" Indo-europeans and northern-Germans.

This "master race" was Caucasian, blond and Christian, not akin to the population of Iran or Syria, which are partially semitic.

I am no fan of Hezbollah (or any violent tribalist). They are anti-semitic, but labeling them "Nazis" degrades the truth and does not justify taking innocent human life.

Knowing the enemy, as Sun Tzu advises, takes complex consideration. "Knowing" should be rooted in "knowledge."

Ajai Tripathi

Corvallis

Israel/Lebanon rancor muddled

So, our local foreign policy guru and ultimate military expert, Jeff Limon, is at it again! (Letters, Aug. 2, "Lebanon bombing justified by events")

It is evident from his tirade rebutting Knud Larsen's July 28 letter, ("Lebanon bombing is a war crime"), that he knows nothing about the roots of the problem between Israel and its neighbors. Moreover, it is plain demagoguery to say that Israel went into war against Hezbollah because two Israeli soldiers were kidnapped.

Regarding the latest Israeli killing rampage and massacre of civilians in Lebanon, I would say to Mr. Limon that it goes way beyond the self-defense justification, which any state is entitled to.

To begin with, the Israeli government has been kidnapping individuals perceived as enemies of the state for a very long time. In fact, prior to the capture of the two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah and the capture of one Israeli soldier by Hamas, Israel had recently snatched several presumed members of Hezbollah in Lebanon and a doctor and his brother in the Palestinian territories. (Of course, according to Mr. Limon these are not kidnappings!).

More important, however, is the fact that peace in the region can be achieved when Israel is forced by the international community to implement United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, which demand the immediate withdrawal of Israel from lands illegally occupied in the 1967 war, including the Golan Heights, the West Bank and Gaza. This - and our callous financial support (with my tax dollars) of Israel - indeed are the root causes of the problem.

Mario E. Magaña

Corvallis

Alcohol brought out Mel's heart?

The highly publicized rantings of a temperamental "divo" (Mel Gibson) is creating much ink in the print media.

"L'affaire Gibson" is another cautionary tale for celebrities with anger management issues. It is unfortunate that our Oscar-winning movie actor/director did not think to give vent to the pent-up rage in Aramaic, which would have elevated his wrath to Biblical heights, while at the same time leaving considerable doubts as to the true targets of his anger.

Even as we are willing to cut our man some slack when we consider the undeniably great work he has done in, say, "Gallipoli," "Tim," and the "Road Warrior" movies, we must also acknowledge the damage his outburst has caused. It may even alter our appreciation of most of his later work.

I have no doubt that Mr. Gibson is sincere in wishing he had not said what was reported, but it is also a well-known fact that alcohol will often remove a person's inhibition to say what one truly thinks, and the results are not always pretty.

Leo de Vogel

Corvallis