Native American blessing for ailing bison was appropriate, not 'nonsensical'

I couldn't disagree more with Sun-Times reader Howard Pyle, who criticized Brookfield Zoo for participating in a “nonsensical” Native American “prayer and blessing” before a 24-year-old ailing American bison named Judy was euthanized.

Animal care as an Indigenous skill is more rooted in experience than modern science. In addition, among Native Americans, wildlife is demystified and more loving than it is for most zoo-goers. The bison is sacred to the plains "Indians" both as brother and food. Although I know nothing about the historical ceremonials when hunters had to sacrifice their "relatives" to feed their families, I am sure it was not like herding helpless animals into a feeding lot, fattening them up and sending them to the floor of the abattoir — the entirely brutal and inhumane process that feeds us modern eaters.

My point is: for Brookfield Zoo to call on tribal members for "prayer and blessing" when a sick bison was favored with a death at the zoo is the most appropriate action possible. It shows great respect for the creation of the bison; the cultures that, at a personal and physical level, are consciously dealing with the climate/nuclear threat we all face; and a small gesture asking for forgiveness at having, for 400 years, done all Western civilization could do to eliminate the tribes, their cultures and the vast herds that fed them.

Thank you, Brookfield Zoo, for reminding us that the bison is our relative, and its death deserves a salute to creation.

Jan Boudart, Rogers Park

Protesters deserve credit, not police

There has been much written and said in praise of the Chicago Police Department's handling of the demonstrations at the recent Democratic National Convention. I participated in demonstrations on both that Monday and Thursday and found the police to be courteous as well as stern. By and large, it did not seem to be part of the CPD strategy to bash peoples’ heads or beat them up.

But this is a very low bar. The police do not deserve praise for not behaving like their 1968 counterparts. Credit actually should go to us, the demonstrators. Our intent, which we carried out despite, not because of, the police presence, was to disrupt the DNC by words, not by fighting. Our actions mirrored our message: peace good, war bad. The overwhelmingly large police presence was a huge waste of taxpayers' (including my) money. Yet our mayor and our police superintendent are taking a victory lap for this boondoggle.

Bert Rice, Edgewater

Flying the flag for farm workers

One thing led to another when I began responding to the solicitation for new state flag artwork. What makes Illinois distinctive, I started thinking. Well, Chicago naturally, so I fashioned a downtown skyline for the background. But Illinois is more than just the big burg by the lake, I wanted to acknowledge the rest of the state too in the foreground somehow.

State flower violet and state bird cardinal were possibilities. But then I remembered hearing once on a field trip to central Illinois that Champaign County was the popcorn capital of the world. Whether that still holds thirty years later I'm unsure, but the Illinois Farm Bureau currently has our state ranked second in the country for corn production and #1 for soybean. Lest all us urbanites who can barely tell one crop from the other forget.

I'm going to tinker around some more with a graphic, but I didn't want to let the opportunity pass here to salute all our overworked and underpaid farmers statewide and beyond. I hope some flag artists more talented than I will too.

Tom Gregg, Niles

Arlington visit just a sample of Trump’s lawlessness

In the discussion of former President Donald Trump's disastrous Arlington National Cemetery visit, there is one important point that must be addressed. The use of the event for the former president's campaign is a violation of the law.

I respect the grieving families and extend my sympathies to them. They can express their grief by visiting the cemetery and can ask others to make the visit with them. They cannot grant permission to someone to violate the law.

A private visit would have been respectful and appropriate. However, by using the images in a political campaign, the Trump campaign violated the law. Campaign officials should have known better, having been told by a cemetery employee that they were not allowed to use the visit as a political event. Ignoring the rules prohibiting political activity on the sacred grounds does not reflect a "law and order" attitude. It reflects a danger signal of what has been done in violation of the law and what can be expected from Trump and his staff in the future.

Alan Rhine, Glenview

Shutting down an argument

In regards to recent comments made by reader Ben Ruiz claiming that the world's economy will "collapse" if Kamala Harris and more Democrats are elected, I've decided to use his comments as proof of how easy it is for people to believe extremist propaganda.

The world's economy did not collapse under FDR, JFK, LBJ, Bill Clinton or Barack Obama; and it would NOT collapse under President Harris.

End of argument.

Steve Herr, West Ridge