Whale Mail

Whoa, I didn’t know that killing a whale (“To Catch a Whale,” by John Balzar, July 24) was “pagan ritualized murder” (Letters, Aug. 21). And is circumcising a baby sanctified torture/mutilation? And eating a hamburger cannibalistic bovine genocide?

I thought we were past the days when we labeled Christianity, Judaism, etc., the “true” religions and all other belief systems inferior or pagan. Many indigenous people fervently believe that they are participating in, and even perpetuating, the cycle of life by sacrificing animals. And they have a distinctly better track record of preserving nature than we do.

Robert Schmidt

Culver City

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One letter writer couldn’t understand why Eskimos with TVs and electric shavers would want to kill whales. Well, perhaps in the same way the writer’s life consists of freeway commuting and learning her jargon from the L.A. Speak section of Palm Latitudes. Whale hunting, in some small way, defines who these people are.

A lesson in common sense is needed here: The rest of the world doesn’t revolve around or depend for its survival on the latest news about fashion trends or “The Industry.” Some people can’t accept that and are quick to talk out of turn.

If S. Irene Virbila were to sample muktuk and comment approvingly on its piquancy, all these conscientious objectors would probably schlep down to some trendy Westside eatery to share the experience.

One can learn some lessons by reading, but smug, self-righteous indignation will only change through true experience.

Ed Federoff

West Hills

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Letter-writer Sarah Goldthwait seems to think that there is something wrong with “people who are trying to get in touch with their whaling roots while answering cellular phones, watching TV and listening to the radio.”

Does she believe that modern gadgets are somehow incompatible with cultural roots? In that case, European Americans, whose culture goes back to ancient Mesopotamia, Israel, Greece and Rome (none of which had electronic gizmos), also should eschew such conveniences.

Katherina Smith

Canoga Park