Where There's a Wind...
[Re "Carbon Quandary," October 9]: No one can deny that, whatever Vermont may or may not have, it has plenty of wind. So why isn't wind a bigger part of our energy discussion? The two most common objections, I believe, are that wind farms — or even single windmills — will spoil people's views and that birds will get killed. Let's grant the truth of those assertions.
However, millions, if not billions, of birds worldwide have been killed or had migrations disrupted by climate change — far more than wind farms could ever do.
As for people's views, for God's sake, grow up! What happened to the spirit of sacrifice? If we hadn't sacrificed during World War II, the Nazis might have won, with all too imaginable consequences. The stakes of climate inaction are the death of most life on the Earth. Get the picture?
Wind has great potential to help in a desperate time. Let's use it!
James Harvey
Burlington
'Pathetic Protest'
Thank you so much for the all-inclusive article on the mural "Everyone Loves a Parade!" ["American Vandal," October 23]. It was wonderful to get the background history of it and views and attitudes of all those involved. To engage in public art, one needs to consider many ramifications. The mural is art and the way we were in the '80s. If someone wants diversity, let them paint their own mural and go through the process.
I salute the mayor, police and Burlington City Arts executive director Doreen Kraft for all they did. Vandalism in any form is a pathetic protest.
Ruth Furman
Jericho
Move On
Where is the conflict between supporting those who see injury, harm or "erasure" in Burlington's "Everyone Loves a Parade!" marketplace mural and my belief in and support of free speech? "Book burning" or tearing down a mural I may disagree with? I can express that disagreement while standing right in front of the artwork I'm mentioning. No need to wall it off or hide it; I don't need a safe space to share my feelings about it.
The person who defaced the mural almost a year ago felt he needed to perform an act of vandalism. Dan Bolles wrote a Seven Days article ["American Vandal," October 23] that gave voice to those who see inequities in the mural. Bolles didn't seem to have a need to paint — or write — over public art. Many members of our community see positives in the mural as well.
The confluence of three actions should be an occasion to move forward with collaborative thinking about the future of this mural: the recently completed restoration of the mural damage supervised by Burlington City Arts; the Community Justice Center settling the vandalism case from a year ago; and new placards in Leahy Way, which clarify the evolving perception of the mural by the Burlington community.
Robert Kiernan
Burlington
Where Was Maier?
I deplore the tactics employed by Eric Maier and the amount of attention given to him by Seven Days ["American Vandal," October 23]. If he wanted his voice to be heard on the very important issue of what to do with the "Everyone Loves a Parade!" mural, he should have to come to one of our Mural Task Force meetings during the summer of 2018, all of which were open to the public. I do not recall him participating.
Brian Sullivan
South Burlington
Focus on Recovery
[Re "From the Heart," October 9]: Rather than publish all the heartrending tales of those who died as addicts, why not balance it with stories of those who kicked opioids — if there are any? This, like Alcoholics Anonymous' Big Book, would afford hope rather than terminal despair and offer some concrete guidance from real experts, instead of social workers with degrees.
Marion Ferguson
Florence
About Bernie
[Re Off Message: "Sanders Says Heart Attack Will 'Change the Nature of the Campaign,'" October 8]: Given President Donald Trump's descent into lunacy in recent weeks, his Democratic challenger's health in the 2020 presidential election is a real concern. I do not begrudge Sen. Bernie Sanders his desire to keep on campaigning for the nomination. He keeps on bringing issues to the table that other Democratic candidates have not and has been instrumental in shifting policy to the left in Democratic circles.
I do not plan to vote for him, however. I backed him in the 2016 primaries, and I sincerely doubt he will get the Democratic nomination this time around. It is still very early, but it appears that Sen. Elizabeth Warren or vice president Joe Biden will get the nomination. Neither of them is a spring chicken, either.
The key question Sanders' campaign needs to address is how they should advocate his vision and priorities, regardless of whether or not he gets the nomination. Depending on his health during the primaries, will he choose to go all the way until the convention or call it a day and endorse someone else? If he clinches the nomination, whom would he choose as a running mate?
These are important questions. In the latter case, he can use it as a talking point when confronted with these questions on his health. What kind of person is his ideal campaign partner to carry out Sanders' vision? If the worst happens, he needs someone to keep on the fight. My only advice: Be bold.
Dan Sanchez
Burlington
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