posted September 27, 2006
Mayor Ron Littlefield's plan to place kudzu-munching goats along Missionary Ridge has already cost the life of one faultless animal, and it's time this quasi-domesticated species no longer be placed at risk to allegedly benefit a municipality. How many goats have to die, mayor?
For centuries goats have provided milk, meat, hair and skin; they live on farms where they are cared for, receive proper veterinary care and are even loved as pets by thousands of families nationwide. They are not ripped from their natural habitat, the family farm, and placed in hostile, un-mendable surroundings at Caesar's will.
Indeed, every Chattanoogan has the blood of an innocent goat on their hands.
Although goats are well known to enjoy eating brush and virtually anything botanical, this trait should not be exploited by Mayor Littlefield. Only when he is willing to provide an infrastructure hospitable to goats and their safety should goats be released to clear kudzu.
Now Mayor Littlefield, after allowing the brutal butcher of a goat at the greedy paws of wild dog, proposes to add yet another fauna into the at-risk mix: a guard donkey.
A reasonable, thinking person would have the mayor establish Metropolitan Kudzu Management Zones. These territories of animal compassion would include humane fencing, climate controlled animal quarters, documented animal husbandry policies, regular veterinary oversight and 24/7 manned watchtowers to protect the goats as they provide their valuable services. While the expense for kudzu zones could run into the tens of millions, far exceeding the cost of other methods of kudzu removal, the reduction in danger and peril to these goats would be positive and heartwarming.
After all, aren't "positive" and "heartwarming" precisely the results we're looking for from government?
As a lifelong, far-left, Ninth Circuit-loving liberal, I am shocked and deeply saddened at the loss of this innocent goat – killed in the prime of its life by cruelty and animal hate that are the brutal cornerstone of mean-spirited conservative politics.
How many goats have to die, mayor?
Jason Walker
Ringgold
jwalker@wdodradio.com
Editor's Note: City officials said Wednesday the goat died of natural causes and was not attacked.
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I would like to personally commend Mr. Walker for his championing of goats' rights. As a Capricorn myself, I too feel a deep connection to these valiant creatures being exploited for our selfish desire to rid ourselves of the inconvenience of kudzu. As our political leaders have turned their backs on their horned constituents, it is left the rest of us to take the responsibility of the fearless guard donkey and defend our goats.
Should we not take into consideration the feelings of an animal which has
contributed so much to human civilization over the last 6,000 years? After all, some 70% of the world's population depends on goats' milk as a food source. These poor animals are being stripped of their birthright of enriching us with their precious bounty while acting as the kudzu recycling program which our county commissioners have ignored.
In addition to the Metropolitan Kudzu Management Zones recommended by Mr.
Walker, I propose an oversight group to see that these diligent kudzu
fighters, as well as all Chattanooga working animals receive the proper
treatment. The formation of the Chattanooga Regional Animal Protectors would be a vital tool in preserving the civil liberties of our weed-eating friends.
We must never forget the words of locally renowned civil rights leader June Griffith, when she said, "Goats are people too!"
Ross Roberson
rsrob76@hotmail.com
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Regarding the dead goat: who cares? I mean, really, it was a goat. Just a goat, and probably nobody’s mother, although DNA is tricky. Goats are nature’s land-based waste disposal/scavenger units, the catfish of the land.
The goat owner is being paid to provide a service in an environmentally friendly way. The goat died. It was a goat. Let me say again: it was a goat. Baaaah. Baaaah. (In goat language, that means, “I did indeed consent to eat kudzu and other brush to beautify the Chattanooga landscape, and I am glad to give my goat life to do it.”)
The idea of human-controlled goat protection areas (Metropolitan Kudzu Management Zones) is a great one. Maybe some of the people from the mayor’s outdoor homeless shelter at the old Farmer’s Market could make enough money for a pint of gin or a cup of coffee. Maybe the goats could help collect recyclable trash; they would probably eat it.
As a conservative, I am not sad that the goat gave its life for the improvement of those in Chattanooga. The goat did its duty. It’s all about the kudzu battle lines, and sacrifices must be made. Who cares about “heartwarming” and “positive”? Those are liberal watchwords, code for the Rainbow Alliance, National Education Association, and Harold Ford.
Kudzu is the terrorist weed of the city. It is important to keep goats on the forefront of weed warfare. Goats may have to die. Accept it. I bet Pat Roberts and Bob Corker didn’t worry about dead goats.
Apocalypse Goat. The horror…Does Mayor Littlefield owe the goat contractor a goat for the life that was lost?…The horror…where does it all end? Can Littlefield sleep after goaticide? The horror…Baaah…
Morgan Smith
ssmith704@comcast.net
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I am writing in response to Mr. Walker's opinion article on the horrific death of the poor defenseless goat. While I agree that something needs to be done to ease the suffering that these poor goats are enduring, I take offense with his accusation that its Mayor Littlefield's fault.
Mr. Walker calls himself a far-left liberal, well I am a far-far-left liberal. We all know who really is to blame. None other then George W. Bush. If it weren't for his misguided war in Iraq we would have troops at home to protect us from the dangers of kudzu instead of having to rely on goats. When a nation is so over-extended that we now have to draft farm animals to fight our battles, then we need to rethink foreign policies.
Another thing that people need to wake up about, if you don't think that Bush is controlling gas prices to his benefit then just consider the goats. If gas was still at $3 per gallon we would be driving much slower and would have more of a chance to see these horrible conditions that the goats are under. Good ol George W. doesn't want that so he made a few phone calls to his pals and viola, gas prices are down and we are driving so fast that we no longer can see the suffering taking place.
I say pull our troops out of Iraq now and redeploy them where they can do more good battling kudzu and let the poor goats go home.
Leo Smythers
Ringgold
gabike@charter.net
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Leo...
What are you talking about? Take our military and put them on Kudzu clean up duty? Let me know that what you are saying is correct so that I can assure myself that I have not lost my mind. I was in the army and let me tell you that if you were in Iraq and could see the faces, the tears, of hundreds of children that come up to you thanking you and hugging you for setting them free... you would give up this selfishness that you hold so dear to your heart.
Quit hanging around over in the "far left" sideline and come on out on the "reality" field and play ball. There's plenty of room.
Morgan Smith said it the first time, but for those of you in the cheap seats I'll say it again, "It was a goat.” Quit worrying about the goat and go see if you do something more important with your time, like go find someone homeless and offer them something hot to eat, or something else that has a legitimate impact on our well being. Anything!
See the problem is that you folks over on the far far left have blinders on. There was a problem, and your Democrat mayor has figured out a way to solve it. But, let’s be real right? He should have set aside $40,000,000 to make sure that the goats are treated better than humans. At least that's the way I see you viewing it. We have a kudzu problem, the problem is being handled. Relax, you'll live longer.
Please quit trying to view the world through blinders and come on over to reality. Quit trying to do whatever the far far left liberals are doing by trying to better their party and not doing what is best for Chattanooga and the country. Please look at your priorities once again, please.
By the way I am a Democrat, but a Democrat who has common sense and cares for his country and not trying to destroy it.
Charles Mann
infantry5545@hotmail.com
Chattanooga
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Thank you, Jason Walker, for one of the funniest opinions that I have read in years. It made me laugh out loud.
The follow up opinions were also a hoot.
Now how about something on a 700-mile border fence.
Jerry Fine
Chattanooga
acehighstraight@hotmail.com
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The opinion about the goats is completely irrelevant to rationality. Yes, a goat died. Yes, I am sad to see animals die because of strange uses by humans. There are many other ways to get rid of kudzu without endangering the lives of goats. It amuses me to even type that.
If Mayor Littlefield will not go find the other ways, then goats are all we have apparently and we should recognize that maybe goats could also save lives of humans who could die in kudzu.
By the way, I do not have blood on my hands for the dead goat. It was not my idea and I am not responsible for someone else's goat. Go be dramatic somewhere else. Also, to create these zones for goats, who is going to pay for it? I am certainly not willing to allow my money to go pay for something that's completely ridiculous. The goat died and I am sorry for the loss of said goat. I'm not spending money on idea that is rather pointless when there are other suitable alternatives than endangering animal lives.
In response to Leo Smyther's ridiculous comment, President Bush cannot control gas prices. I repeat, President Bush cannot control gas prices. Bush does not work the economy and how it functions. He cannot do anything to control the market. He cannot go about making phone calls to say "higher it" or "lower it." If you believe this then you really need to take hundreds of courses on how the economy works. There are constant changes in the economy which influence prices. Bush does not control anything whatsoever with the prices of gas. Please, remove your head from the hole in the ground and wake up. You are not even taking in account the problems that the U.S. was hit with to cause gas prices to go up. It ranges from Hurricane Katina to refineries that were having problems. These things attribute to gas prices going up and down. Bush has no control. Prices are based on the market. Not on some guy picking up a phone and saying "do this."
Tyler Hamilton
Chattanooga
DanteAzrael@hotmail.com
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