The PDN ran a column (5/25/04) by Chuck Owens which engaged in the fantasy of
what would happen if the Makah were allowed to harvest all the whales they wanted
to. The purpose of this article escapes me. It seems to ignore the fact that whales
are subject to an international commission and that commission has allowed the
Makah just five animals. Furthermore, after several years of hunting the tribe managed
to kill just ONE.
 

After they killed that one, Mr. Owens and his friends threw a hissy fit and hired some
lawyers to put a stop to the Makah's whaling. What's missing in this story?
 

1- The Makah were guaranteed by a treaty with the US government that they could
    continue to take whales for their own use. That treaty had another significant provision
    - that they would give up any claim to a very large chunk of Peninsula real estate.
    Since we are engaging in "What if", suppose one morning a bunch of Makahs arrive
    at the Owens home and announce that since the government has abrogated the
    treaty, they want their land back, so "pack up your stuff and git"??? What would
    Mr. Owens' attitude toward the treaty be then? I have a hunch it would suddenly
    have a marvelous reversal.
 

2- Indians of various tribes have decimated the elk population. Yet, I don't hear
    any protest about that from "animal rights activists".  Various tribes insist they
    have a right to hunt at whatever time of year suits them and they also have a right
    to take salmon with nets - - nets that in many cases almost block rivers. I don't
    hear anything from the ARAs about that either.
 

    I ask the question: What rule, natural or man-made, makes whales and wolves and
    cougars SACRED, yet it doesn't apply to deer and elk? When I got the PDN to print
    a cut-down version of my letter asking this question, I got no answers from anybody.

    JMC

    Tell us what you think about this situation

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    News:  June 9 PDN reveals that the predictably left leaning 9th circuit court has re-affirmed their ban on whaling.
    What would the crazies do without the ninth circuit court?