November is around the corner. Hopefully, we can get the message out to people of compassion that Issue 2 in Ohio is NOT like Proposition 2 in California which passed in November.

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Three voices on Ohio's "Issue 2." Don't be lulled into thinking this is anything like California's Proposition 2. The issues are polls apart. California's Proposition 2 is a compassionate endeavor. Ohio's is not. Please read the remarks of 3 voices: HSUS Dean Vickers whose letter to the editor appeared in the Cleveland Plain Dealer (09/23/09), the incredible comment re it from someone who claims to be in animal rights, and my letter to the PD which was just sent this day - (9/25).

Dean Vickers' Letter - VOTE NO ON OHIO ISSUE 2

"At the same time that a growing movement is bolstering local, more sustainable farms, Ohio's Big Ag interests are pushing a measure to thwart meaningful reform of the state's factory farms ("Local-food advocates point out hidden costs in groceries," Sunday).

In November, Ohioans will vote on Issue 2, which is little more than a Big Ag power grab designed to benefit massive factory farms, not family farms. The Humane Society of the United States, the Ohio Farmers Union, the Ohio
Environmental Stewardship Alliance and the Ohio Sierra Club, as well as editorial boards of Ohio's major newspapers, oppose Issue 2.

Issue 2 would probably enshrine the ag lobby's favored oversight system into the state's Constitution. Surely, Ohioans and the state's farm animals deserve better than a blatant handout to factory farms."

In my opinion, Vickers states the case simply and well. I than read with incredulity the comment of Summer Kelley -mostly because she says she is a proponent of "animals rights" and "fair treatment." (I guess fair treatment
should have sent up red flags.) We are not looking for "fair" treatment - whatever that means. We are looking for HUMANE TREATMENT.

You decide whether or not her self-assessment of being an animal rights proponent holds up to scrutiny:

"Mr. Vickers, I can't help but point out that while you took a shot at "Ohio's Big Ag interests," HSUS is even worse -- "Big Washington interest." Your organization has no business dictating to the people who know Ohio's industry best. What your organization has proposed will almost certainly put FAMILY FARMS OUT OF BUSINESSES through more mandates and restrictions that many small farms couldn't possible meet.

Issue 2 is SUPPORTED by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, the Ohio Pork Producers Council, the Ohio Poultry Association, the Ohio Dairy Producers Association, the Ohio Cattlemen's Association, the Ohio Soybean Association
and the Ohio Corn Growers Association. Our farmers themselves support Issue 2. I personally am not a farmer, and I am actually a proponent of animals rights and fair treatment. However, I fully support keeping control over this
industry within the hands of Ohioans. And mandates (or lack thereof) on our #1 industry will come from farmers in Ohio, NOT from a special interest group."

Really, my mouth dropped when I read this from a purported "animal rights" person.  I hope we don't have any more like her in the movement. For anyone who knows anything about CAFOs (Confined Animal Farm Operations) to believe that animals are being fairly treated is either very obtuse or woefully ignorant. And then calling HSUS "A Big Washington Interest" without any clarification and justifying remarks made me doubt that anything she says has much credibility. She also mentioned the names of Big Ag who support Issue 2. That's hardly a surprise and should
send up more red flags. Certainly, they want control over farming interests - but the question remains - will it be good for our farm animals? It certainly hasn't been thus far.

I knew that I had to respond in some way and here is my letter to the Cleveland Plain Dealer editor:

I was very happy that Dean Vickers of HSUS reminded Ohioans in his letter to the editor (9/23/09) to vote NO on Issue 2, which he describes as a big power grab by big Agricultural interests designed to benefit massive factary farms- not family farms. How sad that we in Ohio do not have legislators as those in California who introduced Proposition 2 which would require reforms in the way their farm animals are raised and treated. The compassionate people of California agreed and approved Proposition 2 in November. What joy for the people who REALLY care about animal suffering!

Is it by coincidence that the Ohio legislature has called their bill Issue 2? But oh such a great difference. The California legislature's bill sought to help the cruelly confined farm animals which Big Ag claim is humane. I would like the proponents of these CAFOs (Confined Animal Farm Operations) to try to imagine what it is like to be confined in gestation crates where pigs can't even turn around. What about the poor cows in huge dairy factory farms where they have no life of their own- simply reduced to milking machines. There is no interaction with bulls; they are never out grazing in a meadow any more; and their boy calves are wrested from them from birth. Please God, I pray that the horrible veal crates of the past are not still being used where these little calves cannot even turn around for the months they are confined before slaughter.

If you want this cruelty to remain - vote yes on Issue 2. If you do not want a power grab by Big Ag then vote NO on Issue 2.

I hope that Ohioans will not disappoint this November as they did some years ago when the issue of protecting the Mourning Dove was voted down. Those who wanted to take pot shots at these peaceful birds of the sky flooded the TV airwaves with an inane warning that people who want to protect the Mourning Dove will succeed in depriving Ohioans of eating meat. Sound off the wall to you? It did to me. Were they saying that hunters could no longer enjoy the succulent "meat" of this relatively tiny bird? I really don't know - but it worked. Maybe Ohio has more than its share of hunters and rifle enthusiasts. Whatever - the peaceful Mourning Dove is no longer protected in Ohio.

Ohioans - I hope we are more intelligent today. People like Dean Vickers have no vested interests in Ohio except to help make it a more humane and caring state.  I thank him, HSUS, as well as Farm Sanctuary who has also written on this subject asking Ohioans to Vote NO on Issue 2. A yes vote will only benefit Big Ag and will do nothing to change the horrible conditions of our farm animals in the large, airless factory farms where they really don't have a life. They merely subsist for our gastronomical pleasures, though -thankfully many of us don't either eat
their flesh or their products. I wonder if Kelley is one of us?

As I finished my first draft, I took a break and looked at the incoming e-mails.  What a delightful surprise. I had told my friends that I couldn't respond to Kelley's comment which had riled me because I kept getting an invalid login
message. I was using the same login as always. However, I think this was providential because my friend from Alabama who is a prolific writer and someone who is REALLY committed to animal concerns was able to log on.
Here is her excellent reply to Kelley:

Posted by Earthling3 on Sept. 25, 2009:

"Summerkelley - Obviously, you have bought into the scare tactics of the animal exploiters who you so foolishly support and praise, which denies millions of animals the simple right to live before they are brutally slaughtered. Before that - they merely exist in misery, torment, and force- fed chemical steroid growth hormones, consigned to factory farms, never to touch or feel the earth, nurture their young or know one moment of a natural life - all for the profit of all the animal exploitors you list in your comment. People like you who profess to be a proponent of animal rights and fair treatment are hopelessly useless in fighting for humane and compassionate treatment of animals. Furthermore, you must also be terribly ignorant of the true extent of suffering inflicted upon every creature
imprisoned in industrial animal production/transport/slaughter. "Family Farms" you say? You must be kidding. These are giant factories wherein animals are nothing more than commodities whose treatment and welfare are the last issue on the minds of profit-driven animal enterprises you defend."

Thank you so much Sandra. You are indeed a true voice for the voiceless. I also believe that the Ohioans who will say NO to Issue 2 in November belong to this same august group as well.

Authors Bio:
I have been concerned about animal suffering ever since

I received my first puppy Peaches in 1975. She made me take a good look at the animal kingdom and I was shocked to see how badly we treat so many animals. At 77, I've been a vegan for the past 30 years and I thank God every day that I am. I am most disturbed at how little the Catholic Church and Christian churches generally give to concern re animal suffering in their ministry. I wrote to 350 bishops in 2001 and only 10-13 responded. I feel that the very least they can do is to instruct that the priests give one sermon a year on compassion to animals. I am still waiting for that sermon. I also belong to Catholic Concern for Animals - founded in England in 1929. (They are on the internet) I recently sent a sample copy of their bi-monthly publication called the ARK to the 8 Catholic bishops of Ohio. Only ONE kindly responded. Somehow we have to reach the Christian teaching magisterium. There is next to nothing re animal concerns and compassion for them. They basically believe that animals are the lesser of God's creation and that gives us the right to do anything we want to them. Way wrong. We need to change their mindsets. The animals are God's first and He expects us to treat them compassionately.