OPINIONS & COMMENTARY Beached Whales, False Balance, And Borrowed Environmentalism

It’s impossible that photos of magnificent, beautiful whales lying dead on beaches couldn’t elicit strong emotional reactions from those who view them. Stories that carry sadness and anger are far more likely to be shared with others, and everyone can agree that no one wants tragedies like this to happen: the whales need to be helped at all costs. But it is extremely important we don’t allow our emotional reactions to dictate our decisions. We should separate feelings from facts.

In much of the coverage

I’ve read, there’s mention of some environmental groups who are demanding an immediate halt of off- shore wind development, and other environmental groups who support the development with no stops because there’s no evidence of it causing the deaths. What I haven’t read a lot of is about the quantity of groups on both sides. I find it incredibly admirable to see journalists give both sides of an issue an equal voice to present neutral coverage without bias, especially for political and community issues. With scientific issues however, facts must be proven. Although it hurts to see this issue happening right on our own shores, I believe most could agree that the majority of people reading on the current topic aren’t professionally trained biologists, bioacousticians or whale experts. Neither are the journalists. Politicians and the fossil fuel industry bank on this, because public misunderstanding leads to doubting the facts.

While I have no doubt that the few environmental groups who are against the offshore development have the best of intentions and already do so much for the whales, it’s important to note the quantity of environmental groups who ARE for the offshore wind development with no stops: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Marine Mammal Commission, Clean Water Action, Environment New Jersey, The Sierra Club, New Jersey Audubon are just some…and many of these organizations link to their open letter of support of ongoing development, with proof and explanation of why the surveying isn’t harmful, on their websites or social media. There has been NO proof by the opposing side that the surveys hurt the whales, and all the proof that there are already known killers to whales (climate change, vessel strikes, plastic and entanglement). Research shows that seismic blasting, which goes kilometers into the ocean floor, kills marine life - that’s used by the Navy and oil boats. What’s being used right now for the wind development uses geophysical survey (all sonar, no air gun, only goes a few hundred meters), is emitted in short pulses, and isn’t even audible

Letters To The Editor

In the recent craziness surrounding the state’s new sex education policy, some parents are deciding to take matters into their own hands. This is one of those things you should leave to the professionals. The parents want to be the ones to tell their children about sensitive materials. I can get behind this in theory. But there’s a difference between theory and reality. The reality is, they won’t really do it. They’ll say they want to have these conversations, but they really won’t. The kids will make it to adulthood without ever knowing things because the parents don’t want their kids to know about sex.

Well guess what? Sexual assault happens to young kids, and if you don’t teach your kids that certain touching is bad they might never know. The world is a scary place and parents trying to protect children from this scary place are just helping them become victims. The parents decided thought they knew more than the teachers.

Everyone in the world who has ever gotten “the talk” knows just how awkward and bad it is. Parents don’t know what to say and they don’t tell you everything you really need to know. Some people never even get “the talk.”

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Imagine if everything you ever learned about sex came from your parents? It’s a hilarious thought but that’s exactly what’s going on all around us. Because the politicians and parents are too scared to have icky conversations or acknowledge that gay people exist, generations of kids are going to grow up without knowing anything more than the basics of sex ed. Does the average parent know about all of the sexually transmitted diseases? How they represent? How to treat them? Do they know how to teach children about sexual violence and bad relationships? Maybe, but are they going to teach them anything other than abstinence? Do they know enough about biology to be able to tell their kids what’s really happening in their bodies? What are they going to do if their child feels different than others? If the parent is against schools even acknowledging that there’s such a thing as homosexuality than they probably will treat their gay kid horribly. Their gay kid will probably keep it a secret, and move out the first chance they get.

Parents shouldn’t protect their kids so much that they become soft and stupid. These same parents are going to be the ones complaining that kids by some marine species.

Science isn’t a popularity contest or mere difference of opinion: science is based on evidence. To support a viewpoint with no evidence due to how badly we want to not kill anymore whales is deeply misguided and dangerous. Whale deaths have been on the rise for 7 years. Why would certain politicians, who are the greatest recipients of oil and gas companies’ lobbying expenditures, only start caring about the whales exactly when the offshore development started? The rise in whale deaths has been going on since 2016.

As just another whale-lover whose not a scientist and invested in this ongoing issue, I wholeheartedly believe read- ers expressing their pleas of stopping the development have the best of intentions. Clean energy is not something the public should be driven against. Deploying low-carbon energy sources like offshore wind combats global warming: a proven threat to whales. What would be really sad is allowing more harm to whales and other marine life due to emotional reactions, misinformation, and believing politicians who are using environmentalism for their personal gain over scientists who genuinely care.

Sara Zorns Layout Designer

aren’t tough enough.

Melanie Dwyer Toms River

Central’s Reputation Hurt By Media

I just wanted to thank you for your most recent editorial (“When The Media Descended On Central Regional” on March 4) about the vicious public attack (fueled by the media) on Central Regional. The reputation of that school has been unfairly damaged by what many would consider INCREDIBLY irresponsible reporting and journalism.

After this recent string of events, I am now very hesitant to believe just about ANYTHING I read online or through the local news outlets. It was a breath of fresh air to finally read something that MADE SENSE and that acknowledges the fact that there is a LOT missing from the original story. It is heavily one sided and completely void of many facts, much background, and a ton of details. Your article may never be able to repair the damage that has been done to that school district but I thank you for the article and its intent nonetheless.

Name Withheld Ocean County

Let All The Generations

Unite

Are generation gaps naturally divisive, or are they nurtured to achieve a more nefarious goal?

There are seven living generations in America. I’ve come to the conclusion that naming of generations has meaning and seems to be subtly demeaning for each subsequent generation. The Greatest speaks for itself having vaulted the USA to the world’s first super power, its status unchallenged.

Next comes the Silent generation forever in the shadows but having reaped the most benefit America has enjoyed. They were followed by the Baby Boomers who broke the mold becoming the original radicals challenging the establishment, and sparked the sexual revolution. For all their differences these generations all maintained an America first mentality and work ethic.

Then come the X,Y,Z generations as though in a countdown to chaos. The Gen Xers came in under the shadow of the Boomers yet still maintained the patriot fervor and work ethic even as the China factor emerged. Next are the Y/Millennials, the original entitled “me generation,” many of whom have adopted the mentality the world somehow owes them a living without sacrifice. The Zers are the first lost generation, with the last in the alphabet status, without a catchy name they seem mired in hopelessness with studies showing 75% of them feeling they have been handed a raw deal, the last vestige of American exceptionalism, as globalism looms. Lastly are the Alphas, yet to come of age but are being indoctrinated and primed to adopt the New World Order of so called Democratic Socialism as if such a thing can even exist.

Seven generations living in a precarious harmony. Liberty has been the common thread yet is in mortal danger. The New World Order has gained much power during this era, with deceitful definitions of safety and freedom through equity and claims of promoting the “general welfare.”

Power derived through division of the populace has been the method of socialism through the ages, always resulting in violence and death of the innocent. 247 years ago America made a 5,000 year leap away from the oligarchies toward individual liberty. We must resolve our differences to reignite the brush fires of freedom as one Greatest Generation, resolute in saving our American culture and in turn humanity.

James M. Spickard Little Egg Harbor

TRENTON – The Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee approved legislation (S-171) introduced by Senator Christopher Connors that would permit a portion of municipal development trust funds to be spent on housing affordability assistance to veterans.

Assemblyman Brian Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove are the prime sponsors of the Assembly companion version,