"The first casualty of war is the truth."
In our city's ongoing "war" against Canada geese, truth was indeed the first casualty and it continues to suffer daily assault even years after the first goose was rounded up and gassed.
Although most major media (shamefully) failed to cover the recent roundups and slaughters of more than 700 Canada geese from Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, those news outlets that did report on the carnage did so by mostly parroting USDA and political euphemisms such as "removals" and "euthanasia," but even more strikingly, presented entirely differing "facts."
Some articles claimed the geese were "gassed." Other pieces claimed the geese were "slaughtered" for food. And still others, seemingly seeking to avoid the question all together, wrongly reported the geese as "euthanized." -- a total misapplication of the term to describe either gassing or slaughter of healthy animals.
Frustrated and totally confused, I called Martin Lowney yesterday who is the New York State Director of USDA "Wildlife Services."
When pressed with the question of whether geese were gassed or slaughtered, Lowney answered repeatedly, "The geese were processed for food."
"What does that mean?" I insisted. "Why can't you answer simply whether the geese were gassed or slaughtered?"
"They were processed for food. The geese are food now."
"Does that mean they were slaughtered?"
"Why do you keep asking this question?" Lowney asked suspiciously. "What does it matter to you?"
"It matters in terms of animal suffering and cruelty." I answered. "I am a member of the public and we have the right to know the answer to a simple question regardless of the reason why."
"They were processed for food. That is all you need to know."
Frustrated, but still trying to get an answer, I switched tactic.
"Then, can you tell me why some of the media is reporting slaughter and others are reporting gassing, such as the New York Post who quotes Carol Bannerman?"
"They are probably using an old quote from her, maybe one from a couple of years ago," answered Lowney.
"The article is written in the present tense! How can they use an old quote like it is from today? Can journalists just make things up?"
"I have no control over what reporters do."
"Are you accusing the media of being misleading or incompetent?"
No answer.
"Can it be, Mr. Lowney that all of the press is incompetent if they keep making all these mistakes?"
"I can't answer that. I don't know. They publish what they want."
"Is that why they all seem to use the USDA euphemisms, 'removals and euthanasia', Mr. Lowney?
Again, no answer.
This was a completely frustrating conversation. After spending more than 45 minutes in combative dialogue (mostly on my part) with Martin Lowney, I still did not have an answer on whether the more than 700 doomed geese sent upstate to be "processed for food" were slaughtered or gassed.
But, instead of accepting any responsibility for these contradictions in media reporting or even answering a simple and direct question, Martin Lowney (and the rest of the USDA officials) consistently BLAME THE PRESS -- even if refusing to say directly in so many words.
Good luck to anyone (whether a member of the press or the public) seeking the truth in an undeclared "war" -- especially on Canada geese.
Whatever moral compasses existed in the orchestrators of this carnage and crime against wildlife were molded and "adjusted" years ago to accommodate and allow for the behaviors.
I believe that is called, "denial."
And so they will write intellectual and complex papers like EIS presenting detailed rationalizations for why the geese must be "removed."
But, ask them a simple question on exactly how the geese were "removed" and how they died and you will be sent on a "wild goose chase" to never, never land.
It is OK though as there is always the media to blame. -- PCA
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