Exactly what argument Mr. Godbout is trying to make in his editorial, "Ideology over Science" when it refers to keeping whales and dolphins in captivity is confusing at best.
Ideology according to the Oxford dictionary is, "basis of some economic or political theory or system". In simple dictionary terms science is, "systematic & formulated knowledge (moral, political, natural).
To compare politicians' ideologies to the argument Mayor Robertson has re the Vancouver Aquarium keeping whales and dolphins hostage for our purposes obfuscates the issue.
Does one believe intelligent fellow beings should be incarcerated, regardless of how nice the cage, to serve our purposes?
Our formulated science/knowledge of whales and dolphins clearly tells us that they are highly intelligent, form families, have children and live "naturally" in open oceans.
The moral equation of our scientific knowledge is that captivity for these beings is cruel. It doesn't matter what self-serving rationale we use to justify it.
Jeannette Paterson
Prince George
