“I appreciate Randy Wright’s censure of careless shooters who too often leave trash and fire in their wake. I object, however, to his own carelessness and insensitivity while comparing them to Neanderthals. Why is it that we are careful not to insult others within earshot but the moment they are gone–in this case, extinct–we feel no such reservation.

“The Neanderthal species died out about 30,000 years ago. Their adult brains were larger than those of modern human beings. They were also physically stronger and may have been the first proto-humans to sing. Some scholars propose that they had perfect pitch and, lacking the physical apparatus that would allow them to enunciate distinct sounds, they communicated by singing tones. Different tones, not different sounds, conveyed their thoughts. They buried their dead and seemed to have had a sense of awe that alerted them to the possibility of life after death.

“Mr. Wright might be interested to know that some of his ancestors were almost surely Neanderthal. This is not a putdown, just scientific fact. DNA studies indicate that early humans interbred with Neanderthals. As a consequence most people have a little bit of Neanderthal in them, and probably to their benefit. Neanderthals genes tend to confer physical strength and resistance to disease.

“With these facts in mind, I am hoping that Randy Wright will reconsider his attitude toward the Neanderthal species. An apology would not be inappropriate.” — Daoud Grandi