Quote:
Thanks for that information. I had no idea where the term came from, only that it was used in a derogatory way, unfairly. Obviously I know no one who lives that type of life - and the only 'experience' [for the want of a better word] that I have was watching a comedy TV show about the Beverly Hillbillies back in the 60s and early 70s. I loved that show - and although it illustrated the naivety of the characters, at the time I never realised that people like them would be the subject of ridicule in real life.
Yes, I do teach about air miles traveled by the foods that we eat. It is important that my students understand where our food comes from. Yes, they know how vegetables grow - because I teach them how to grow them. Yes they know where meat comes from - because I teach them farm studies on a real farm, with real farm animals. I draw the line, though, at taking them to see animals being slaughtered - though they do know how and why it is done. You all think that I am biased but I disagree. I merely have different experiences and background to you, and therefore think and know different things. I make no judgment about who is right or wrong. When teaching, I am very careful not to put my personal opinions on to my students. My job is to inform. To give facts, so that they are able to make up their own minds and have their own judgments. On this forum, I'am not in my teaching role. I am here to voice my own opinions, just as you voice yours. I am interested in what you have to say, and I read carefully, your comments.
Thanks for that information. I had no idea where the term came from, only that it was used in a derogatory way, unfairly. Obviously I know no one who lives that type of life - and the only 'experience' [for the want of a better word] that I have was watching a comedy TV show about the Beverly Hillbillies back in the 60s and early 70s. I loved that show - and although it illustrated the naivety of the characters, at the time I never realised that people like them would be the subject of ridicule in real life.
Yes, I do teach about air miles traveled by the foods that we eat. It is important that my students understand where our food comes from. Yes, they know how vegetables grow - because I teach them how to grow them. Yes they know where meat comes from - because I teach them farm studies on a real farm, with real farm animals. I draw the line, though, at taking them to see animals being slaughtered - though they do know how and why it is done. You all think that I am biased but I disagree. I merely have different experiences and background to you, and therefore think and know different things. I make no judgment about who is right or wrong. When teaching, I am very careful not to put my personal opinions on to my students. My job is to inform. To give facts, so that they are able to make up their own minds and have their own judgments. On this forum, I'am not in my teaching role. I am here to voice my own opinions, just as you voice yours. I am interested in what you have to say, and I read carefully, your comments.
You look down on hunting, and have absolutely zero idea of what it entails
I fully understand the assumption, from reading my posts, that I have never hunted. This is not true. I have been on a hunt - but not like the deer hunting expeditions that you go on. I have been fox hunting, years ago, before fox hunting was banned. I only went once. My cousin took me and I went because i wanted to see what it was like, and I knew that this particular hunt had such a poor success rate, it was very unlikely to end in a kill. I had no idea that a fox hunt took all day, and it nearly killed me! I can't tell you how painful my rear end and knees were!!! No, we did not catch any fox - but it was fun riding around the countryside for the first couple of hours or so.
I fully understand the assumption, from reading my posts, that I have never hunted. This is not true. I have been on a hunt - but not like the deer hunting expeditions that you go on. I have been fox hunting, years ago, before fox hunting was banned. I only went once. My cousin took me and I went because i wanted to see what it was like, and I knew that this particular hunt had such a poor success rate, it was very unlikely to end in a kill. I had no idea that a fox hunt took all day, and it nearly killed me! I can't tell you how painful my rear end and knees were!!! No, we did not catch any fox - but it was fun riding around the countryside for the first couple of hours or so.
Just what are you suggesting? Only government agencies should be allowed to dispatch animals??
Well, yes, why not? [impis ducks the verbal missiles being flung in this direction]
I give you pass after reading about your "manflu"
To further illustrate our differences in what is acceptable or not...when I was in school, starting in 8th or 9th grade (can't remember), one of the classes available was our ag class (FFA). We didn't visit farms - we had one on school property where we raised chickens and pigs. The big difference was that we DID go to take them to slaughter - and we DID get put to work on the line, usually plucking pin feathers for the chickens. The school still has this class, in addition, some of the farmland next to the school was donated, so they plant a few acres of crops as well. I know of no issue wrong with this - heck, most of us already knew the process, as our families processed our own chickens, ducks, pigs and cattle. The only difference was the setting. There is a vast gulf between "knowing" and "doing".
Foxhunting on horseback is nowhere similar to actual hunting on foot or in a stand. (We do have "foxhunting" in the US, but now it's more of riding like banshees through the countryside with hounds, no foxes really, sometimes a drag trail). Actual hunting involves reading animal sign, woodlore, awareness and a whole heap of being in the right place in the right time. I put hundreds of hours in the woods each year, and an actual kill is a very low percentage of that. I've already gotten a few hundred in this season, and I'm yet to kill a deer (while my husband has gotten three so far, bugger!) I did get a turkey this year, and a few ducks.
As for letting the government dispatch everything - to what purpose? Fill landfills? I'd also suggest reading about the Pittman-Robertson Act - in short it is a program that places a levy on hunting licenses and hunting supplies - the funds of which then go to the states for use in land and wildlife conservation. Without hunters and their expenses, milllions of dollars and acres would be lost - which would mean no more wildlife or wild land. Here's a link about it that is a quick read: http://www.fws.gov/southeast/federalaid/pittmanrobertson.html
It's not that we don't get challenged often - it's a daily occurrence. For each person that finally understands our point, 10 more line up with the same ill informed arguments. The same stories are repeated. The same understanding finally occurs....only to have 10 more show up with the same arguments. The only thing that changes is the vitriol.
Why keep up with it? Because we know what we are doing is right and natural, and we wish to protect our way of life. Educating others that we aren't bloodthirsty brutes is the only way we will be able to continue providing for ourselves and continue to spend our time outdoors in the wild places. Once those places are gone, they are gone forever.
Well, yes, why not? [impis ducks the verbal missiles being flung in this direction]
You never responded to me questioning your comment that nothing is funny in your food???
Well, actually, yes, i did! I stated that we had learned the lessons of the past and crap was no longer allowed to be fed to our animals. We don't even caponise chickens any more.
Thank you all for putting up with this particularly irritating Brit - I don't' suppose you get challenged on this very often - probably not at all. But it is always useful to reflect on our actions, don't you think? I hope i have not offended anyone too deeply. I have tried to keep things light - but am aware that this may be something some of you are prickly about.
Well, actually, yes, i did! I stated that we had learned the lessons of the past and crap was no longer allowed to be fed to our animals. We don't even caponise chickens any more.
Thank you all for putting up with this particularly irritating Brit - I don't' suppose you get challenged on this very often - probably not at all. But it is always useful to reflect on our actions, don't you think? I hope i have not offended anyone too deeply. I have tried to keep things light - but am aware that this may be something some of you are prickly about.
I give you pass after reading about your "manflu"
To further illustrate our differences in what is acceptable or not...when I was in school, starting in 8th or 9th grade (can't remember), one of the classes available was our ag class (FFA). We didn't visit farms - we had one on school property where we raised chickens and pigs. The big difference was that we DID go to take them to slaughter - and we DID get put to work on the line, usually plucking pin feathers for the chickens. The school still has this class, in addition, some of the farmland next to the school was donated, so they plant a few acres of crops as well. I know of no issue wrong with this - heck, most of us already knew the process, as our families processed our own chickens, ducks, pigs and cattle. The only difference was the setting. There is a vast gulf between "knowing" and "doing".
Foxhunting on horseback is nowhere similar to actual hunting on foot or in a stand. (We do have "foxhunting" in the US, but now it's more of riding like banshees through the countryside with hounds, no foxes really, sometimes a drag trail). Actual hunting involves reading animal sign, woodlore, awareness and a whole heap of being in the right place in the right time. I put hundreds of hours in the woods each year, and an actual kill is a very low percentage of that. I've already gotten a few hundred in this season, and I'm yet to kill a deer (while my husband has gotten three so far, bugger!) I did get a turkey this year, and a few ducks.
As for letting the government dispatch everything - to what purpose? Fill landfills? I'd also suggest reading about the Pittman-Robertson Act - in short it is a program that places a levy on hunting licenses and hunting supplies - the funds of which then go to the states for use in land and wildlife conservation. Without hunters and their expenses, milllions of dollars and acres would be lost - which would mean no more wildlife or wild land. Here's a link about it that is a quick read: http://www.fws.gov/southeast/federalaid/pittmanrobertson.html
It's not that we don't get challenged often - it's a daily occurrence. For each person that finally understands our point, 10 more line up with the same ill informed arguments. The same stories are repeated. The same understanding finally occurs....only to have 10 more show up with the same arguments. The only thing that changes is the vitriol.
