Angry letter day
I know I got up on the right side of the bed this morning, but for some reason I am angry and I am not going to take it anymore! Taking a page out of the book of fellow blogger Angryman, I decided to follow his advice on letters to the Editor, and let people know how I really feel.
First up, the Pembroke Daily Observer. For the most part, our local paper is really just a collection of wire stories and local human-interest pieces (today's front page headline was about someone getting a new wheelchair). But even local feel-good rags have opinion columns, and it turns out they can be pretty ill informed. Case in point: Ivy Stewart. A member of the "community Editorial Board", Ivy decided to write about the idea of equality, and totally missed the mark.
In the interest of not jeopardising my chances of my letter gracing the paper's pages, I have chosen not to reproduce it here until I know that I am or am not going to be published.
Second on the hit list, Sir Paul and his wife's interview on Larry King live. First, let me say this: Danny Williams, you the man! An aging hippy has no business telling you how to run your province's economy! Thank you for truly Standing Up for Canada. Mr. Harper, take note.
To Sir Paul: Could your wife be any less eloquent? If you don't believe me, check out the transcript of the interview. She sounds like a teenager. I mean, I know she's young, but can't you get her some elocution lessons or something?
And so, Saedigh's response went a little something like this:
Dear Mr. King,
When will celebrities learn that talent in one area (in the case of Sir Paul, music), does not necssarily translate to talent in another (politics)?
Canada's annual seal hunt is one part of a multi-faceted approach to the conservation of the North Atlantic's fish stocks. Fish stocks that have been raped by the irresponsible tactics of France, Spain, and Portugal, countries who do nothing to protect this resource.
I question Sir Paul's opinion of the commercial fishermen who participate in the hunt during their "off season". If he had ever visited a Newfoundland outport, he would realise that these communities can ill afford to turn down economic opportunity. Government handouts are not an option, nor should they be. Participating in a responsibly controlled hunt is not a blight on the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. If Sir Paul had bothered to educate himself on the other side of this issue by meeting with the sealers and their representatives, and not simply by digesting enviroterrorist propaganda, he would hopefully realise the error of his ways.
If he wants to lead a crusade against needless animal slaughter, he would do well to start at home in Europe, with the barbaric customs of fox hunting, badger baiting, and bull fighting: "sports" that make no use of the animals killed under far less humane circumstances.
Sincerely,
Saedigh
Now, I know that "enviroterrorist" comes off as harsh, but inflammatory can get results (in this case, publication). I do support green efforts, but I also realise that the human species has pushed the balance too far to have it be naturally restored through non-intervention. At this point, responsible management and conservation are the intelligent options. Cavorting with seal pups on ice flows is nothing more than a photo op.
Comments
I will admit I do not know everything on this subject, but I stopped listening to the McCarthneys when I read Heather's opinion of our "honourable" Prime Minister:
H. MCCARTNEY: We've heard that he's a very compassionate man and that he will, you know, find the right solution, you know, be behind this. You know, obviously he cares about what the voters think, what the people think, what he thinks individually and supporting the sealers at the same time.
COMPASSIONATE?!?! CARES WHAT THE VOTERS THINK?!? either she is confusing him for someone else or she is delusional! Maybe next time she comes to Canada the Customs people should check her bags more closely for drugs!
...on a personal note...who says "you know" 4 times in 2 sentences?
Posted by: Tulipe at March 4, 2006 03:22 PM
Your comments are right on the mark.Your Grandfather would be proud of you. Hope it gets published.
Posted by: Uncle Tom at March 6, 2006 09:27 AM