Whilst we ever continue to use words like "Barbaric" to describe anothers pursuit,a pursuit that has been enjoyed by a large number of people through Generations! then we lose the right to complain,if the majority disagree with OUR chosen sport and genuinely see it as Barbaric themselves and decide to vote for a ban against it,
Ole Newt is chuckling away with his German quotation, because he knows how passionately I loathe the situation in Germany, Where, because of their particular mentality, they have brought in as a COMPROMISE in Power sharing, the catch for food only laws, that are ludicrous, unscientific, but a sop and trade off to the Green and AR parties over there.
Like Newt says, Yes we will definitely LOSE if Anglers do not speak with 1 voice, AND you cannot be divisive within your own discipline! so like it or not, by supporting the live bait ban in Cumbria, your precious conscience sop that you are a 'kind' Angler, will mean that you will have agreed to the 1st of many bans to come (By the way, it's still a choice for others to livebait if they wish. It's NOT COMPULSORY, banning is NO choice)
Until finally you are left saying 'I never thought they would go that far'
Furthermore, I have no problem in supporting the RETENTION of Fox Hunting personally. In my opinion , repeat IMHO ,being the product of an East Anglian farming Community (NO fox hunting in my area, arable farm land to valuable to allow the horses to gallop across grain fields),I have helped Shoot and set traps near hen-houses,for the Vermin (Classified) that is the truth of the pretty red 'Brer' Fox.
The fox is an animal in which nature has installed a 'blood lust' factor and if it has the opportunity, it will destroy all it can, far more than it can possibly eat! in a killing frenzy.
However, it does not DESERVE the cruelty that WILL be inflicted on it if hunting is banned.
This cruelty will be from farmers shooting at it with inadequete weapons , using cartridges intended for small crows/game birds etc, slow poisoning from laced food.
Tethered in traps , it will face the old choice of biting its leg off, or starving and many other tribulations caused by its new found 'Protection'
It should be patently obvious to people that the newly formed pact between the ACA for Anglers and the Countryside Alliance is simply , because of the insidious bans that are cleverly being imposed by this Government,not because the majority of Anglers support hunting! and do not PLEASE dismiss the live-bait ban as insignificant.
This 'small ban' is the MOST important of all, designed to act as a test on Anglers Unity, as we are by far the biggest of the field sports lobby (and sadly , the most complacent, divided, self centred and uninformed)
Consider, Blair promised to ban fox hunting back in '97 , He hasn't, (Bill read out of Parliament)
He has been criticised over Foot & Mouth and loss of Tourism in hard hit areas like the Lake District!
So, How can he possibly vote for a livebaiting ban in that area, that will further hit Tourism?
Because a bigger deal is on the cards.
Ducking under the issue directly, He has influenced poor little Scotland to take on the 'hot potato'.So Scotland have passed the law banning fox-hunting.
It is being challenged already by the Countryside Alliance in the European Parliament under the 'Contravention of Human Rights', but I cannot hold out much hope there in light of the European situation1 The Jackboot mentality loves stopping people doing what they want.
But, if it gets immediately thrown out and the ban upheld, watch our Bambi move quickly then and of course , Don't be surprised if Scotlands part of the deal is something we in England wouldnt have thought our PM would ever have agreed too!
Similarly, WHEN Angling becomes the last field sport to be banned, the trade off in Britains (or TBs) favour from the European Greens, may be quite a surprise!
If these cynical Politicians , regularly swallow their principals, to vote for something that they personally do not agree with , isnt it time WE started to COMPROMISE ourselves to maintain the Greater prize of freedom for Anglers in Britain!
Can you happily look at your Grandchild and say
'Well yes, I went along and voted to ban fox hunting, more because I hate Hoo-Rah Henry's and because I'm envious of their money and even because I get satisfaction out of stopping people I dislike doing something they want even though it never affected me!!! So that is why you can't go fishing any more!'
So, If you feel the Sport that doesn't happen to suit your taste, or you cant afford,or you'd love to see squashed out of the pleasure you get from spoiling other peoples pursuits, vote to ban it.
OR Join it and try and influence changes for the better by working inside it. It's easy!, for a few Quid, you can join the ACA, and email your problem with the Countryside Alliance to them.
At the end of the day, the Alliance will be FORCED themselves, to moderate hunting or face extinction as 1 by 1 their sports get banned.
Most people I talk to don't even truly know one tenth of what goes on in hunting anyway, but have been stirred by the latet 'Report' from a Green supporting, advert selling,commercial TV station!
When Hunting does get banned, Please volunteer to help the RSPCA put down the 1000s of surplus hounds that will be destroyed as they will be classed as 'imprinted' and unable to be trusted as house pets.
Please also accept an increase in taxes to cover the Unemployment boom in kennel maids,huntsmen and all the attendant redundant personnel!
If a guy says to you, 'Dont feed too much Groundbait in your swim at the start of a session, because you can add more later, but YOU CANT TAKE IT OUT!'
You would accept that as logic.
All I am saying, is do not BAN anything, cos you can change it later, BUT not if it's not there any more.
LOL I'm going away for a long week-end now! cya Monday
Trev
PS
Today I again increased my personal best Pike , just by 2oz's! using a dead bait herring! (Poor herring , killed just to feed my sadistic desire to cause pain to a harmless Pike)
Whilst in the process of unhooking, the Bailiff came and demanded my address, so he could write out a ticket! Losing concentration, the fish struggled and I got bitten again!!!! (I always do lol)
Wiping the blood away I asked him to go away!
I then continued, with help, quickly removed the hook, posed for the Photo and rushed to the water to see (With Great satisfaction) that lovely fish swim slowly away.
We caused each other pain! I had tremendous pleasure out of catching her, playing her,seeing her helpless on the unhooking mat, with all her glorious colours revealed AND those teeth!!! Impressive aged teeth a Dog would have been proud of.
What did she get out of it! Taken from her natural environment, betrayed by my devious use of a bait designed to attract her to a basic need of satisfying her hunger. She never even got the meal!
Small revenge from her bite? She didnt even realise and I loved her none the less for her temper.
Oh! Yes people,
I care and would no more hurt her, more than necessary, than I would torture a fox BUT I cannot justify what I did to her other than highlighting that the pleasure I received made me want to do it all over again!
Will she remember? Happily I firmly believe not. I like to think she is already fed from some other meal, content and with no recollection of tody's incident already. God in his wisdom, gave fish a very low memory span.(IMHO)
Will I? Oh yes, even without the photo, I shall happily remember her,Often!, just as I remember my wild River Trent Common of 21 and 1/2 lbs caught on lobworm on 21 Dec 1981!!!
20 years and a vivid memory still!
Perhaps if I rode a wonderful horse at 30mph over obstacles that caused an exhileration as we soared over them and felt the wind in our faces, then, Just perhaps then,I could understand fox hunting!
I cant, but to deny another the same sort of memory I will have of todays fish, seems by far the greater cruelty to me, to deny a fellow HUHAN being, whether Nobleman,Landed Gentry or Commoner!
Incidentally, Dave paid the Bailiff!!! (I kept the ticket to prove it!)
Thanks mate! another great memory.
Trev
Ziptrev
I do NOT BELIEVE it
Edited by - Ziptrev on 15 February 2002 06:12:50 AM
Edited by - Ziptrev on 15 February 2002 06:28:39 AM
Edited by - Ziptrev on 15 February 2002 06:33:55 AM
