Rush Limbaugh Sides with Animal Rights Extremist
I wrote several editorials on the life and times of two dogs I have had over the years. The words brought tears to my keyboard as I wrote them. I loved my dogs as much as I think you should love a pet. I know some people are totally consumed by their pets and for them, that is OK I guess. I know some who don’t care a bit of spit about their animals, not good.
When my dogs were stolen recently I had a lot of support from animal lovers who called, emailed ideas and offered help. It was very moving and I responded to each one independently with thanks.
Last week I heard a big announcement from the Rush Limbaugh camp. It was on all the news channels and I thought he might be planning a run for political office or ending his show. I have been a fan of Rush for years, not that I agree with everything and I don’t always think he is funny or even in line with reality, but he does stand out and up for most conservative values of which I profess to follow as well.
I was shocked to hear the big news was a recorded commercial for the Humane Society of the United States. Most people think of the HSUS as a warm puppy loving bunch of folks, and some are. There are reality shows now filming the HS in cities across America as they rescue dogs, cats and horses from deplorable conditions, good work for defenseless animals, good PR move to.
The thing that irks me the most about HSUS is their outdated and at times radical anti hunting stance. As far as the HSUS is concerned they believe that sterilization, contraception, and other failed management practices are best for wildlife. These failed ideas have been proven ineffective for years yet they continue to promote them as solutions. They refuse to consider what wildlife management specialist, scientists and even the average hunter already knows, it is good management practices that sustain wildlife and our wildlife habitats.
On the HSUS web site misleading quotes and videos abound on hunting and fishing. Take dove hunting for instance, they claim dove hunters are just “waging war on the bird of peace” and “these peaceful, inoffensive birds are shot out of the sky for target practice”. They refer to dove season as “ dove shooting season.”
If you have a dog you use for hunting, that family pet that gets more love and attention than most, the HSUS says they “are often starved and neglected for months at a time in the ‘off season.’ “ Then there are the personal attacks on you, the hunter “a pile of donuts, a lucky bet, and a space in their home for a mounted trophy are all many hunters require to participate.”
These tactics have inflamed the radical and unstable base of the HSUS and pushed many over the top. For the first time, an accused domestic terrorist is being added to the FBI's list of "Most Wanted" terror suspects. Daniel Andreas San Diego, a 31-year-old computer specialist from Berkeley, Calif., is wanted for the 2003 bombings of two corporate offices in California. Authorities describe San Diego as an animal rights activist who turned to bomb attacks and say he has tattoo that proclaims, "It only takes a spark."
I understand that there are those on both sides who make bad choices and those who do not represent either group as a whole. It is the purposeful misleading and misrepresentation of the wildlife enthusiast that is the issue. The facts are clear. Wildlife enthusiast put more money and sweat equity into habitat, research and management than all the anti-hunting or anti-fishing groups put together. Where they spend money on staff and publicity hoaxes wildlife groups pay for land and animal population restoration. Those are the facts.
Rush, buddy, I can see that what you did was from the heart because you love your cat, I am OK with your cat. I can see that you might actually make a portion of the HSUS base mad as heck for just saying their name, got it. But know my friend that it irks your base as well. These folks are in a lot of ways are against everything you stand for. How about a plug for our Kids Outdoor Zone Youth ministry (kidsoutdoorzone.org) or the Christian Outdoor Alliance Summer Camps? We love our dogs, some cats and a lot of kids. We hunt, we fish and we share our faith and knowledge with others. True fact.
TJ Greaney is an outdoor writer and communicator from Austin, Texas. Contact him at tj@kidsoutdoorzone.com. His web site is www.kidsoutdoorzone.com
