I am from Bucksport, not from away. I understand the culture of the hunt and all the skills and thrills it entails. I live on a small pond and over the years I have enjoyed it here immensely.
I read the article in BDN’s Nov. 15-16 edition, “Waterfowling’s weird, wonderful side.” I avoid reading man against nature stories as I know how they end. This article attracted me because I do appreciate the wonderful side of waterfowl. I have my binoculars trained on the duck families from the time they are fluff balls meticulously lined up behind the mother duck until they leave in the late fall.
Mr. Graves in his full-page preparation and buildup to his “unique hunt” shares the experience, smells and sounds. He and his companions climb into their fake hay bale and sit chatting, poised to spray lead into the quiet sky overhead.
Predictably, along come the gaggle of geese complete with some rare speckled bellies, a fact not lost on the veteran hunter. He had not seen or heard of the breed in his 40 sporting years in Maine. He kept his “elation in check” and skillfully ended the ill-fated migration of the “rare trio of speckles” and two Canada geese.
I read only half of the article; I’d had enough of the chest thumping. Could anyone within reading distance please explain to me what is so “enthralling” about the killing of these beautiful creatures?
Lorna Goodwin
Carmel
• • •
Dover-Foxcroft’s loss
The recent drowning tragedy in Dover-Foxcroft has touched many people.
As a Foxcroft Academy grad, I had James Brown as my junior-year English teacher. He was one of those teachers who would greet you by name when he saw you in the halls, even if you had never been one of his students. He took the time to make connections with his students that lasted even after graduation. My respect for him as a teacher and as a person made it hard for me to call him “Jim,” even after he insisted I do so years after my graduation.
When I would see him on a visit home, he would ask how college was, and knew where I was going and what I was studying. He would ask of my family and when he would be teaching my little brother. I am sure I was only one of thousands of students he taught throughout the years, but he made me feel like I was the only one.
As a teacher myself I strive to build the relationships that he had with his students, knowing that he made it look so easy. He will be sadly missed by the Dover-Foxcroft community, Foxcroft Academy students past and present, and all those who were privileged to know him.
Brittany Owens
Temple, Texas
• • •
Smiley’s neocon views
In her Nov. 17 column, Sarah Smiley laments that the responses she received to her earlier column, “Elections distressing to military families,” are “the price of being a conservative.” Actually, they are the price of being a neoconservative.
Smiley’s earlier column could never have been written by conservative stalwarts like Dwight Eisenhower, Barry Goldwater, Ronald Reagan or William F Buckley Jr. Their perspective was not about who is “one of us” and who isn’t; it was about what best serves the republic and everyone living in it.
Consider that offspring of all four of those true conservatives publicly endorsed Barack Obama; apparently, he is sufficiently one of us for them.
On the other hand, Smiley’s column could easily have been written by Sarah Palin, with her focus on who is the “real, hardworking, patriotic” America (that is, “one of us”), and who isn’t (everyone else).
I fully understand Smiley’s affection for and allegiance to military service. I have served this country in and out of uniform. I know what it means to serve. But I remind Smiley that there is more to being an American, there is more to serving America, and there is certainly more to being America’s president than wearing its uniform, and, as I am sure Smiley realizes, no American knows that better or understands it more clearly than those who serve in uniform.
Stefan Nadzo
Eastbrook
• • •
Repower America
America faces unprecedented economic, environmental and national security challenges. We urgently need new jobs, stable energy prices and freedom from dirty fossil fuels and global warming pollution.
These challenges call for a big solution. Our state and local leaders need to know we support repowering America with 100 percent clean electricity within 10 years, to get our country and our environment back on track quickly. We can do this through energy efficiency, renewable generation and a national unified smart grid.
Repowering America means new industries with high-paying green jobs, lower energy costs and replacing dirty coal and foreign oil with clean domestic energy that is free and limitless.
On Christmas Day, the same day one boy was killed by an escaped tiger in California and two others were mauled, another tiger was found shot to death alongside an apartment complex in Dallas. Tigers do not belong in backyard cages. Please support the creation of a state bill such as the federal Haley’s Act (HR 1947) to end the breeding of big cats outside of the internationally sanctioned Species Survival Plans administered by accredited zoos.
This tragedy would never have happened if Congress had made Haley’s Act a priority when it was first introduced two years ago. Please make it your priority to do something at a state level this year.
Bill Fowlie
Harmony
• • •
Tipsy roundabout
The BDN’s recent article on the new roundabout in Calais was a bit humorous, but the fact of how dangerous it is and what an alternative to such a road hazard might be was not discussed.
First of all, the circle is too small and requires drivers to make a quick sharp turn in order to negotiate the corners. Second, everyone must have forgotten that a second traffic lane by the Milltown Bridge was used exclusively by all commercial vehicle this year because of a problem on the Canadian side of the Maine Street Bridge. And that was without a traffic light, too.
Third, who is going to pay for the broken snowplows when they try to remove snow and ice from this bumper car maze? Fourth, City Hall is on record that the traffic circle is designed for trailer trucks to ride up on the curb, tipping the load each time they pass through. Driving tipsy in and out of Calais should not be allowed.
On 11/20/08 at 6:59 AM,
billmoores wrote:
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Andrew: Hydropower is the most efficient way to generate electricity. ( http://www.wvic.com/hydro-facts.htm ) Watt-er watt-er everywhere!
On 11/20/08 at 7:23 AM,
billmoores wrote:
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Lorna: The "Thrill of the Kill" is entertaining to some. The catching or confounding of the killer is entertaining to many others. We produce tons of television shows, movies, short stories and novels every day that are centered around murder or killing someone or something. Go to a video rental store and scan the shelves. Most of our entertainment is based on killing and catching! Even our comedies need to bash someone to get a laugh. Look for a best selling novel, and most of them have killers. And Humans kill other species by droves, domestic or wild. If we came to value all life as much as we value our own, would the killing stop? Maybe. But probably not for long. The value of "others" is sometimes very fleeting.
On 11/20/08 at 7:33 AM,
bobbrooks220 wrote:
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I always knew that Bill Graves was a moron and I can't understand why the Bangor Daily News publishes his articles. He once wrote one about crows and suggested that hunters use them for target practice prior to the deer hunt. He is sick to have killed those rare geese and it is because of his ilk that they are rare in the first place. What a shame! I know all the hunters are going to say that I am an animal rights nut but there are hunters and there are hunters. Bill Graves is among the first group if you get my drift.
On 11/20/08 at 8:36 AM,
Bangorian wrote:
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Well put Ms. Goodwin - I find it disturbing that as a society, we allow people with little regard for life, to take it for "sport"or pleasure.
On 11/20/08 at 11:10 AM,
SethFortier wrote:
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Bob your point would have gone over much better if you hadn't started out by calling Bill Graves a moron. It amazes me how many people post comments here who feel that they have to call people morons, idiots, or stupid. Just make your point as best you can without the personal attack. I'm sure you wouldn't want someone calling you a moron because of what you wrote.
On 11/20/08 at 11:22 AM,
SethFortier wrote:
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Stefan in this state Sarah Smiley is exactly right. She's a conservitive who is writing a column for a left leaning liberal newspaper. At least in the case of the BDN. Pat LaMarche has written opinions that are much worse than Sarah's but because she's like so many others that live here no one calls her to task for it. I have relatives who served in the military who feel the same way about Democrats. One actually retired after Bill Clinton was elected because he didn't want him as his commander in chief. The reason being he knew what Clinton would do to the military. And he was right. Clinton slashed the budget and made us much weaker. I wouldn't be surprised if Obama does the same thing.
And just because the offspring of the 4 people you mentioned supported Obama doesn't mean a thing. Children don't always follow in their parents footsteps.
I'm not positive but I'd bet that those 4 wouldn't have supported Obama. He's as farther to the left than any President elect we've probably ever had.
On 11/20/08 at 12:40 PM,
bobbrooks220 wrote:
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Seth, Yeah my anger over stuff gets in the way of my brains. Point taken. Thanks.
Bob
On 11/20/08 at 1:03 PM,
SethFortier wrote:
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Bob compared to some people who post here yours was nothing. It just gets to be to much. Go over and read some of the comments about the guy suing Sears because of how he was treated. You'll find that your comment was mild in comparison. At least your man enough to acknowledge it. Have a great day.
Seth
On 11/20/08 at 1:14 PM,
Tellie wrote:
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As a hunter, the "thrill of the kill" really has nothing to do with shooting an animal. My thrill comes from a delicious steak frying in the pan, a freezer full of meat all winter long and a couple of good partridge stews. YUM.
On 11/20/08 at 2:58 PM,
ParkAvenueJoe wrote:
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Lorna Goodwin asks, "Could anyone within reading distance please explain to me what is so “enthralling” about the killing of these beautiful creatures?"
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Why don't you ask a cat? If a cat could talk, he'd tell you he enjoys hunting because he's evolved to enjoy hunting--it's in his genes.
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Same with mankind: we are attracted to food, drink, sex, and hunting: it's in our genes, and therefore it is natural for man to hunt, as it is natural for woman to gather (or shop).
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Mankind is part of nature, too. Deal with it.
.
On 11/20/08 at 3:16 PM,
searoses wrote:
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ParkAvenueJoe: I can't believe it I actually agree with you....but also think it was to bad to kill the rare geese...I believe in harvest in moderation to preserve the seed of our rare wildlife... a good hunt to keep over population down to keep animals from starving to death...moderation is the key...
On 11/20/08 at 4:11 PM,
David889327 wrote:
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Lorna Goodwin, I absolutely agree with you. The "sport" of hunting is outdated, anachronistic and pathetic. I don't begrudge people who need to do it in order to put food on the table. All others are sick and someday will be treated in the same way as human abusers are.
On 11/20/08 at 8:19 PM,
ParkAvenueJoe wrote:
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searoses: Certainly, I agree about wildlife conservation.
On 11/20/08 at 8:21 PM,
ParkAvenueJoe wrote:
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David889327 wrote: "Lorna Goodwin, I absolutely agree with you. The "sport" of hunting is outdated, anachronistic and pathetic."
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By the same logic, since we can make babies in test-tubes, the "pleasure" of sex is outdated, anachronistic, and pathetic.
.
On 11/21/08 at 1:52 PM,
boogyman wrote:
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By the same logic, since we can make babies in test-tubes, the "pleasure" of sex is outdated, anachronistic, and pathetic ParkAvenueJoe, if you could convince my wife of this, I'd be forever in your debt.
On 11/22/08 at 1:43 PM,
glenna wrote:
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This morning, as I looked out my window at 6:30AM at the first snow, "my" deer returned - only this year there are only three instead of the five to seven there were last year. First they graze a bit in the vacant lot owner by my neighbor who is waiting to build (after he sells his existing home that's been for sale over a year) and then they meander across his driveway into my backyard and into my woods. I wonder what happened to the adult from last year who had a stiff left, rear leg probably from some injury. I worried last year she'd be prey to a coyote. But this morning I watched through the window, coffee cup in hand as the three wandered down through the back woods right into the driveway, munching on the acorns I knew were just under the powdered sugar level of snow. For over a half hour I enjoyed the peace their company brought me before they wandered westward toward the ajoining family lots and out of my sight. A few hours later I was outside on my front deck setting the Christmas lights and sweeping the snow when I heard gunshots. I thought of my deer. I'll be watching for them in the morning hoping to see all three. Praying there won't be less. Hoping the hunter went to the store and bought hamburg.
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