Today, I visited www.sharkonline.org again, and I did some more reading.  I read a story by the president of SHARK - I recently discovered his name is Mr. Steve Hindi - which he probably wrote many years ago.  It had to do with fishing and killing.

 

After reading most of that article, I realized something important.  I am not an animal activist at nearly the same level as many other people are.  I read, and I respect, Mr. Hindi's outlook, and I know I don't feel quite the same way about the death of animals. 

 

I guess - maybe that makes me seem as if I'm riding the fence - maybe I seem like a hypocrite - I don't feel exactly the same way as people who are totally committed to absolute animal welfare.  I think if I still had our bassboat, and I felt physically stronger, I'd probably be out trying to hook a 14 pound largemouth.  And - if the bass was substantially larger than the 10 pound 4 ounce bass on my wall, I'd very likely have it mounted as a trophy.  Anything smaller, I'd most likely put back in the lake, and keep looking for that "monster".

 

This issue which I've begun to write about - rodeo, cruelty, animal abuse, forcing animals to perform against their will for sport, money and entertainment - has caused me to personally re-evaluate my own thinking.  I wouldn't make a very good "PETA candidate".

 

With all these thoughts going through my mind, I'm consciously aware that I'm not a follower.  I tend to think things over for myself, and I know I don't have a "follow the crowd" type of personality.

 

I realize I'm not innocent of "abuse".  I also realize that "abuse" can be defined 1000 different ways, by 1000 different people.  So I look into myself, into my past actions, into my current thoughts.  I think of legal definitions, social definitions, moral, political, public, and private interpretations.  I've spoken to many people who know me well.  What I determined, after searching my soul carefully, is that ....

 

I AM NOT ABUSIVE

 

I can look in the mirror, and I'm not looking back at an abusive person.  I can live with my conscience.

 

By the way, thank you for reading my pages.  Once I get started, the words don't ever seem to stop.  It's nice that some of my thoughts might make another person really think about some things.  Thank you again.