Hunting and the Media
In this day and age, just about everything is "Ok." All kinds of lifestyles are accepted by the liberal media, and in-turn, most Americans. Unspeakable make-believe violence and who knows what else is broadcast on movie screens and TV's across the country. Rappers proliferate the airwaves with words that would get you kicked out of most public places and considered a racist. But let a couple high-profile guys go on a hunting trip and the world seemingly turns against them.
I say the world, but I think a lot of the stink in this situation has been caused by ignorant media convincing a misinformed public that hunting is "evil." Others are calling this a "publicity stunt" and claiming that photos of the hunt were deliberately leaked to the media. Well if that was the case, I would say it severely backfired. They would have been better off with a two month marriage to gain some positive media coverage.
The most surprising repercussion is that Camping World, an RV and outdoor supply company, dropped their sponsorship of Donald Trump, Sr.'s popular reality show "Celebrity Apprentice" after news of the hunt came out. Are you reading that? An outdoor supply company. Their CEO is quoted as saying "I wouldn't spend another nickel with them." Well, I wouldn't spend a nickel with him.
I'm very proud of the way Donald Jr. has handled the pressure by sticking to his guns, and defending his lifestyle and hunting in general. He's been attacked by crazed ecotards on Twitter, and he fights back with intelligence and shows no signs of backing down just because they think he's wrong. If you're on Twitter, follow him and check out the things people are saying to him. It's almost comical how misguided they are, but for the hunting community, it's also sad. So many accuse them of wrong-doing, when no laws were broken and no ethics codes were violated. Another interesting note is that the meat from the animals the Trumps killed fed an African village for weeks. How many of the ecotards attacking these guys can say they did the same?
Hunting is a vital part of the African economy. The money that hunters pay and the meat that feeds villages near the hunting grounds do more good than people imagine. Just think of how much meat an elephant would produce. That will feed A LOT of people.
Several other celebrities have taken heat lately for hunting, including Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, and Bob Parsons, CEO of GoDaddy.com. I have gained new respect for both, not only due to their business success, but for standing up and saying "I am a hunter." It's about time Uncle Ted Nugent got some celebrity support. God bless them all.
All of this also makes me think of how we hunters need to be more involved on a smaller scale. Anti-hunters are plentiful here in Atlanta, and their dissent toward hunting leads to more and more deer/car collisions each year. When urban hunts are organized, protesters are willing to put their own lives at risk in the name of their "cause." PETA takes a bad rap, but I doubt most locals even know what PETA does. It's a misinformed public that creates this hostility toward the hunting community, not an organization.
Can we change public perception? I don't know. But I will do all I can when I can. Hunting may be the only thing I have in common with Eric and Donald Trump, Jr. But I'd be proud to share a hunting camp fire with them any day.
Adam
Adam
Excellent post, Adam. I am also proud of Jr. for sticking to his guns and standing up for his, and our rights as hunters. You said it all, so I won't rehash it. I will say that this sort of thing is happening in the USA more and more. We need to stand up with our hunting brothers and sisters on these issues!
ReplyDeleteWell stated. ~Al
Just because something is legal, it doesn't mean it's right. Slavery and apartheid were legal at a certain point -- does that make them any less reprehensible?
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing wrong with hunting for food. But there's a huge difference between that and killing animals for kicks. One the creatures the Trumps are so proud of having killed is a leopard -- which is not consumed by humans. So Jr. is lying when he says "all meat" was eaten. Of course he's going to lie to try to save face (besides, he's a Trump -- lying probably comes naturally to him). That doesn't mean you guys have to be so gullible as to believe everything he says. But since you are, I'll sell you the Statue of Liberty at a very special price -- and today only, I'll throw in the Brooklyn Bridge for free!
Thanks Al! I totally agree.
ReplyDeleteCarter, how much will you sell it for, and would you be interested in trading the statue for some Arizona ocean-front property and a little cash? ;)
I'm not sure where you get a connection between hunting wild animals and apartheid, but for the sake of argument, where is it written that hunting for sport "isn't right?" Personally, I don't hunt animals that won't be eaten but given the opportunity to hunt a leopard, mountain lion or wolf, I probably would. Especially given the situation in some western states where wolves have been re-introduced and are wreaking havoc on elk and deer herds (both of which are harvested for their meat.)
Hunting strictly for meat is a noble tradition passed down since creation, but I dare say that most hunters solely hunt for meat. Believe me, if that were the case, it's easier and more cost-effective to just buy beef, chicken or fish at the grocery store. So there's some aspect of sport involved in the majority of hunting scenarios. If you restrict hunting to only those who need the meat and exclude those who just enjoy hunting, there would not be enough hunters to manage game herds. I won't give a biology lesson here on what happens when herds overpopulate, but there is plenty of research and data to back up hunters' importance in wildlife management.
Defending Trump doesn't make me gullible any more than eating Wheaties makes me a champion. Sure if you believe enough or eat enough maybe you'll get there, but I don't think I posted anything about believing everything he said. The main point of my post was that hunting gets generalized as "animal murder" by the media, and that I am glad that there are celebrities in this day and age who are not afraid to be ostracized for participating in one of the oldest sports in the world. I have the same right to an opinion of what is "right" as those who disagree.
Thanks for your input.
Adam
How does Carter know the leopard wasn't eaten? While it's true that most American hunters don't eat most predators, although I know some that eat coyote and bears are downright delicious, I highly doubt the leopard's flesh went uneaten. There are a lot of things folks in Africa eat that most Americans would turn their nose at(blood soup anyone?).
ReplyDeleteI love your post but one thing you failed to mention that is VERY important is how sport hunting conserves African(well, pretty much all) wildlife. Big dollar hunters like the Trumps & Bob Parsons pay hefty fees to hunt African game. Does Carter know where that money goes? It hires men who protect game from ruthless poachers who kill elephants, leopards, rhinos, and anything else that has value. Elephant ivory and rhino tusks are worth big bucks in places like China. Is Carter and his buddies funding their protection? No, hunters are.
The killing of the elephant by the Trumps probably saved dozens if not more other elephants in addition to the meat it provided. Elephants are also notorious for crop damage. Carter and his buddies probably don't realize that in many of the places elephants are hunted there is no "food store". If crops fail, people don't have food. For more on this topic, check out my blog post on Bob Parsons' hunt. http://foremosthunting.blogspot.com/2011/04/hypocrisy-of-go-daddy-boycott.html
Congratulations on your post, Adam!
ReplyDeleteIt was fascinating to see your take on the Trumps' hunting trip in the media.
As for Camping World's opposition, what is the company thinking? It makes even little sense considering its sponsorship of NASCAR, and we know the common bond between NASCAR and the outdoors for so many people.
Thanks Desmond! You're absolutely right. It doesn't seem like a good business move on their part.
ReplyDelete