Robertsons and Others


The Old Testament is not for the faint of heart...it requires an iron constitution to strict adherence to the rules.....Old Testament followers, (and I do believe it would be a hollow argument to say the Roberstsons are not OLD TESTAMENT followers), tend to exhibit the stern qualities that would have to be present to sacrifice one's own son because God said too....so whats there to smile about?.....
Does anyone think that Peter, after following the Lord's instructions in Acts 10:13 "And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”, was smiling as he held his bag for the day up for the local tablet carver to record for posterity?.....
My Grandfather hunted..some of my Uncles hunted....all of them acted much like the Robertsons do....devoutly religious to the point where they could rarely miss the opportunity to proselytize regardless of the results....they, like the Robertson, and those that emulate them and others, rarely smiled....Killing was ordained...required.....it was not meant to instill "joy".....different strokes.......
Or maybe its just an add campaign thing like many say....
Disclaimer....this is not a tirade against religion....simply a statement of what.....if the Robertson's, and others, wish to scowl in their ad's that's their business....if duck hunters support them then they support the ad's...as they if something ain't broken don't fix it...and clearly "the frown" works.....like the man said...they're millionaires and all of that didn't come from ugly plastic calls no matter how ducky they sound.....
Just saying...
Happy Festivus to everyone......smile as you dance around the Festivus Pole...


Steve
 
Goodness gracious! Just got my new issue of Gray's and on page 84, is a Waterfowl ad, with a guy in face paint and camo SMILING, a Big Toothy Grin. Thanks Santa - that was fast........

Laughter is the best medicine.
 
Worth,
I have always enjoyed your writing over the years, particularly the evident nostalgia for the good old times before Madison Avenue got hold of duck hunting. Before I was sidelined for lack of funds, I was a shaggy bearded duck hunter.Now I'm just a shaggy bearded old guy on SSA. My favorite shotgun ad of all time was the Winchester one with a grey-haird guy inhip boots andcanvas coat sitting on a pile of red shells holding a Model 12. The tag was "For A Lifetime of Hunting" and you could buy one on time direct with no interest. (Which is a tenet of Muslim faith I believe, ironically.)
So of course when I finally had money to buy one--it was 1964 and there were no Model 12s in the inn--apologies to the rabid religionists.

I have always believed waterfowling is a kind of religion, truly. If that make me shallow so be it. I'm not going to go into Phil here, plenty already has been said. But I wholeheartedly share your concern about these idiotic ads that magazines like Wildfowl accept. They are juvenile, adnoidnal, stupid, crass and show no evidence of respect for the prey or the traditions. They are a variety of duck hunting pornography and disgusting. If I had money I wouldn't but the plastic camouflage shotguns they sell. Fortunately I finally found a good Heavy Duck for three hundred bucks at a gun show and if steel scores the barrel it will certainly outlast me. Same for my A-5 Belgian Magnum. Walnut and blued steel for mine--if you can't hide that in a duck blind, give up. (Not to mention my cheap Brazilian double that shoots a lot better than anybody would believe a cheap import should, and with Brazilian flair on top of that. Or my sturdy 3ll with custom wood worth more than the gun, Winchester 24, and--most expensive folly--Turkish Bobwhite with the English grip.) Those new Browning A-5s are about as much an A-5 as those new Beetles are a Bug. Mr. Browning and Herr Porshe probably both spin in their graves.

My Haydels were exactly as you say until I tried to tinker with them to extract coffee and pipe tobacco and ruined them.
WHen I looked up the inexpensive good calls of yesterday were gone with the wind as Tara. Since you have been associated with the Northwest, you may remember Harry Dye. His calls were the best hands down of all. Since I broke my last one (after he died) I relied on a Yentzen--and now they're through the damn roof. The old Duck Commander of the pre-fame days is workable with little finesse, about what you'd expect from a flooded-timber hunter. Why the modern ones of all breed glitter like jewelry is beyond me when just dropping a wooden call on its lanyard reach for your gun will bounce Canadas and blacks sixty yards higher than they were in a heartbeat. Guess they're like all those garish fishing lures--meant for consumers not ducks.

It is a tradition hoary with years for the present (and fading) generation to bemoan the fact it just ain't like it used to be.
I think no less an authority than the Spanish hunting philosopher commented upon it. The more things change the more they stay the same, as the French famously opine. My grandfather told me one day I'd have to grow up and stop wasting money on hunting and get a life. He was younger when he died than I am now. I credit the extra time to days spent in pursuit of waterfowl, just as long lived fishermen credit their passion.

I really enjoyed reading your thoughts here and hope to read a lot more of your stuff as time goes by, not necessarily here, but in whatever publication has the class to include your work. With Ted Trueblood and Robert Ruark and Corey Ford gone, it's on your shoulders,guy. Merry Christmas!
 
In these times...I am forced to ask...WWGBS (What Would Goose Bruce Say).....I seek wisdom...now I need to go take a poop....

Cluny
 
Thanks for that perspective Steve. Many of us Up-Norte folks (or maybe just me) really don't understand the culture of religion in the deep south.
 
Why would robertson and others have a scowl on their face when taking photos? Easy, they suspect the cameraman of being gay!

Duck ads feature grizzled warriors with war paint an a scowl about to do battle with feathered nemis, the same way swifter ads show sexy women smiling and cleaning the floor. Because, why spend money to promote a product so people will spend money, that wont elict an emotional responce from them? Its called marketing, its an entire industry built on getting you to spend money. Why do I drive a pick up truck that on the commerical can tow a freight train? Im never gonna tow a freight train, nor did I buy it for that. But had they filled a truck up with flowers and get well ballons, ya get my point.

Which gets me to marketing... a&e has stumbled upon a marketing gold mine. Everytime they tell the roberstons to quit praying, theres a firestorm on social media, and everyone goes buys chinese made products to show their support. Hasnt been 3 weeks they asked to quit saying Jesus on the show, cause it was offending muslims. I mean really? Muslims got nothing better to do than watch DD and wait for someone to say Jesus? Id think an oscar meyer commerical would be more offensive. How do they ever get anything blown up or behead anyone if they are sitting around watching tv? Point of the matter, a&e knows their target audience gets riled and supports the relgious aspect, have manuipulated it for their own benefit, and either it went too far, or they knew where it was heading and was willing to fade the heat. Tell ya what, suspend me from my job during duck season, while I make millions, and people email on my behalf and echo my views, Im a happy happy happy man. This is new coke, and thats all it is.

Clearly I dont agree with phils view on homosexuals, but I belive if he wasn't at least a willing participant, he at least should have known he was being manuipulated. My relgious views non with standing, I think its incredibly silly how many people have not read the interview, or the Bible verse he paraphrases, because neither say what most are repeting. Either way, its not a freedom on speech issue, your boss can shut you up at will mine does it regualrly. The only document people misquote more than the constution, is the Bible, so it makes complete sense from a people are stupid sheep point of view.

Phil did say last week, quit worrying about him and a tv show, and focus on real problems like vetern benefits being robbed from them. That got lost as most are bored now, and really didnt want a serious topic anyway. I give him props for that, and I enjoy his show. Saw him preach for the first time about 97, and thought he was a little too much fire and brimstone for me then, and I know how much Ive changed since then, so I cant imagine he has as much as I have... Regardless, I wont let Phil Robertson, or a&e, or facebook, or my local preacher man, or fox news, or sara palin, or anyone else do my thinking for me... And that makes me truely a minority, surely a great target!
 
In Phil's statement about gays, he actually incudes both science/evolution and the Bible.

But the question in the interview was undoubtedly a trap for him with the intention of stiring up the pot.
 
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