Archive → December, 2012
Another “Day of Infamy”?
Today is the 71st anniversary of the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, the HQ of America’s pacific fleet. The attacking Japanese admiral noted at the time that, although Japan had won that battle, ‘a sleeping giant’ had been awakened.
President FDR called it “a day of infamy.”
The relevant question for our time is, given the moral relativism dominating American culture, would Americans both see domestic attacks as infamous, and would they arouse to anger and revenge, as a sleeping giant?
I’m afraid most of America’s leaders would engage in public self-flagellation, proclaiming their guilt in America’s supposed crimes.
Is it really the Pennsylvania Society?
Sure, sure, the political orgy in Manhattan is called the Pennsylvania Society. But if it’s really truly by and for Pennsylvanians, it wouldn’t be scheduled on the second week of deer season. Forget the odd location, it’s the fact that it conflicts with our state’s most important season that says everything you need to know about who goes there. I’m sitting in this deer stand and I wouldn’t miss a day of deer season for all the schmaltzy schmoozing in the world.
Hunting season is here, and I’m not
Hunting season, around these parts, is an all-consuming month of shooting star-like proportions and beauty. All year we wait to hunt bear and deer, with our packs on our backs and our rifles in hand. Wild areas that haven’t seen a human in a year suddenly welcome one, two, maybe three long striders. And that’s where I’ve been the past month, living in tents in wilderness areas, climbing up cliffs, playing cat and mouse with deer that either walk in front of your car or fall to my bullet, and which provide clean, healthy, sustainable nourishment nonetheless.
With old friends and new, I’ve had some exciting adventures, learned some new things, and had opportunities to reflect on life and career topics. Hunters Sharing the Harvest received one of my deer, with a $15 donation for the processing, and two friends are splitting another deer I took. A third deer I harvested I’m splitting with a friend. Over the coming month, I’ll dole out venison treats to friends and colleagues, sharing nature’s bounty. Along the way, thirty pounds of flubber have disappeared from my torso, and my kids tell me I look like their dad again. Friends tell me I look ten years younger. That feels good.
More to come after this frenetic month ends next weekend. Until then, keep yer powder dry.