Re: Picket Line

**"* P* D* <m*@dargan.com>**

Great idea...I wear mine all the time. Frisky. MPDargan
On Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:22:29 -0500, frielster@aol.com said:
> 
> >From what I've seen of them in action, PETA seems to stand for People With Too Much Time On Their Hands. I know that's not logically possible, but if OFA can stand for "An Association of Green Industry Professionals," what the heck?
> Jeff, a quick check on eBay found 36 hits for "Coonskin cap." You might
> consider adding one to your wardrobe for speaking engagements.
> JF
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jeff Ball <jeffball@usol.com>
> To: Garden Writers -- GWL -- The Garden Writers Forum
> <gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org>
> Sent: Tue, 4 Dec 2007 12:02 pm
> Subject: [GWL] Picket Line
> 
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> I'm now among the few garden writers in this country who has had a  
> picket line thrown up against them.   It was my own fault, but it  
> does represent a challenge to any columnist.  I happen to believe  
> that the explosion of the raccoon population in the city, suburbs,  
> and exurbs is a serious problem. So I did a column on the topic.  Bad  
> mistake.  At least my wording was very unfortunate because it raised  
> the wrath of PETA the Animal Rights folks.  I got about forty e-mails  
> 35 to 5 against.  The newspaper got as many or more angry phone calls  
> and yesterday PETA set up a picket line in front of the newspaper  
> which caused the editor to go beserk.  I was not in danger of losing  
> my job, but my newspaper was not happy with me, that's for sure.   
> Today, they (Detroit News) published three negative letters and then  
> some quotes from a representative of the state Department of Natural  
> Resources who quietly confirmed I had my facts correct.  My political  
> sensitivity was what was lacking.
> 
> Killing any pest animal no matter the circumstances is not acceptable  
> to the members of PETA.  I knew that, but it didn't occur to me that  
> my little yardening column would even get their attention.  Nancy is  
> taking high road of course.  She told me it was a bad idea to write  
> about the subject in the first place.  I now owe her a fancy dinner  
> out because yesterday I was at the hospital all day getting routine  
> tests so she had to handle the maelstrom over the phone with the editor.
> 
> The whole incident is troubling.  PETA wants nothing to be done about  
> the over population of deer and raccoons, ignoring the public health  
> problems those two groups pose.  The legislature won't touch the  
> problem because they fear the response of PETA.  The DNR won't  
> address the issue because they fear PETA and the deer hunters.  My  
> newspaper is surely not going to let me or anybody else address the  
> problem at least in the next year or two.  So the population of deer  
> and raccoons continues to grow in areas where they have no predators  
> and are protected from hunters.  Lymne disease and rabies are two  
> very serious public health problems directly caused by deer and  
> raccoons.  I certainly have no desire to raise another ruckus, so I  
> guess I just sit back and watch - very frustrating.
> 
> Jeff Ball
> jeffball@usol.com
> 810-724-8581
> Check out my daily blog at www.gardeneryardener.blogspot.com
> Check out my extensive web site at www.yardener.com
> 
> 
> 
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-- 
Mary Palmer Dargan, MLA, ASLA, APLD, RLA, CLARB
Author, Timeless Landscape Design (Gibbs-Smith, Feb 2007) sold out in 30 days and is now in its 3rd printing! 
To order an autographed copy for the holidays: contact www.dargan.com. 
 800-454-3889 ext 4 & 404-354-1715 mycell  Dargan Landscape Architects

Tip: Visit English gardens by Sir Harold Peto at Buscot and Iford in Wiltshire and Avon, also must see Sir Roy Strong's formal garden at the Lasket in Herefordshire (by appointment)

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