Re: Picket Line

**N* S* <T*@PlantSoup.Com>**

Sorry to hear about your troubles, Jeff.  Seems that the situation  
underscores the unfortunate point that it is often not what you say,  
but how you say it that matters....

Nan

On Dec 4, 2007, at 9:02 AM, Jeff Ball wrote:

> 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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