Hello GFN Members. Please allow me to introduce myself. You will know me by the name of Clifton, my pen name. There’s a story behind that name, and some day I’ll share it. For now, let’s get through the introduction.

I’ve been given a great honor recently: I have been asked to do some editorial work and writing for Gamefowl News, to which I have conditionally agreed. The conditions are basically these: That anything I do for Gamefowl News will be strictly voluntary and without pay or consideration, and that I will not be held responsible for the statements or actions of other staff or contributors to GFN and / or it’s newsletter. As such, opinions remain those of the authors, and they are likewise responsible for their own fact-finding and research.

Assistance was very much needed at this time to give the Director of GFN, Mr. Fred Crane, the time to do more work along other lines where his services are more urgently needed; i.e. investigative and relief work for members of our community.

When I say “our community”, I mean that in a very inclusive and broad sense of the word, because I am not, and have never been a member in the gamefowl, poultry, or ranching / farming industries. Neither am I a hunter, nor do I own a gun. It’s been a long, long time since I went fishing, and it’s been seven years since I raised a litter of pups. That said, I have always taken a strong interest in all of these communities, especially the more marginalized and controversial ones, and I have long sided with the gamefowlers in the ongoing “animal rights” arguments.

I have also repeatedly chided some so-called all- around animal interest and show dog people for fence- sitting and testing the breeze before taking positions. I would liken these to an ice berg, once it has broken off from the glacier and set adrift at sea: No matter how large it starts out, its days are numbered. The prevailing forces will, in time, grind it down to nothing but a few tiny remnants, and eventually, nothing at all will remain.

So, I will rarely, if ever, play to political expediency in the statements and positions which I do take. If anything, I embrace controversy, because it provokes thought and banishes fear. If there’s anything that you ever thought, and were afraid to say, you may see it here on the GFN Newsletter.

To quote a good friend of mine: “The truth shall set you free; But, first, it shall piss you off!”

Many people who are against the animal rights movement feel that it is dangerously risky to side with any community which the AR activists have already successfully marginalized, especially those associated with “puppymills” or the baiting or fighting of dogs and fowl. I understand that reasoning, and there is undeniably a certain risk there, because these activities are regarded as grossly cruel by the general public, arguably so.

While it is not my interest to defend activities which are morally and ethically indefensible, there are very real dangers to all of us when we allow our adversaries to carry out “witch hunts” and media trials against target groups, ESPECIALLY when they enlist lobbyists, media, politicians and law enforcement to these ends. This is a subject which I hope to explore in a greater depth in future newsletters.

The saying goes that there are two sides to every story. By all means, let’s tell ours!

So, I do not shrink from controversial topics. Controversy has always intrigued me. I see it a different way: If we do not dare to take bold risks, then we all may be whittled down by means of persistent and persuasive ethical arguments, to where none of us have any rights remaining. I believe that this is the end goal. And if we are going to make a stand against a hostile enemy, where better to make that position than right at the borderlands? Why give any ground at all to those who will not be satisfied with less than everything?

That IS what they want: They want control of EVERYTHING, even if they must get it incrementally, stepwise and over time. The fact is that they have already been at this for a very long time, and they have made a lot of headway. In fact, they have created fat fund-raising and lobbying campaigns and industries around animal rights arguments, while our industries have remained disorganized and thereby become diminished and increasingly vulnerable.

What are these, our “industries”? Well, that is very difficult to define, because of our sheer diversity and specialization. Most of us are families, involved in family businesses, traditions and pastimes. Most of us are working and playing in the small-scale “niche” markets and activities. We are so under-represented individually that we lack the critical mass to resist a sophisticated lobbying machine. It is therefore ABSOLUTELY VITAL that we diverse groups find each other and stick together in what really amounts to a greater mutual concern. The internet has made this possible, but the internet is changing, and we must not waste the opportunities which we have now.

Whether we are gamefowlers, small farmers, hunters, exotic owners or pet breeders, if we have only one thing in common, then it should be this: We have a common enemy! And that enemy is very clever and often inscrutable to many, but we may know them by this, alone: They use a bag of pressure tactics, and publicity, legal challenges, and persuasive ethical arguments to create the legal framework by which to attack and undermine our pursuits. Thereby, they seek to rob us of the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms which are our unique American birthright.

We may reasonably presume that government and society have some rights to decide, then to dictate and enforce what is moral, ethical and lawful. That is a more thorny issue, which must be decided on a case by case basis, and being an American obviously does not imply that one may do anything they wish, society be damned. But some sovereignty must be reserved to the individual. And, just as our adversaries have their arguments, and their interests, so do we. If we don’t vigorously present our arguments in a timely manner (when the debate is on); it will later be to our everlasting regret and shame. It is said that “To be silent is to consent”.

Where it is the privilege and even the responsibility of government to make and enforce reasonable rules, it is the right of the people to limit the scope of government, and to insist that rulemaking and enforcement be done in an ethical and equitable manner.

That is all there is to it, really. Well, yes, there is more, always much more. But for now, I want to keep things clearly focused and uncomplicated.

My legal opinion of cockfighting is this: “Where it is illegal, you do it at your own risk. If you want to participate, then work on changing the laws.” And, this is not a vain hope! It should be said that the gamecock sport could be made more acceptable and even appealing to the public, via new technologies which spare the combatants. Blood sports will not play well with the general public, even if ringside seats at prizefights may spatter enthusiastic onlookers with human blood, and even if human gladiators may be broken and “punch drunk” at the end of their career, OR dead at an early age. Such are the mysteries and contradictions of human sentiment and logic! Just don’t hurt those chickens, OK?

Regarding positions, and their relative popularity or unpopularity: Too many Americans have become ethical cowards and capitulators. We dare not disagree with the popular consensus, and we have somehow been conditioned to believe it good to legislate our way to a state-administered, ethical Utopia. My fear is that, in so doing, we shall forfeit all self-determination and sovereignty, and thereby create a sort of hell in which we may do nothing without the permissions of a maze of corrupt and arbitrary bully government agencies.

Thereby, they have enjoyed the advantage. If we continue along this line, we will lose, little by little, everything that we hold dear: our traditions, our life’s work, our lands, our families’ futures, and our daily bread.

We must therefore switch tactics and become proactive, bringing the issues to the table wherever possible, and developing the means to do it. And just as the AR activists have heartlessly pushed to destroy our most defenseless, we must tear out the belly of their movement by taking on anyone in their organizations whose vulnerabilities can be exploited to their ruin, with only one caveat: That we will play by the rule of law. If they cannot manage to do the same, then we can only hope that this will eventually hasten their downfall.

Nuff said, for now. More to come!

Clifton

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