Editorialist
I would like to rebut Manoli Loupassi's article in your last Sunday edition, Section E, entitled, "Overturning Ban Will Preserve Tradition". Mr. Loupassi's interest in this matter is that he is a delegate to our Virginia General Assembly representing a lot of the Metro area.
Delegate Loupassi's main theme in support not to overturn the ban seems to evolve around tradition, recreation and the Sabbath as it relates to the common good of each As I have said in letters written to this newspaper before tradition does not always make right, nor or all laws just. There are many traditions that bring harm to those in the celebration or observance of them. It was considered in many sections of this nation an honorable tradition to keep slaves. Was that tradition right? History proved it was wrong. Hazing students in fraternity initiations at many universities and colleges is considered a tradition, but is that tradition a good one when those initiated end up injured or dead? Lynching in our earlier years was a tradition in some parts of this nation to avenge justice, but in time it was outlawed. Tradition does not make a nation nor a man great but it is the moral character, honesty and truthfulness of a nation and its people that will determine a country's greatness.
It is a good thing to see an activity that glorifies killing and suffering in any creature decline in numbers as Delegate Loupassi points out. People are beginning to realize there are more wholesome activities to pursue that do not do violence to either man nor animals. Unfortunately, the killing of animals either through the so-called "sport" of hunting and the suffering which is sometimes joyously inflicted upon them can lead to killing, torturing or mutilating fellow human beings. This is a fact established by FBI and psychological studies and the reason we must seek stronger penalties against animal abuse, now not only for the animal's sake but for the sake of our fellow human beings.
If the hunters could guarantee to respect the rights of land owners, particularly the right to privacy, safety and quiet on at least one day of the week during the hunting season maybe support to overturn the ban could be justified. However, following the activities of the hunters I am afraid that will never be the case. People have the right to feel safe in their homes and on their land free from any invasion by armed persons. Too many reports have indicated hunter abuse of the Constitutional property rights of land owners as to who can come on their land and what they can do on that land.
Delegate Loupassi talks about the common good. Well the common good also recognizes the fact the wildlife belong to all the people, not just one group or segment. The U. S. Supreme Court ruled that hunting is a "non fundamental right" The common good recognizes the fact that all Virginians should have a right to serve on any board or agency that controls the destiny of our wildlife. Right now all our agencies and boards that deal with our wildlife are comprised of only hunters, trappers and fishermen, and that is NOT RIGHT in spite of the protestations of these groups who claim they finance the conservation but NOT THE PRESERVATION OF OUR WILDLIFE.
It is not an issue of who pays for the management of our wildlife but an issue of who has a say in its management, and that is ALL THE PEOPLE.
Two wrongs don't make a right, Delegate Loupassi, for the common good. It is bad enough that we have discarded a traditional day of rest to promote the lust to make more money when our Good Lord knew what is best for us--a day of rest and contemplation on Him. He provided us with the Sabbath for the common good of all, both man and animal.
According to former Mayor Roy West, Mr. Loupassi seems to plan legislation that furthers his own personal interest and common good when he planned to give Henrico and Chesterfield counties equal representation on the board of directors of the Richmond Metropolitan Authority despite the heavy price in blood, sweat and tears paid by the people in Richmond for establishing the toll road. The bottom line here is not about the common good regarding tradition, recreation or the Sabbath but the common good according to Mr. Loupassi which amounts to pure, simple common greed, the quest for wealth regardless of the expense to others. I wonder how much his bank account will increase from financial reward he could possibly receive from the sports and munition industries which stand to gain profitably from an extra day of hunting.
Delegate Loupassi's main theme in support not to overturn the ban seems to evolve around tradition, recreation and the Sabbath as it relates to the common good of each As I have said in letters written to this newspaper before tradition does not always make right, nor or all laws just. There are many traditions that bring harm to those in the celebration or observance of them. It was considered in many sections of this nation an honorable tradition to keep slaves. Was that tradition right? History proved it was wrong. Hazing students in fraternity initiations at many universities and colleges is considered a tradition, but is that tradition a good one when those initiated end up injured or dead? Lynching in our earlier years was a tradition in some parts of this nation to avenge justice, but in time it was outlawed. Tradition does not make a nation nor a man great but it is the moral character, honesty and truthfulness of a nation and its people that will determine a country's greatness.
It is a good thing to see an activity that glorifies killing and suffering in any creature decline in numbers as Delegate Loupassi points out. People are beginning to realize there are more wholesome activities to pursue that do not do violence to either man nor animals. Unfortunately, the killing of animals either through the so-called "sport" of hunting and the suffering which is sometimes joyously inflicted upon them can lead to killing, torturing or mutilating fellow human beings. This is a fact established by FBI and psychological studies and the reason we must seek stronger penalties against animal abuse, now not only for the animal's sake but for the sake of our fellow human beings.
If the hunters could guarantee to respect the rights of land owners, particularly the right to privacy, safety and quiet on at least one day of the week during the hunting season maybe support to overturn the ban could be justified. However, following the activities of the hunters I am afraid that will never be the case. People have the right to feel safe in their homes and on their land free from any invasion by armed persons. Too many reports have indicated hunter abuse of the Constitutional property rights of land owners as to who can come on their land and what they can do on that land.
Delegate Loupassi talks about the common good. Well the common good also recognizes the fact the wildlife belong to all the people, not just one group or segment. The U. S. Supreme Court ruled that hunting is a "non fundamental right" The common good recognizes the fact that all Virginians should have a right to serve on any board or agency that controls the destiny of our wildlife. Right now all our agencies and boards that deal with our wildlife are comprised of only hunters, trappers and fishermen, and that is NOT RIGHT in spite of the protestations of these groups who claim they finance the conservation but NOT THE PRESERVATION OF OUR WILDLIFE.
It is not an issue of who pays for the management of our wildlife but an issue of who has a say in its management, and that is ALL THE PEOPLE.
Two wrongs don't make a right, Delegate Loupassi, for the common good. It is bad enough that we have discarded a traditional day of rest to promote the lust to make more money when our Good Lord knew what is best for us--a day of rest and contemplation on Him. He provided us with the Sabbath for the common good of all, both man and animal.
According to former Mayor Roy West, Mr. Loupassi seems to plan legislation that furthers his own personal interest and common good when he planned to give Henrico and Chesterfield counties equal representation on the board of directors of the Richmond Metropolitan Authority despite the heavy price in blood, sweat and tears paid by the people in Richmond for establishing the toll road. The bottom line here is not about the common good regarding tradition, recreation or the Sabbath but the common good according to Mr. Loupassi which amounts to pure, simple common greed, the quest for wealth regardless of the expense to others. I wonder how much his bank account will increase from financial reward he could possibly receive from the sports and munition industries which stand to gain profitably from an extra day of hunting.
