Tally Ho! (Class warfare in Cool Britannia)

FOX News ^ | January 27, 2005 | John Gibson

[quidnunc]

On my show Thursday, you heard FOX News' Douglas Kennedy's report on PETA and the troubles they are having once somebody turns the tables on them. It reminded me of how the PETA folks — along with some others — have managed to get fox hunting banned in Great Britain.

Of course the Brits have their hearts on their sleeves about everybody and everything: What did you do for tsunami victims today; what did you do for AIDS today, what did you do for Africa today?

This jihad was about those cute red foxes, which, it turns out, have become an enormous pest in Britain because there are no wolves around anymore to eat them.

Anyway, in the British countryside they've been hunting foxes for a long time using packs of hounds chasing the fox and a bunch of stuffy Brits on horses chasing the hounds.

And it turns out the ban wasn't so much to save the cute little fox, but to stick it to the rich people who have the money and time to saddle up and chase the dogs chasing the fox.

-snip-

[MKM1960]

I can't wait to hear it at the end of the program. I think John Gibson is one of the most under appreciated talents at Fox News. I like his no nonsense style. and being as fair complected as he is you get a heads up when he is getting angry. LOL

[Bahbah]

It ran yesterday, but I have no doubt his "My Word" will be as good today. He did have some nice shots of fox hunting, which I used to do. I guess that makes me an elite, which makes me just LOL.

[MKM1960]

I guess I read it wrong. I have always thought this was a class envy situation from the start. Just wait till one of the labourites little darlings or farm animals get bit by a rabid fox, then the b*tching will then commence about the fox "problem". I have emailed and IM'd with several people in the UK and the ones that I have communicated with are some of the most class conscious which usually comes out as envy or hate. It surprised me. I guess they wouldn't have any problems with coon hunting here as it is one of the sports of choice amongst us out here in the lower class, red neck, Christian Fundamentalists in Jesusland. Just don't tell 'em that the feller over there in the Carhart overalls, probably has more money in cash in the front pocket than they see in year.

[Bahbah]

the feller over there in the Carhart overalls, probably has more money in cash in the front pocket than they see in year.

LOL. I'll bet that's right.

[MKM1960]

When I was a teenager one of my science nerd friends was getting a new Black and Tan and had gotten the name from a friend of his. The breeder's house was out of Tobacco Road, but he had a reputation of breeding some of the finest coon hounds in the south. My friend had to take cash, because the man had told him he didn't cotton to banks too much. I swear those are his exact words.

[PeterFinn]

Anyone note the irony that this was on FOX News???

[Glyndwr4Cymru]

"Just wait till one of the labourites little darlings or farm animals get bit by a rabid fox."

Not going to happen. The last reported case of rabies in Britain was in 1902. Apart from a few bats that have been discovered with European Bat Lyssavirus, a rabies-like condition, Britain is rabies-free. This is down to strict and effective quarantine laws at all sea and air ports. Ironic really, we can keep mad dogs out, but not, well ... you know what I'm saying.

[Rockingham]

I too have heard similar comments over the years. The cash only attitude usually traces to family experiences during the bank failures of the Depression or other troubles with banks and credit.

The common folk of the South are still with us in the millions, patronized, ignored, or reviled, but self-reliant, God-fearing, freedom-loving, and confident in who they are, with a code that can be traced to the Celts and through the hardscrabble men and women of the American frontier. Contrary to what one would think by the news media, they usually get on well with each other across the boundaries of race, with coal black rural Southern descendants of slaves culturally Scots-Irish even if wholly of Africa in mere appearance.

In Britain, it is aristocratic fox hunters versus PETA and urban feel-good anthropomorphism and class resentment. The US is a country forged by immigrant tradesmen, tenant farmers, and the men who handled dogs and horses for their betters. Consequently, fox hunting and its opponents are both oddities.

[Glyndwr4Cymru]

"In Britain, it is aristocratic fox hunters versus PETA."

I think that's a common misconception, or at best it's only true up to a point. In the moneyed counties of south-east England, frequented by the royals and their hangers-on, it may be the case. And they are the people who make the headlines, naturally. But I live in a small farming community in Snowdonia, North Wales. It's one of the poorest areas of Britain, yest support for fox-hunting stands at about 83%. It's been part of the culture here for 600 years and is still (well, for another month or so) a part of life enjoyed by people of all incomes and ages. On a national scale, I think the issue is urban versus rural, the former seeing foxes and cuddly little furry creatures, the latter as vermin who destroy livestock.

[Rockingham]

True, as to the facts today, but not as the opponents wish to see it. On the facts, my sympathies are with the fox hunters -- and to Hell with PETA and their allies.

[RVN Airplane Driver]

With my PETA I used to win Pi$$ for distance contests in pilot training after a night at the club. Now what is the question about peta??????