The Unspeakable Hunting the Uneatable (Bunny-huggers and culture warriors unite)

The Chicago Tribune ^ | February 27, 2004 | Ian Caplin

[quidnunc]

Oscar Wilde once described the English country gentleman galloping after a fox as "the unspeakable in full pursuit of the uneatable." But the centuries-old practice of hunting foxes and other animals with horse and hound has finally come to an end in Britain after new restrictions recently came into force. Can the fox, the main beneficiary of the change, now breathe a sigh of relief?

Whether Chicagoans or other citizens in the U.S. care about whether the fox can or not depends on the big picture behind the division caused by this debate. Here goes, then.

Hunting wild animals worldwide, whether for culling, cuisine or contentment, dates from way back when. Perhaps even earlier. It is therefore unsurprising that when fox hunting, an ancient British tradition, itself became culled this month, massive sections of the community were split. It only adds insult to injury that the changes are as confusing as they are socially divisive. Nowhere does the statute that outlaws "hunting" even define what the word actually means.

But the legal niceties are not the big picture.

-snip-

[Abundy]

A good read. He really takes a swipe at the anti's in there based not on their ideology, but the fact that democracy is being sacrificed in the process.

[Reactionary]

The usual from the Marxist swine. They've destroyed another traditional aspect of British culture in the name of "rights" for animals.

Liberalism is a mental disease.

[Jagdgewehr]

Let's offer, then, the old town and country debate--the metropolitan majority legislating the "barbarism" out of their country cousins, because they after all know best.

My pet peeve.

[teenyelliott]

I don't really care about this issue one way or another. What I don't understand is how running anything down and killing it is fun. I get the hunter/gatherer thing, but I don't think even the British eat fox.

Personally, I think the Brits should concentrate more on passing some sort of dental hygiene law.

[sully777]

I'm shocked that the Greens didn't go to Brussels long ago to stamp out fox hunting.

In honor of said article:
Sweet - Fox on the Run Lyrics

I (I)
don't wanna know your name
Cause you don't look the same
The way you did before

You (you)
you think you got a pretty face
But the rest of you is out of place
You looked all right before

Chorus
Fox on the run
You screamed and everybody comes a-running
Take a run and hide yourself away
Fox on the run
F-foxy, foxy on the run
Fox on the run and hideaway

You (you)
you talk about just every band
But the names you drop are second hand
I've heard it all before

I (I)
don't wanna know your name
Cause you don't look the same
The way you did before
(repeat chorus)

As the DJ used to say during the song, "Tally Ho"

[snugs]

**The usual from the Marxist swine. They've destroyed another traditional aspect of British culture in the name of "rights" for animals. Liberalism is a mental disease.**

How right you it saddens me that this scence will be a thing of the past.

[snugs]

**Personally, I think the Brits should concentrate more on passing some sort of dental hygiene law.**

Please explain

[snugs]

You can fox hunt in Europe

[tertiary01]

FYI, I thought I read there were legal hunts in just the last week or so,with many foxes killed, just to show that they could and still would be done even within the boundaries of the new laws.

It sounds like the foxes there, are as numerous as gophers are here...and just as destructive.

[snugs]

A legal hunt in Britain is now that the Fox can be sniffed out by 2 dogs only the dogs must not kill the fox but it can be shot by the huntsman.

Fox are a menace in Britain (IMHO not shared by a lot of people I know but then I keep pigeons) especially in towns the urban fox is fairly common and even breeds.

[Reactionary]

The beauty of that scene far outweighs the "right" of a fox to be eaten by a predator.

But, then again, Leftist totalitarians care nothing for beauty or tradition.

[teenyelliott]

It was a joke.

[Winniesboy]

Not a very funny one, I'm afraid. That anachronistic stereotype is unbelievably tedious, as well as being completely unfounded on any current reality.