Posted on 02/25/2007 8:57:59 AM PST by McLynnan
My guitars are in a temporary, well-deserved state of suspended animation following the most outrageous rhythm and blues rock-n-roll audio orgy since the invention of Me too. Every night on stage for more than 45 years, I have celebrated a gung ho musical adventure.
It's the likes of which could erupt only from the primal inspiration of my black heroes: Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, Mose Allison, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddly, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, (I'll let you tell Jerry Lee he isn't black), Wilson Picket, Sam and Dave, Freddy King, Albert King, B.B. King, the mighty Motown Funkbrothers and, of course, his majesty, James Brown.
Where on earth does an old guitarboy like me get all this piss and vinegar, spirit and attitude at the tender age of 58?
I'll tell you where, write this down children (and all you old folk too): discipline.
Good-old fashioned, be-the-best-that-you-can-be American Dream discipline.
Fifty-eight years clean and sober. How cool, but more importantly, how simple is that? Totally. Can't get that smile off my face.
Enter the wonderful world of firearms fun. That's correct. My father, God bless his U.S. Army drill sergeant soul, not only taught me gun safety and exciting marksmanship discipline, he parented it upon me.
This, of course, used to be almost universal "responsible parenting 101."
All one has to do is look around to see the slovenly, disheveled, fat, disconnected, rude, pierced, Ozzy-zombie-like youth so prevalent today to witness the tragedy of abandoned discipline and, so often, horrifically plain lousy parenting.
Such soulless conditions have permeated every nook and cranny of our society. It boggles the mind how careless so many Americans have become.
It says a lot when a nation is constantly squallering and bellyaching about how they deserve "health care" when so many conduct themselves knowingly and intentionally in daily suicidal behavior that proves they clearly do not care about their health one bit.
Weird, Planet-of-the-Apes behavior, the way I see it. Pray for America. She needs it.
But alas! Celebrate that absolute family quality of life that is indeed alive and well across the hinterland.
Thank God that the good still outweighs the bad and the ugly is out there, literally, out there.
As in the great outdoors.
I am honored and privileged to proudly represent the most wonderful grassroots American family organizations to be found anywhere.
And the upgrade of youthful discipline is looking better everyday. Those same powerful lessons in accountability that my mom and dad brought home to us kids can be found in the great Big Brothers and Big Sisters, National Rifle Association, Texas Rifle and Pistol Association, the spectacular 4H programs, Texas Parks and Wildlife Youth Hunter program, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Safari Club International, Dallas and Houston Safari Clubs, National Shooting Sports Foundation, our Ted Nugent Kamp for Kids and a plethora of youth oriented charities too numerous to list here.
What all these volunteer-run operations have in common is their successful youth firearms training and shooting programs.
I cannot overemphasize the irrefutable positives that occur when a kid is shown the basics of firearms discipline and the always intense fun therein.
With the tsunami of evidence pouring in nationwide, more and more kids across America are discovering and rejoicing in this time-honored family outdoor shooting fun.
The Olympic-class challenge of breathing, sight acquisition and trigger-control bring a "Zen" like higher level of awareness to every participating youngster, who naturally craves such individual excellence.
Like the enormous "win-win" successes of the National Archery in Schools programs, the shooting sports do indeed "cleanse the soul."
Look what it did for this wild guitarboy from Detroit.
Jimi got high and Jimi is dead. I went shooting, and I'm still Ted. Go figure.
I think I'll go clean my guitars and my guns, again. See ya at the range.
Find dedicated and professional shooters who will steer you in the right direction in central Texas and the Waco area, at Brazos Feed & Supply, Keith's ACE Hardware stores, LoneStar Music and Archery, Praco Pawn Shop, Guns-R-Us, the Waco Gun Club at the Waco Airport, deertexas.com, and tednugent.com to discover a long list of organizations dedicated to introducing America's youth to the discipline upgrade of the shooting sports. It's everywhere for everyone.
Ted Nugent is a Waco-based rock musician and outdoors TV host.
Several years ago, George Gilder announced Nuge would do a column.
He did one dynamite column, but I never saw another.
I believe that Ted Nugent is, above guitarist and hunter/sportsman, a Christian. THAT is why he is able to forgive his friend, Jim Zumbo, for making that horrible statement. It is not that difficult to understand. We threw Zumbo overboard for his remarks, and he deserved to lose his endorsements. Now most 2A supporters want to throw Nugent overboard because he is willing to forgive Zumbo. The 2A is one of the most important things we can fight for in this country, but I will put the teachings of Jesus Christ slightly higher on my list.
Excellent! Ted's columns are going to be right up there with Chuck Norris's and Ann Coulter's in my "looking forward to, do not miss" file. I've been a Ted Nugent fan since circa 1968 when I bought (and wore out) the 'Journey to the Center of the Mind' 45. I still have it.
Good riddance.
If some holier-than-thou jerks can't forgive Zumbo, after his apology, and after all the positive things he's done for hunting, toss 'em.
I know! Depends on what you shoot, doesn't it?
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