Today, I visited www.sharkonline.org again, and I did some more reading. 

I read a story by the president of SHARK - I recently discovered his name is Mr. Steve Hindi - which he probably wrote many years ago. 

It had to do with fishing and killing.

 

After reading most of that article, I realized something important.  I am not an animal activist at nearly the same level as many other people are. 

I read, and I respect, Mr. Hindi's outlook, and I know I don't feel quite the same way about the death of animals. 

 

I guess - maybe that makes me seem as if I'm riding the fence - maybe I seem like a hypocrite - I don't feel exactly the same way as people who are totally committed to absolute animal welfare. 

I think, if I still had our bassboat, and I felt physically stronger, I'd probably be out trying to hook a 14 pound largemouth. 

And - if the bass was substantially larger than the 10 pound 4 ounce bass on my wall, I might have it mounted as a trophy. 

Anything smaller, I'd most likely put back in the lake, and keep looking for that "monster".

 

The issue which I'm writing about - rodeo, cruelty, animal abuse, forcing animals to perform against their will for sport, money and entertainment - has caused me to personally re-evaluate my own thinking. 

I wouldn't make a very good "PETA candidate".

 

With all these thoughts going through my mind, I'm consciously aware that I'm not a follower. 

I tend to think things over for myself, and I don't have a "follow the crowd" type of personality.

 

I realize I'm not innocent of "abuse".  I also realize that "abuse" can be defined 1,000 different ways, by 1,000 different people. 

So I look into myself, into my past actions, into my current thoughts. 

I think of legal definitions, social definitions, moral, political, public, and private interpretations. 

I've spoken to many people who know me well.  What I've determined, after searching my soul carefully, is that ....

 

I AM NOT ABUSIVE

 

I can look in the mirror, and I'm not looking back at an abusive person.  I can live with my conscience.

 

By the way, thank you for reading my pages.  Once I get started, the words don't ever seem to stop. 

It's nice that some of my thoughts might make another person really think about some things.  Thank you again.