[mou] A response to the post of Bernard P. Friel

[Eric Harrold]

Folks,
 
Being that an opportunity presented itself, let me ask a question that has puzzled me for some time. I've been a member of birding forums in North Carolina and Virginia. Political discussions as they pertain to bird conservation are frowned upon by some folks who would no doubt describe themselves as birders. Can someone please provide answers to a couple of questions actually, that I just don't seem to understand, even over many years. 
 
1) If birders don't take political initiative, who will for many issues such as habitat conservation/preservation that are critical to sustainable populations of certain species? The one group that has done a tremendous amount for conservation, hunters, often get derided on internet forums and in birding publications. It seems a whole lot of birders are out of touch on how conservation is achieved and its inherent political aspect. 
 
2) How does noncommunication and the ignorance it promotes help anything? We can conveniently avoid political discussions altogether to the end of being polite, but other than this, I don't know what it can accomplish. What forum or setting would be more appropriate for discussing the politics of avian conservation than a birding forum? 
 
Sincerely,
 
Eric Harrold

--- On Sat, 10/4/08, Bernard P. Friel <wampy at att.net> wrote:

From: Bernard P. Friel <wampy at att.net>
Subject: Re: [mou] vote November 4, for constitutional amendment
To: "Tom Bell" <tnejbell at comcast.net>, "MOU net" <mou-net at moumn.org>
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2008, 6:39 PM


Please explain to me how you can initiate expression of an opinion on a subject on MOU net, as you did, and simultaneously caution against initiating an expression of opinion on the same subject? Is it your intent to limit the expression of opinion to a particular view ...the one you expressed? 
-- 
Bernard P. Friel
Web Pages - http://www.wampy.com  ;
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            http://www.wampy.com/bn2  Songbirds 

            http://www.agpix.com/bernardpfriel

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            http://www.digitalrailroad.net/bernardfriel


 
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