Readers offer tidbits of wisdom, some disagreement and some praise

Outdoors in Alaska, by Howard Delo

A letter from a reader has recently caused me feelings of guilt. I've been writing this column for about 18 months and haven't addressed some of the reader comments I've received about the various column topics. We will correct that oversight right now.

Back in February 2003, I wrote about the "good old days."

Nola Bragg wrote, "I remember on Halloween leaving the house about 5 p.m., covering the whole town trick and treating and coming home about 8 p.m. My parents didn't have to check my bags and oh, what wonderful homemade goodies we got! I tell my grandchildren that I remember when my parents got their first TV. Their mouths hang open and ask, 'What did you do before TV?!' Yes, times sure have changed -- sometimes I think not necessarily for the good!"

Arvita McConnell commented on the "good old days" in a couple of letters. In one, she asked, "Remember when our grandparents, great-grandparents, and such stated that they only had an 8th-grade education?" She included a copy of the 8th-grade final exam from 1895 used in Salina, Kans. I read through the exam and probably could have passed with about a "C" grade, and I have a master's degree! She concluded that the test, "Gives the saying of an early 20th century person that 'she/he only had an 8th-grade education' a whole new meaning!"

In March, I wrote a column taking the animal rights groups and, particularly, Friends of Animals, to task for doing their best to impede, threaten, and harass the Board of Game into abandoning the proposed wolf predator control program for the McGrath area.

A.L. wrote, "You are irate about the fact that people who are not Alaskans dare comment about the welfare of the wolves of Alaska. This reminds me of the angry husband who physically abuses his wife…." Let's just say A.L. did not agree with my point of view.

In June, I received an editor-forwarded e-mail from Dan Dunaway in Dillingham. We were both Fish and Gamers and also are both currently retired.

Dan wrote, "Just stumbled onto Howard Delo's articles in your newspaper online. I enjoyed the two articles I found -- never realized he was a writer."

Dan, there are probably readers out there who are still wondering about the writing part, too!

Also in June, I wrote about my black bear baiting efforts during the 2003 season. That column precipitated a harassing phone call to my home. The caller wanted to label me with crude names rather than discuss the topic of bear baiting. I hung up and reported the call to the proper authorities.

I enjoy a good "discussion" on any topic, but as I stated in my very first column, if we disagree, let's at least be civil about it.

In October, I wrote a column about some articles I had read discussing a treaty backed by the United Nations addressing illegal small arms trading.

That same binding treaty would have a significant impact on a citizen's right to "keep and bear" arms anywhere in the world, including the USA.

The column was picked up and posted on the National Rifle Association's Web site the next day.

I received eight e-mails from around the country including California, Michigan, South Dakota, and Massachusetts. A couple of others didn't have an identifying location but were listed as sent from Eastern Daylight and Pacific Daylight time zones. All but one of the e-mailers agreed with my perspective on the problems that treaty would cause us here in the USA.

Now to the letter that precipitated this column. RKB wrote, "Rather enjoyed your article 'Think before you do,' however, asking people up here to think is, in itself, wishful thinking."

I understand your perspective but I don't agree. Be careful of developing an "elitist" attitude.

To answer your other questions, we'll talk about sticklebacks in the pike fishing article, OK?

Howard Delo is a retired fisheries biologist. He can be reached by e-mailing editor@frontiersman.com or by calling 352-2268 and leaving a message.