Sarah Palin: Just Like Us

The country was so estatic when Gov. Palin made her national debut.  She is a common American who happened to be whisked into the greater public eye by complete surprise. "Woo-hoo" we said. No matter what part of the USA you hail from, she finds a lot in common with many of us. So as deer season opened last weekend in Mississippi, I thought of her, and of my Grandmother, and other relatives who have or had no qualms about killing wildlife. It serves a purpose in nature and has always kept things balanced. Elitists miss out on this. In fact, I don't think they get it at all.  So the jokes continue, and I wonder is the media laughing just at Sarah Palin?  Maybe they are laughing at me and too many Americans. I also thought of the turkey ordeal Sarah dealt with. It is a good thing NBC never saw my Grandmother wring a chickens neck.  David Schuster would have been traumatized.  There would be no going back.

Perhaps rural America will always be laughed at by those who consider themselves superior and of a higher sort. I can't help that. But maybe if they had an inkling of  why so many Americans do what they enjoy, maybe the elitists will become enlightened and fully educated.  A journalist who works for The Clarion-Ledger from Jackson, Mississippi, put his reasons for hunting down this way:

Why Do I Hunt?...

David Halperin, The Clarion-Ledger

I hunt because I have seen more breathtaking sunrises and sunsets in a season than most people will notice in a lifetime.

I hunt because seeing a deer still makes my heart beat faster.

I hunt because turkeys are really, really funny to watch. So are squirrels. So are raccoons.

I hunt because figuring out where a deer goes, what he does and why he does it is unraveling a mysterious secret.

I hunt because some of my fondest memories of family and friends surround it.

I hunt because my daddy taught me.

I hunt because shouldering a rifle or drawing back a bow means I have been successful whether or not I pull the trigger or let the arrow fly.

I hunt because making that decision is a serious one and harvesting game is something to be done ethically and well.

I hunt because it makes me sit down, be quiet and remain still for hours at a time.

I hunt because reading a good book is even more enjoyable sitting 20 feet up in a tree.

I hunt because I want to be there when the morning explodes with birds singing and at night when things get quiet and the coyotes begin to howl.

I hunt because cold mornings make me feel alive.

I hunt because nature is a gift. Whether I just watch deer or if I am fortunate enough to "harvest" one, I kneel and thank God.

Everyone who hunts has his or her own reasons. It's hard to explain, and lot harder to write about than some political issue. So, I'll leave the outdoors writing to Bobby. I just plan to enjoy another deer season.