Well, dang. I wasn't going to comment on this thread, but Joel pushed a button.
This is an issue that affects our society as a whole, and we, birders, are part of that society. I see two issues here. (1) that people who feel upset or otherwise compelled to respond to this incident via this listserv, should be allowed to express their thoughts/feelings/concern without being told to be quiet. (2) the broader concern for society as a whole, what if these people had been approached because they were not hunters, drove a Chevy rather than Subaru, were dressed "wrong", shot Canon instead of Nikon, etc. etc. Freedom of expression must be allowed. If you don't like it, don't read it, but to say it has nothing to do with "birding" is a very shallow excuse for attempting to cut off discussion. We need to be aware that these issues persist, even if they are not specifically related to birding. We do not exist in a vacuum. This specific incident happened during a birding event; hence, it DOES have to do with birding. This thread will fade away. If it upsets you, perhaps you should try to examine why.
For the record, I am happy to bird along with any LGBTQ birders. Yes, it shouldn't matter, it is birding, but dang-it-all, it DOES matter.
Peace and love to all of my birding friends and acquaintances.
Peggy
Mundypeggy_busby at yahoo.comBothell, WA
Thursday, January 4, 2018, 7:42:13 PM PST, Joel Haas <
haas.joel at comcast.net> wrote:
Please, let's just let this go. It has nothing to do with birding.
Joel E Haas, MD
Haas.Joel at comcast.net On 1/4/2018 7:17 PM, Wilson Cady wrote:
I read the report of the hate displayed during a CBC with amazement that people wanted to force their personal feelings or beliefs on others during an event that brings so many people together for a common goal. I became active in Audubon and the birding community in the early 1970's and never felt any discrimination from other birders despite my being a blue collar long haired Hippie, (now retired and nearly hairless). Everyone I met in the field were welcoming and very helpful in a time when there was a dearth of learning opportunities compared to with what is available today. I wish to thank all of the good people out there that are standing up for acceptance and diversity in our birding community. Wilson Cady
Columbia River Gorge, WA
---------- Original Message ----------
From:
sremse at comcast.net
To: TWEETERS <
tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Subject: [Tweeters] Re: Birding Etiquette
Date: Thu, 4 Jan 2018 18:41:44 +0000 (UTC)
It's unfortunate the people were subjected to the bigotry after their pleasant bird count. I've faced a more subtle form of prejudice over and over from the birding community. People discount my sightings/input when they discover I'm a blue collar worker. Having risen (twice) to the presidency of a local Audubon chapter makes me almost as rare as an Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Once I was told I should leave a committee because of my lack of college degree (thankfully this has been the exception and not the norm) . I hope all of you are sitting down: a Varied Thrush or Marbled Murrelet doesn't care how many pieces of paper are tacked to your wall. All should be welcome in the birding community. I don't wish to prolong this subject but perhaps some folks can learn and grow a bit. P.S.- A female Northern Harrier is currently perched outside my office window ----Steve Ellis
sremse at comcast.net Coupeville, Wa
_______________________________________________
Tweeters mailing list
Tweeters at u.washington.edu
http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
_______________________________________________
Tweeters mailing list
Tweeters at u.washington.edu
http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters