Imbolc 1998 Newsletter Letter to the Editor

We are all able bodied people (I am assuming so), that read the newsletter and we talk about how we do this or that, but do we stop and think about who those that can't can? I did not think about this till I was speaking to an elderly lady last week. She is in her early eighties, but has problems with her legs. She can't walk very far and can't stand for long periods. The subject of the hunt came up. Her unit is only two rooms a kitchen-lounge room and bed room. She is almost confined to her unit. The shops are about a twenty minute bus journey away. She does not have a car - she could not drive a car in her condition. So how does she hunt? She can't fish because of her disadvantage, she can't chase, she can't shoot. How does she or anyone else in a similar circumstance survive? Normally if they were a wild animal they would not. If they were a domestic animal they probably would be euthanised. So what do disadvantaged people do? They can not hunt for themselves so they must ask others to do it for them. They rely on those that can to do for those that can't.

Colin

(What do you think? How do people in this situation cope, or what role is there for them to play when discussing the concept of the hunt? If you have a thought or comment please send it in - ed)