I always hate the first post after a long pause in blogging. It feels awkward. Do I explain where I’ve been? Or update on all the things I have been wanting to write about but haven’t had time? Long story short: May always creeps up on me and then explodes into the craziest month of the year, besides December. April jogs along slowly and then before I know it, May arrives and the teacher appreciation activities, volunteer obligations, school events collide and my necessary speed overtakes my natural pace and I end up running around in circles with a circus theme continuously playing in my head.
I’ve also been busy helping a friend try to pass an ordinance to legalize urban chickens in our town. By the reactions, you’d think we were proposing to slaughter cute puppies.
I think there are a large group of people excited about the movement, understand it’s place in food sustainability issues and see the future of eco-progression. And not all of these people want to keep chickens in their backyards, but they understand the value and are supportive of others who want to do it. And then there is the other side…the people so against it that they are spewing hate everywhere. People convinced we will all die from avian flu, rats will overtake the city and everyone will want to have a dirt floor so we can admire our new third world kitsch.
Naturally you would all understand if my chicken-ownership will cause me to start burning old tires in the back, right? Goes without saying…
If only they were as passionate about the real problems that plague this city like gang violence, the ones that will drive their earth-loving, community-minded hippie neighbors out of town. Can’t we keep a few gardeners happy with a few chickens? I mean, Canadian Geese poop all over your yard anyway, and I don’t see you dying from strange diseases yet.
Ridiculous.
And I get that not everyone wants chickens – it’s not for everybody. Clearly, if we were all being forced to OWN a chicken, I would understand an uprising. But the opinions based in fear or plain ignorance are wearing me down. If one is against chickens then clearly they shouldn’t need a biology lesson on why a rooster is not necessary, as they would have looked into it enough to at least know that.
Geesh.
4 comments
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May 12, 2010 at 9:36 pm
Christine C.
Always love reading your posts Karri! We have children trying to wear us down all day long, these idiots don’t know what they’re up against! Keep that fire girl!
May 14, 2010 at 2:15 am
tapagirl
(Laughing) I had forgotten about the idiot that thought roosters were required for eggs. Ah–from an outsider’s point of view this is so much fun to watch but I do sympathize with the stress all of the angst creates over time. Chin up!
May 14, 2010 at 2:52 am
Jenn
Keep fighting for what you believe in. The sad thing is people just don’t want to take the time to do a little research BEFORE speaking. They just have their ideas and run with them. A little research would give them MUCH more credibility.
In the meantime, enjoy this new forum and keeping clucking away. And whenever you need some encouragement, we’re all here for you!!
May 28, 2010 at 5:24 pm
SGM
I think those negative people must have second homes in Grand Rapids. Everyone I know can be excited about some new project or event in the city, and nevertheless, people will make nasty, ignorant comments about whatever the proposal is our paper’s blog. It’s always the same people, and they’re always weirdly irrational about their fears.
Like this one: our local pub around the corner has reclaimed a vacant lot, cleared it out, hauled in new topsoil, and planted a garden. They plan to let it be a community garden and to grow lots of veggies & herbs for the restaurant. You’d think people would all be cheering about this, right? Oh no. “taxedtoomuch” and “notaliberal” are panicked, PANICKED, that food service workers will go work in the garden, GET THEIR HANDS DIRTY, and then serve food at the pub.
My comment to Jonathan? Yes, that is why we should make it illegal for food service workers to poop. Ever.