[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: It's all politics... Long - Sorry!
- From: Sheila Lieberman <sheilaofmiami@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: d_fritsche@xxxxxxxxxx, Showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2006 07:39:56 -0700 (PDT)
Both you and the gentleman of whom (that is how you use it Ed) you spoke are
very wise.
I still can't tear myself away from this subculture and family. sheila
David Fritsche <d_fritsche@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
This has been a very stimulating week on the list and I've enjoyed both the
weekend shows and coming home to a stimulating list....
Just thought I might try and recap it all!
I've told this story before but it is worth repeating.
I watched the fellow at ring side for several minutes. He was intently
watching the show but I did not recognize him, so I approached, introduced
myself and asked him if he was an exhibitor or just observing. He explained
that he was just walking in the park, had seen the canopies and had come
over to see what was going on. He lived locally and did not have a German
Shepherd. Then, he began to probe!
"Those people going into the ring with the dog, they are usually the same
each class. Do they own all those dogs or are they handlers?" I explained
that they are just the handlers. "Then the owners are those people outside
the ring who are attempting to get the dogs attention?" He asked. I said
that he was right and commented on his keen sense of observation. "Do they
pay the handlers to do this?" he continued. I affirmed that they did. He
continued, "Do you have many dog shows in a month? do you do this every
week-end?" I explained that we did have a lot of shows on a regular basis,
but not quite every week-end. "And do the same people show up at each show
with the same dogs?" He asked. "Mostly" I replied, and explained, sometimes
we bring different dogs to different judges, etc.. "So the shows are mostly
the same dogs and same people and same handlers, but different judges?" I
agreed. "And where do you get your judges? They must certainly be familiar
with your breed. Do they also come from your group?" I laughed and affirmed
his observations. "Then," he asked, "How do you keep it honest? I see the
need for doing it that way, but you are an inbred subculture and I would bet
that those who loose would see the tight relationships of your subculture as
an excuse for loosing."
I was floored by the string of questions and of his power to perceive both
our cultural relationships and the issue of credibility. Without the
knowledgeable judge, we do not value their opinion, but in that they come
from within, we can doubt their honor.
In our breed, it is a particular problem in that we ARE an "inbred
subculture." Meaning - we want judges who are knowledgeable about the breed,
so we select them from breeders. We also get handlers from our own ranks for
similar reasons: knowledge of the breed. So, we, as a group, "culture," if
you will, have a circular relationship. Our friends, associations, business
dealings, breedings, judging, handling, traveling, etc., etc. all involve
the same people.
If we set the ideal context: Judges will not judge a dog they have seen
before or for an owner they know or who has a handler they are friends with,
or who is campaigning a dog. Judges will not campaign a dog or breed a
litter while they are accepting judging assignments. Handlers will not
handle for judges or accept points from judges they have eaten with in the
past 10 years. Dogs will be drug tested, judges will take a lie detector
test after each show and handlers will be
shot if they attempt to get the judges attention to their dog.
Result: No judges, handler, breeders, shows, friends, or dinners together.
So, we do not opt for this sense of relational distance, but rely on the
long traditions of our sport and the honor of our relationships. The problem
is: This is politics. Yes, it is! But hold on - let me explain.....
We use the term "politics" and "political" most often to denote something
conniving and evil. But politics is simply the way in which a group of
people relate. It involves our structures, laws that come from those
structures, and also the unwritten rules that develop that, although not
encoded, are none the less present with any group. Thus, our nation and its
privileges is based on our political system. We elect people to represent us
and to make our nation, our state, our county and our cities safe and
prosperous. Similarly, we have a system of relationships within our dog show
culture. That is neither evil or wrong. It just is! Structures by which we
do our "inbred subculture" are not evil, although people can be evil and use
the system for unintended purposes.
Yes, in that right - politics is part of what we do. It is OK to have
freinds, form relationships and for that to accompany our tour of weekend
dog shows together. It is OK to make rules, set a standard, select judges
and have a B-B-Q together. Do we risk 'the appearance of evil?' Of course!
Do we hear about evil in our sport? Never...., Er, I meant to say - of
course.
What happened over the past few days here in our 'family' is a good thing.
We discussed our relationships and how we do things. We challenged some
assumptions and affirmed our structures. We 'did politics!' It will not do
away with the perception of evil that will occasionally surface in our
sport, because of necessity we are, as my observer friend named us, an
"inbred sub-culture." Our realities are different, person to person. Our
perceptions are different. Our realities are diverse. Our expectations run
the gambit from rose colored glasses to critic. It's all part of getting a
bunch of people together for a common purpose. It's the politics of it all.
So, let's show dogs. Anyone want to borrow my rose colored
glasses?????????????
Dave
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Sheila of Miami
Mernydex GSD's
Loving Obedience Dog Training
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POST is Copyrighted 2006. All material remains the property of the original
author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind
are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the
Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY
MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS
PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY
FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE
PROSECUTED.
For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx
VISIT OUR WEBSITE - URL temporarily deleted due to AOL issues
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