I agree that we should refrain from using TN-Bird as a forum for political topics except those that touch directly on bird and ecosystem conservation. If one beholds the bitterness the topic of my indoor-outdoor cats has generated from time to time (for refusing to recant, the Virginia equiv of TN-Bird all but pecked me to death and I had to drop out), we don't need to drag down this forum with even more pressing and contentious issues. Still, I think we should keep polite and disciplined avenues open for people to raise an issue, then invite the "offline" participation of those interested. We all know how to do this. My thought is that when a politically charged conservation/environmental issue arises (such as drilling in ANWR or some such), blogs, online news articles, and literature references abound. Perhaps rabblerousers could: >> Post a restrained, neutral msg naming the nature of the controversy and the >> parties involved. >> Offer reference materials (or be prepared to send such materials to >> respondants) such as 1 or more URLs if available, or a "Go to [your favorite >> search engine] and surf on the string "XXX XXXX XXXXXXX" >> Invite those interested in dialog and/or political action to begin a >> discussion group outside TN-BIRD. Birdwatching is both relaxing and informative. I hope we can keep TN-bird that way, too. Good birds and constructive political donnybrooks (an oxymoron?) to all Liz Singley Kingston TN ----- Original Message ----- From: lyneart [mailto:lyneart@xxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: 7/21/2005 4:25:14 AM To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [TN-Bird] Re: court nominee no friend to the environment So are you saying that it is a detrimental thing for birders to be associated with environmental awareness or simply that opinions of any kind should not be expressed in this forum? Frank Lyne frank@xxxxxxxxxxx near Dot in Logan County ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ken Leggett" <kcleggett@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2005 11:02 PM Subject: [TN-Bird] Re: court nominee no friend to the environment > I DO NOT THINK THAT TN-BIRD IS SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN POLITICAL RHETORIC. > > This has been going on for a long time and it will work to the detriment of > Tn-Birds and what it stands for. > > Ken Leggett > Dyersburg, TN > > > =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation. ----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ----------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s) endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ======================================================== =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER==================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation. ----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ----------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s) endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * =======================================================