is it ok to be a sea shepherd?

[jbor]

"Doubtless one leading reason why the world declines honoring us whalemen,
is this: they think that, at best, our vocation amounts to a butchering sort
of business; and that when actively engaged therein, we are surrounded by
all manner of defilements. Butchers we are, that is true. But butchers,
also, and butchers of the bloodiest badge have been all Martial Commanders
whom the world invariably delights to honor. And as for the matter of the
alleged uncleanliness of our business, ye shall soon be initiated into
certain facts hitherto pretty generally unknown, and which, upon the whole,
will triumphantly plant the sperm whale-ship at least among the cleanliest
things of this tidy earth. But even granting the charge in question to be
true; what disordered slippery decks of a whale-ship are comparable to the
unspeakable carrion of those battle-fields from which so many soldiers
return to drink all ladies' plaudits? And if the idea of peril so much
enhances the popular conceit of the soldier's profession; let me assure ye
that many a veteran who has freely marched up to a battery, would quickly
recoil at the apparition of the sperm whale's vast tail, fanning into eddies
the air over his head. For what are the comprehensible terrors of man
compared with the interlinked terrors and wonders of God!"

Ishmael, Ch 24 'The Advocate'
*Moby Dick, or, The Whale* by Herman Melville

best


----------
>From: calbert at tiac.net
>To: "s~Z" <keith at pfmentum.com>
>Subject: Re: is it ok to be a sea shepherd?
>Date: Sun, Jun 11, 2000, 1:14 AM
>

> Damned right it is. Instead of standing at a safe distance wailing
> about the evils of drift-netting, these bad eses get out there and
> kick some miscreant arse. And they could'nt be doing it to nicer
> people.....
>
> give until it hurts.....