what’s your take…..

I know that this is totally a non-fishing question….. but what is your guys opinion on resuming the college, pro football season this weekend, after what has happened??

I personally am undecided….. I took the last couple days off to reflect…..

If we alter our lifestyle and way we do buisness, its what the terrorists want. They want us to live in fear and terror and to look over our shoulders………Play the games, make bin-Laden check himself and say “damn, I did not do much to those blue jean wearing, rock and roll listening, hot mama dancing at the pub infidel dogs……..

Take care of whatever you need to take care of now, get yourself feeling ready to move on, and then do so. The games can pick up where they left off. Everything can push back a few days or until the next week. The games will be right where we left them.

America, much like yourself, is reflecting vigorously, trying to gain comfort, security, and above all, some answers. We want to know who and why and if this can be finished enough to get back to the “good ol’ days”. I’m not interested in any sporting event as much as I stay glued to the current events. I still want to know if Jeff Gordon can hang on for his 4th Winston Cup title, but not this weekend. Not without some form of closure.

I think we should, at the very least, get past the funerals of those less fortunate people, affected directly by this attack. My life and it’s interests can wait until proper respects have been paid to the victims, the heroes, and those left to deal with the absence of both.

This spring I witnessed a boat collision while fishing. It takes the fun right out of it! This has impacted me the same way. I still think about our sport and how much I love it, but it doesn’t feel right to just forget this happened and go chasing a tug!

We need a form of closure and I think the burials will help close the door for me. Not that I’ll EVER forget about them or the tragedy of this historical moment, but I believe it will be the start of my healing process and the games will play once again.

Just one man’s take on this…………………..

Go ahead and do whatever you think you have to, to help yourself feel easier about what happened this week. I guarrantee, the media won’t let you forget. Your own conscience won’t let you forget. Through time, it will probably recede to the back of your mind, but every so often it will come back.

Whenever I’ve lost a loved one, or something else that breaks my heart, I head to the river the first chance I get.

I reflect, I smile, I might cry, I pray.

I know I feel better about things when I’m on the water.

I second all Herb says!

The water and woods are my church, thats where I reflect on all I do.

Hook

I`m leaving very early Saturday morning for Vilas County. Taking my wife and daughter and heading up to muskie fish for a week. This vacation couldn`t have come at a better time. I need to get away from the TV for a while and flush my brain out. 7 days of throwing baits as big as my foot is just what I need.

Our lives have been touched, but me MUST return to normalcy. Pick your head up, stick your chest out, and walk like a proud American.

See you guys in a week.

Beav and family

A couple of weeks ago I was fishing with a very good friend of mine and we were discussing church and God and other things about life. He stated that on Sunday morning he would rather be in his boat thing about our Lord than to be in church thinking about being in his boat. We have to heal, to get out our heads back together. For most of us on FTR, that probably means some time alone on the water. We can’t allow who ever did this to hurt what we’re about any more than they already have. Let’s get back to as close to what we were as soon as possible. Keep it vertical.

I can’t vacation when my country is at war……………..I just can’t.

I can and will. We should have been at war with terrorists for years. Now that it`s hit home, it`s time to catch up. If I and others were to give up things that we love to do, it would just be another victory for the cowards that did this. That is what they want to do. Change our lives forever. Well guess what….mission accomplished…they have. Things will never be the same as they were before we were hit.

I`m like everybody else. I`ve got a feeling in my guts that I`ve never had before. But I`m not going to stop living because of it. My family and I will go on. But when the day comes that I have to fight to keep my right to go on vacation or to fish the river, I`ll go down fighting.

Let`s be realistic. What would be gained by you cancelling a vacation that you had planned for a year because of what happened? Nothing. Unless you`re the President or somebody in the military.

I`ll tell my kid “Sorry, we`re not going up north because some crazed fanatics hijacked some planes and killed a bunch of innocent people and daddy doesn`t think it`s right to go fishing because of that.”

Wrong answer. It`s a tragedy and a shame, but to say something like….”I can`t vacation while my country is at war.”!! That makes no sense.

Who are we at war with? We don`t even know yet.

Beleive me, when the enemy is trying to land on our shores, I`ll be there with my rifle. But since I can`t do anything about right now…..I`M GOING FISHING!

And that’s fine but I can’t pull myself from the information. It’s not changing the way I live, it’s a response to the current condition. I’ll never know to get my gun from my boat and to try and forget about it is selfish of me. I’m not trying to speak for you Beav, only for myself, and there is no judgment being passed against you for keeping life “normal” in the eyes of your children. But my country is in a state of war, it just hasn’t been announced with who, and if anyone can use my assistance, I just want to be ready and I can’t feel ready with a fishing rod.

That’s why we are called ” Individuals”. Everybody will handle this situation in their own way. Since the world hasn’t stop turning, I have to work, just as everyone else with that responsability. But, first chance I get, I’m heading to the river. If I could be out east to help in some way, I would. But I can’t. So all I can give them is my prayers, and the fact that life goes on for the rest of us. There is no Right or Wrong in how we feel about this, or how we handle it. Who would be judge?

Just my individual, indivisable opinion.

personally I regret that they decided to cancel the football games this weekend…. though I cant fault them for it….. I would deduce that disruption of the American way of life is one things that our craven foe was trying to accomplish… and I hate to see them given even one little thing they want….

Ive been silent this week, which as all here on FTR who know me would agree is not “normal” for me….. but Ive had much to reflect upon, and I have…. having thought things through and come to my own conclusions Im now ready to “proceed” with life once again……

I certainly agree with many of the comments on this thread in reference to where and how healing can take place….. my best contemplation takes place when Im on the river….. and during any of the “worst” personal crisis that Ive had you would have seen me out there on a daily basis….. not really caring so much about catching…. just somehow connected to something bigger than me and it helped….. hard to explain the how and why… but I can tell that I dont have to explain anything to you people about the healing power that I find on the river….

one of the things I like about this board… is the group of people who though diverse in many ways, share a fierce devotion for our river fishing passion……

we can be different in many ways…. and yet we all share something that means enough to us that we are part of a fellowship……. we are there for each other… and for the river….. even though we all have interests and responsibilities beyond that…… I want you all to know that it comforts me to know that there are so many kindred spirits out here, brothers and even sisters some whom Ive never met…. and yet I know that Im connected to each because of our great love for this common passion……. in the end as my emotions and thoughts rambled during this week… I always returned here… and its difficult to express what a comfort that was and remains……. sometimes I take things for granted too much…. and when something like this happens it gives me the oppurtunity to see the error of such thinking…….

therefore I would like to take this oppurtunity to thank all of you, for being here and contributing so much to my life and to our common love……..

thanks to one and all……

I’m sure you guys are tiring of my endless 2 cents worth, but I’ve had another thought occur to me, that is “my take”. The vibe I’m getting from all the cancelations is out of respect for the tragedy. Maybe it’s good that we don’t return so quickly to our complacent tendancies, hastened by our favorite past times. The terrorists are not so much about changing our way of life……………….but making us afraid of them. I don’t think cancelling sporting events shows fear. Something might be uttered about security and safety, but the big picture shows focus.

The message to remain “normal” is to keep the panic out of those less courageous. Some men, most women, and likely, all our children. If all appears normal, panic has no fuel. But if you just assualted a nation in the same manner, would you celebrate their fear by sporting cancellations? The fact that an entire nation is willing to put their luxuries aside, drop what they’re doing and focus on helping victims and viciously pursuing the assailants, should be intimidating! I think it’s a statement that we’re willing to take care of this matter first, then get back to the playtime!

I also think it’s good not to force our professional athletes into any less healing time for themselves. They need time to sort this out as much as we do, so I think it’s a good thing to take a break. It shows committment, focus, and a deep love for the nation

I could care less if the nfl plays Sunday…. all this media coverage scares me,,, cnn., is broadcast all over the world… something tells me that with all the media attention and the closing of wall street and the stock exchanges, the halt to all major sporting events….. the death and destruction involved in the pentagon and the worldtrade center,,,,, that the evil mission was a complete success,,,,, and with all this media coverage it adds fuel to the fire…… They arested poeple today trying to board planes with knives and false id’s….. they are trying to do it agian!!!!!!! This is crazy!!!!!

I was very disappointed by the NCAA and various conferences calling off games this weekend. I feel these games would have provided a forum for alot of people to come together and share their support, tears and prayers for what has happened. Calling them off was a huge mistake in my mind unless travel was a problem and simply could not be arranged. I can understand pro football because that is a “business” and a symbol of American capitalism. Can we not get on to normal life as we know it? Beav, as far as going on vacation at a time like this, can I go too??!!

I am going fishing this weekend, and camping, and going to the local dirt track to take in some races. I need a weekend away from the TV and the ongoing coverage. I had a highschool buddy nearly killed in the tragedy, and an online pal, one of her co-workers sister was on one of the planes that landed in the WTC. I just need to get away. Drown some worms and some beers and come back Sunday to see what has transpired…..my daughter has seen what has happened, I have explained to her what and why these animals did this, and I now feel the need to get her outa town and have fun with her and my wife….

The NFL Players and Owners both voted not to play. The Jets and Giants both were emphatic about not playing. The Jets were scared to death to fly to Oakland this week. The Giants could see and smell the ashes from the practice field. Bringing together 80,000 people together at one time in one place although touching and theraputic, is not a good idea right now in terms of safety. Especially when they are still nailing these idiots at the airports. Also of note, the NFL players are not getting game checks this week. Im going to be fishing as much as possible and just thinking about things.

Steve Hougom – FTR Webstaff

If anything good can come of this tragedy,maybe we as Americans will now put things into perspective.Our real heroes are not signing 85 million dollar contracts because they can catch a football.They are those who while panicked and horror stricken people were running from the collapsing WTC towers…they were running towards it to try and save lives,at great risk to their own.Here are your heroes America!Many more will be showing themselves in the near future I’m afraid and they don’t make anything near nfl minimum salary.

Yep, I know where you are comming from there, Stillakid…. I can hardly function at work and at home…but, I am going to continue to try to persue life, liberty, and all the happiness I can right now, for my family.

I too plan to go to Mille Lacs fishing soon, for a few days with my two sons. Mainly to try to use the time to get back some of the sane-ness and relax from the stress that is building. And to escape a bit! Yep, fishing has been an escape for me, all my life!

Ok for you to stay here…. and watch the home-front for us while we are gone to play. Playing is very inportant to 10,11, and 12 year old kids right now….. and for me too.

I’ll have the cell phone and the radio on. I can be home in four hours time. I’ll give you my phone # ! If the USA needs you and me to fight, call me. I’ll pick you up on the way home from the lake.

Keep your head up and your eyes open!

Thanks Bro,….Hawger