Thought for today:
"A fox should never be a juror at a chicken trial however fantastic the temptation. Neither should a hunter or farmer sit in sole judgement on the fox's fate.
I do not know why such distinctions should exist, but whereas most children love foxes, many of their parents think them nothing less than vermin. They are I believe, the only creature along with pit bull terriers that Parliament has spent many hours enacting laws in an attempt to control either their behaviour or that of the hunter. Such laws reflect a divide between the classes and reveal vested interests, along with baser instincts which allow some humans to feel that hounds chasing a fox as quarry and ripping a captured fox asunder is okay. And what about those riders attending their first kill when they consider themselves fortunate to be able to smear the blood of the mauled fox on their face as a 'seen it-done it' status symbol. It isn't okay by me mate and never will be!
During 1990, I started visiting Yorkshire Primary Schools and by 2002, I had held over two thousand story-telling assemblies in Yorkshire educational establishments. I also became an established children's author. One of the first children's books I wrote was 'Sleezy the Fox', an omnibus of four stories about a thieving fox who repents and changes its behaviour. The theme of the book is 'second chances' and it is suitable for the 7-11 year old reader. The story is allegorical on another level and is relevant in many ways to how the indigenous population of adults respond to strangers on our shores in present times.
Over 50,000 copies of the 'Sleezy Fox' books were sold to Yorkshire schools and even the late Princess Diane contacted me to request a copy of the book to read to her then 9 and 7 year-old-sons, Princes William and Harry at their bedtime. Anyone wanting to buy a copy, with all book sales profit going to charity, can acquire the book in e-book format from www.smashwords.com or can obtain it in paper back from www.lulu.com and www.amazon.com by accessing below. In addition, there are recordings by famous people reading the four stories, and these can be heard for free on the audio section of my website along with the special 'Sleezy the Fox Ballad' I arranged, and the 'Sleezy the Fox Musical Play'. This play requires the music and songs that musical societies and schools find most suitable to accompany the script:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/126198
https://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?
http://www.fordefables.co.uk/sleezy-the-fox.html
http://www.fordefables.co.uk/the-ballad-of-sleezy-the-fox.html
https://www.smashwords.com/books/download/204450/8/null/0/0/sleezy-the-fox-play.epub
With regard as to whether fox hunting is or isn't justifiable, the facts suggests that some culling of foxes may be required, carried out by humane methods, along with better protection of poultry by the farmer. It is also known that foxes help to maintain the rapid increase of hares and rabbits.
In the final analysis, I much prefer to accept the opinion of innocent children and leave the last word to them on the matter. Over the years, I have found that children are usually more correct than adults when it comes to deciding the difference between what is right and what is wrong. Having held assemblies in over 2000 Yorkshire schools; with the exception of a few children born on farms, while many children can see the purpose in humane culling, nearly all children believe the practice of fox hunting with hounds to be cruel and wrong!" William Forde: June 3rd, 2016.
