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Old 13-05-2003, 01:44 PM
Shiva
 
Posts: n/a
Default problem with my roses-need help

torgo wrote: Well then, I'll consider it a compliment that you deem my
posts worthy of reading. Case closed.

What a generous and elegant response. Thank you.

Here is a little more of the story--not at all a commentary on you, not at
all an excuse for my acid tongue, just a bit more of the Big Picture
according to me, with regards to these groups:

There are always issues people feel strongly about. The big one with
regard to roses is chem/antichem.

While the anti-chem folks have some good points (and get to be annoyingly
More Organic Than Thou, from my point of view) so do those of us who use
fungicides and insecticides. I could list both, and either side could have
problems with said list, so why bother?

Point is, we are each entitled to our points of view. YOU have never said
otherwise. However--in many groups, the seeming Moral Superiority of the
anti-chem folks results in a Group Party Line, or at least the
uncomfortable silence of those who do use chemical controls. Probably the
worst thing about this Organic, Earth-friendly Tyranny is that fully most
of the anti-chem folks DO NOT LIVE IN THE SWAMPS. It is oh so easy to slip
into one's Birkenstocks in Utah and preach the doctrine of Never Spray
Poison on your Roses. Those of us who live in the swamps then are placed
in a no-win situation wherein we either go no chem and watch our roses
dwindle and die (or, as Saint Zappa once said, "just look ugly for a
thousand years) or use our chemicals but surreptitiously, hanging our
heads.

Join the Yahoo group Grow Roses. Read and learn (some great rosarians
there) then let's talk about the Party Line there. It's moderated, too, so
you won't get too many "tones," except of course from the moderator,
because, well he CAN.

I say Bullhockey to this. Everyone of us who drives a car contributes Bad
Icky Things to the Environment. And several more compelling arguments,
including the fact that in the four years I have been spraying, three
honest-to-God religiously, I have NOT seen any decrease in critters,
birds, or bugs--except the ones that eat my roses. Earthworms? Got 'em!
Bats? You bet! Chipmunks? Check! So where is the wasteland?

So I guess there sort of IS a personal part, but it isn't directed at any
individual, exactly.

The other thing is--and this really is the impersonal part--I really,
really like to debate. Argue. Counter. It's fun, but it makes lots of
people really mad. Especially when I switch positions just for fun.

One last thing, then we can shake on "Case Closed."

Personally, I like you. For whatever it's worth.