Seal activists have officially gone way too far

How can you possibly feel for the seal rights activist groups when they not only attack the seal industry but have now ventured into Newfoundland and Labrador's tourist industry with a propaganda Newfoundland and Labrador tourist site. It looks harmless at first, actually looks kind of legit until you check out a few links and its purpose becomes quite apparent.

My former home province has always had the shitty end of the stick when it comes to most everything, our fishery is in it's death throes, the seal industry for all intents and purposes ended this year after Europe decided not to purchase seal pelts or products anymore, and Danny Williams is scaring away all the oil investment. This latest victimisation of my home province by these activists aims to destroy the only industry that delivers to all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and not just sealers. The creators of the site �?www.tour-newfoundland labrador.com �?have shielded their identity by using an Arizona-based privacy-protection firm to register it so attempts to take it down will fail.

I personally am an animal lover, and I can relate to some of the issues the activists have but summary conviction of a people and destruction of an industry in Canada's poorest province is more than a little petty, its inhuman.

Not being overly concerned with alcohol content, the early fishermen tended to drink the rum at incredibly high strength with no attempt made to temper the taste. When the Canadian government took control of the alcohol trade in the early 20th century, they put the rum in a sophisticated, unlabelled bottle and fortunately did not alter the rum itself. This delightful product may have continued indefinitely as a nameless rum except for the influx of American servicemen to Newfoundland during World War II.

As the story goes, the commanding officer of the first detachment was taking advantage of Newfoundland hospitality for the first time and was offered a drop of rum as an after dinner drink. Seeing his host toss back the liquor with nary a quiver, the unsuspecting American adhered to local custom and downed the drink in one gulp.

The look of shock and the glorious shades of color on the American's face were overshadowed by the bloodcurdling howl made by the poor fellow as he managed to regain his breath. Sympathetic persons from miles around rushed to the house to assist the poor man in such obvious agony and of course to satisfy their curiosity as to what was going on. Among the first to arrive was a garrulous old American sergeant who pounded on the door and demanded “What the cripes was that ungodly screech?�?nbsp; The taciturn Newf who had answered the door replied simply, “The screech?�?‘Tis the rum, me son.�?

Thus was born a legend. As word of the incident was passed around, the soldiers determined to try this mysterious “screech�?and finding its effects as devastating as the name implies, adopted it as their favorite.

The liquor board immediately pounced on the name and reputation and began labeling Famous Newfoundland Screech. Over the years, the alcohol content of Screech has been toned down and the flavor mellowed, so that in 2003, Screech Rum won a gold medal for excellent taste at the International Rum Festival. Today, Screech remains a Newfoundland favorite.