FLORIDA (25 Sep 2001) -- Following Rodale's desperate attempt to stop a ban on shark feeding with the preposterous claim that government officials are conspiring against scuba divers, Florida shark feeders are now embellishing on Rodale's reckless scare tactics by trying to link the shark feeding ban to the tragedy of the recent terrorist attacks on America. Even opponents of the shark feeding ban expressed shock and disgust when Spencer Slate, President of the Florida Association of Dive Operators and owner of Atlantis Dive Center, along with the cooperation and support of Florida shark feeder, Jim Abernethy, issued a lengthy statement comparing the tragic terrorist attacks and the death of thousands of innocent men, women and children to the financial impact of the shark feeding ban on four small Florida shark feeding operators. Many divers have announced they will boycott Jim Abernethy's Scuba Adventures (JASA), the shark feeding dive center Abernethy operates in Palm Beach, Florida, and Atlantis Dive Center, Spencer Slate's dive shop in Key Largo. Florida legislators have expressed contempt for the letter, its author and the shark feeders in general. "It's the final nail in the dive industry's coffin," said one state official. "The shark feeding debate is over." ________________________ Letter from Spencer Slate, President, Florida Association of Dive Operators--Posted by Florida shark feeder Jim Abernethy of Jim Abernethy's Scuba Adventures (JASA) From:Jim Abernethy (jasa@gate.net)
Subject:shark feeding ban!
Date: 2001-09-24 14:48:18 -- Below is a letter from a fellow fish feeding operator! Letter to: FFWCC, FFWCC Staff, Representative Charlie Justice
From: Spencer Slate, President, Florida Association of Dive Operators
Subject: Interruption Marine Encounter proposed ban
Date: 24 Sept. 01 Dear FFWCC, FFWCC Staff, Representative Charlie Justice, September 2001 will be a time to remember; a very sad time to remember. On September 6th and September 11th, a crime was committed against the citizens of America, the free world, our freedom of choice, and our constitutional rights. While the events of both days are very far apart in the magnitude of the crime and effect on the American people, both acts have made changes in American's daily lives in a very negative and lasting way. On 11 September a murderous, cowardice, inhuman and despicable act of war was perpetrated on the citizens of the United States and the world. This act can only be compared directly to the regime and motives of the Third Reich. Those responsible for the attacks hate America, they hate democracy, and they hate our way of life and our freedom. They want to destroy our constitution; our daily way of life, and everything that our forefathers fought and died for to make our country the great nation it is today. Our country must and will bring deadly and lasting action in kind to those responsible and the world will be a safer, better place to live. The horror of 11 September will live on forever in the hearts, minds and souls of the human race. We must, and will eradicate all those responsible, so we who live in freedom can continue safely to do so in our daily lives. On 6 Sept our constitution was attacked, our freedom of choice and for many our freedom to make an honest living and support our families was changed forever. On that day you, the FWCC voted to ban interaction marine encounters by dive operators in Florida. The effect of your decision, if it does become law, will immediate (sic) and forever change the way millions of Americans and visitors to our state from all over the world, make daily decisions. A needless ban on the rights of choice we Americans have fought and died to make, go to the heart of what we stand for. | | DEMA's next president? Meet scuba clown and collosal boob Spencer Slate. To quote President Bush in his inspiring address to our nation on 20 Sept., "We are in a fight for our principles, and our first responsibility is to live by them." I submit to you, Commissioners, your sacrifice of our way of life, by voting for the ban on 6 September was a threat to the freedom of every American. We will not stand by and let this ban happen any more than we will let those perpetrators escape punishment for the heinous crimes of 11 Sept. With the exception of Mr. H.A. Huffman the one dissenting vote against the ban, you are guilty of directly attacking our way of life. Having spent hundreds of hours of my time attending the FFWCC meetings dealing with the interaction marine encounter issue over the past 3 years and gaining respect for the commission on their understanding of our rights and the willingness to work with us in achieving a workable solution I was appalled at your instant and surprise decision to ban our underwater activity. Considering all of you to be intelligent people the decision to ban interaction marine dives across the board so suddenly sent a clear message that you care nothing about American's freedoms but simply wanted this issue "off your plate", as was aptly described by board member John Rood. Further, your decision demonstrated that there is no backbone within the commission to stand up to honesty, fact, decades of experience and what is right, but to bow to politics, the media frenzy and the uneducated public. Again, I applaud Mr. Huffman, he has the 'guts' to speak his mind and vote for Americans and our right to our free choice. Your decision made it clear to all that you have no intention in solving the 'real' problems surrounding public safety and the shark bite issues that have gone on worldwide since man has inhabited the earth. You are keenly aware from the days of testimony, video presentations, and personal experiences of dozens of professionals, scientists, and lay persons around the world that the real issue is not divers feeding 20-25 sharks; but rather beach fishing, pier fishing, boat fishing near shore, spearfishing all coming in contact with the millions of beach goers each and every day statewide. But you chose the path of what you thought was least resistance, and sacrificed what you think is a small group of divers who have built their businesses on the fun and educational enjoyment of interaction marine encounters. Well my friends our war has also just begun. You have assured that this issue, and the millions of divers and dozens of scientists worldwide, will never go away. This proposed ban will continue to be 'in your face' until it too is resolved for the benefit of America, its constitution and its citizens. You, above all, have no right to deny American citizens of their freedom of choice! This is not Afghanistan this is America! I do feel sorry for you commissioners and all involved in your decision. Being a man of character, ethics, honesty and belief in always doing the right thing for my family, my country, and myself; I know you are in personal turmoil. You know you made the wrong decision for America and for American freedom. America knows you made the wrong decision, and like the decision to punish the perpetrators of the heinous crimes committed on 11 Sept., we will fight back and like the end result of America's war we will prevail. The right outcome, the honest outcome, the just outcome will prevail. Cc: The World SOURCE - Jim Abernethy, Spencer Slate |
