Post by Woody Williams on Feb 15, 2006 7:16:36 GMT -5
From the UK..
Hunting voted favourite 'icon'
By Melissa Kite
Fox hunting has come top of a government poll of great British
institutions
A competition run by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and
entitled "Icons" had set out to find "England's most cherished cultural
treasures".
A government website asked the public to nominate things that reflect "a
contemporary view of English culture and values - a living portrait of a
country, a people and a way of life". Nominations included Stonehenge, the
double decker bus, fish and chips, the English weather and the cup of tea.
The clear winner of the contest, the results of which will be announced
soon, was fox hunting with 91 per cent of the vote. Officials have
privately cried foul, claiming that pro-hunting groups encouraged supporters to
bombard the website.
However, the site itself waxes lyrical about hunting and features a
surprising definition of the sport, which was outlawed last year. Rather
than describing it as banned, it says: "February 2005 saw fox hunting with
dogs curtailed in England as a result of years of campaigning by animal
welfare groups?"
While acknowledging opposition to the sport, the website says: "Hunting
foxes with hounds has a long tradition in England? Today, there are many
pubs with names such as 'The Fox and Hounds' that provide a further cultural
echo."
Hunting voted favourite 'icon'
By Melissa Kite
Fox hunting has come top of a government poll of great British
institutions
A competition run by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and
entitled "Icons" had set out to find "England's most cherished cultural
treasures".
A government website asked the public to nominate things that reflect "a
contemporary view of English culture and values - a living portrait of a
country, a people and a way of life". Nominations included Stonehenge, the
double decker bus, fish and chips, the English weather and the cup of tea.
The clear winner of the contest, the results of which will be announced
soon, was fox hunting with 91 per cent of the vote. Officials have
privately cried foul, claiming that pro-hunting groups encouraged supporters to
bombard the website.
However, the site itself waxes lyrical about hunting and features a
surprising definition of the sport, which was outlawed last year. Rather
than describing it as banned, it says: "February 2005 saw fox hunting with
dogs curtailed in England as a result of years of campaigning by animal
welfare groups?"
While acknowledging opposition to the sport, the website says: "Hunting
foxes with hounds has a long tradition in England? Today, there are many
pubs with names such as 'The Fox and Hounds' that provide a further cultural
echo."
