Hardly a day goes by when I read a story, whether it be in our own pages or elsewhere, where I don't roll my eyes and wonder aloud how such a stupid idea made it into the news. News that the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) are considering moving from the traditional muskrat hat to something else led to just one of those days.

They claim that they are not bowing to pressure from anti-fur groups, merely just testing the waters, so to speak. Of course this is pure nonsense, because as far as I can tell there are two certainties in this world: a) muskrat stocks are doing just fine (there's a family of six living in my backyard alone), and b) the fur is superbly warm. So what gives?

The true irony in all this is that most Canadian anti-fur groups are based out of large urban centres like Vancouver and Toronto, with nary an RCMP officer in sight. The RCMP mainly work in remote and rural communities. All the policing in the NWT (North West Territory) is conducted by the RCMP.

I have a hard time picturing RCMP officers coming into places like Tulita, Wha Ti, or Fort Resolution wearing winter hats made out of some synthetic crap, while people in the community are busting their butts trying to make a living harvesting fur that should be atop these officers' heads. The fur harvesters in these communities are the true caretakers of the land, not a bunch of hemp munching puritans from Toronto.

Our Northern fur harvesters are the people who have everything to gain and everything to lose in ensuring that the environment stays healthy and clean, and a sustainable fur market continues. We're not talking about a return to the idiotic practices of the 18th century fur trade here. We're talking about a sustainable resource in a land blessed with a multitude of wildlife; an industry that doesn't pollute our lakes and rivers with formaldehyde in the process of making synthetic clothing; an industry that doesn't leach pesticides into the soil to grow cotton.

Perhaps if parents stopped indoctrinating their children with moronic Disney movies with cute, cuddly talking animals in them, we can finally get past the ignorance and stupidity espoused by these southern agitators. If you've spent time in the bush you'd quickly realize that none of these creatures exist; that a quick death by Conibear trap is no crueler than being ripped apart by claws and teeth, which inevitably happens to every animal in the wild.

Then again, maybe the world would be a better place if Mother Nature made us furry again. Until then, however, write Solicitor General Wayne Easter, your MP (Member of Parliament) and MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly). Tell them that you don't want RCMP officers working in the North wearing synthetic hats. It's just plain dumb.