Turn the other cheek is a good concept. It depends on the situation . When someone takes a cheap shot at my character or directs unflattering remakes at me, Silly stuff. I simply ignore them.



One the other hand if someone threatens me on a physical level turning the other cheek is not in my nature.

By physical I'm not necessarily referring to something violent. I'm talking about something that could possibly restrict my ability to do or own something.



I would never agree with someone who would expect me to go along with anything that would compromise my personal freedoms in even the slightest way.



The snake in the picture is an anaconda I had as a kid. The date says 1970 I think it was 72, no matter. By the time I was 14 my personal collection included , cobras , rattlesnakes , large constrictors, odd ball snakes like elephant trunks, lyres , and whatever else I could get. By 16 I also had lion fish, sea horses, sting rays, raccoons ,squirrels , possums , hawks, owls , crows , various small animals and most everything else.



This was in addition to hanging around and working for some of the most notorious and important reptile and animal dealerships of all time. I got to see and work with some of everything you name it from monkeys to rare fish and reptiles.



By my early twenty's Id seen the game in it's entirety. Not once did anyone , not the dealers , the zoo guys or my family ever try to discourage me in anyway shape or form. Everyone understood that I knew what I was doing . I was raised to be a responsible person. I never cared about the animal business or being part of the crowd. I would barely talk to most of the guys if at all. It was always about the animals. That's all I cared about.



I was no angel but the care of my animals always came first. Not only did I have the technical knowledge but I had the hands on as well. At fourteen I had a lot more game then most of the " experts " ever will. I can only Imagine what the Internet gurus would have been telling me if the net existed back then.



It's amazing how many people feel they know what's appropriate for others . People say things like we have to accept the fact that compromises are going to be made. They might accept that fact, I never will. I understand that I might get stuck having to deal other peoples poor decisions . This is what life has become for all of us. We live in a politically correct society that's completely incorrect.



Ernie Eison

WESTWOOD ACRES REPTILE FARM INC.

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