It took only a matter of hours and Jim Zumbo’s last name became a verb – Zumboed. For lack of a better definition, Zumboed could mean losing your job and career because what you said was disagreed with by an avid group in opposition. Now, if someone says something controversial, opposition will attack that person and who knows what the results will be. That is being Zumboed.
But can we redefine Zumbo? In its present tense, to Zumbo could mean to calmly and coherently discuss Second Amendment issues in ways that will benefit everyone who supports gun rights. Zumboing in its purest form could be void of name calling and brazen insults, also lacking in personal threats. Could this happen?
Remember when bad meant bad? Then bad meant good! By the way, what does bad mean now? Zumbo refers to something bad that has happened. Time to change the definition to mean something good.
Am I ever the optimist? Those who know me know better than that but in this case, I have a gut feeling that Jim Zumbo is going to become something that he had no idea in a million years he would be a part of.
Mr. Zumbo made some statements on his Outdoor Life blog that angered a lot of staunch Second Amendment supporters. I don’t think he meant to but that’s all water under the bridge and Jim Zumbo is paying penance.
Now that the jugular has been bandaged up, the tourniquet loosened and the uncontrollable bleeding has subsided to at least having to change the dressing only occasionally, I can see hope at the end of the tunnel. For several days I have read account after account from nasty, vicious commentators demanding Zumbo’s head. That was followed by responses from outdoor writers who then had to deal with an onslaught of attacks from their readers on both sides of the issue.
Here it is nearly three weeks later and the debate has evolved into one of more controlled anger. There are even some writers issuing apologies? for their actions. We’ve all had a chance to gasp at some air and collect ourselves a bit and I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that we all have learned some valuable lessons.
I’m not going to get into the details of those lessons but in brief, we all should have learned that the Internet is powerful. Power can be used in a good way and a bad way. I’m only saying that the Internet is powerful.
Another thing we have learned is that both hunters and gun owners, sometimes one in the same but not always, are very passionate about what they love.
The third thing which is now just beginning to evolve is that both of these groups will come together and be stronger for it. Once the dust continues to settle, leaders from both the hunting world and gun world will open up more and better dialog about gun ownership. This is when Zumbo will change definitions and morph from bad to good.
“I went to a club meeting last night and several leaders of different organizations sat around and Zumboed some new ideas”. This will one day be a common phrase but it’ll take a bit more time.
I have to give credit where it is due. Mark Heinz of Cody Enterprise has an column today where he begins mending the fences and talking about the strengths of Second Amendment supporters.
Bill Schneider from New West, who in last week’s column, was obviously angry, frightened and upset, comes back this week offering concessions and shows that he is ready to recognize the weapons of the Internet, the power of the “gun zealots” and move on for the betterment of gun rights.
Henry Miller of the Statesman Journal, puts aside the name calling and puts back in his pocket the hand that points a finger and helps us all better understand the business of journalism, including marketing, advertising and publishing as compared to raw propaganda.
Finally, Eric Atherton the Post Bulletin, survived the results of last week’s article and begins mending fences by sharing with his readers some of the comments that collected in his in-box.
The important thing here is opposing sides are still talking. This is good for all of us. I have begun to witness the evolution of the battle. (Excuse the pun) Guns were drawn and bullets were fired but as the smoke begins to clear, I think both sides are realizing they weren’t really shooting at each other – just shooting. Wait until they begin shooting in the same direction again.
Tom Remington
