The Way I See It - Mud resurrected

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Wed, Jul 28, 2010, 4:39 am  //  Ham Hayes

It took the winner less than a minute to navigate the course. Some who brought up the rear may still be there. Photo: Ham Hayes
It is time we gave “mud” back its good name. This was especially evident at the “Samish Bay Bivalve Bash” held this last Saturday at Taylor Shellfish Farms. This year’s Bash, the 8th Annual, was noted by many visitors I talked with as being the best one yet for organization, especially with regard to transportation. Since there is virtually no parking at the farm, two shuttle bus routes were set up. Continuous service was provided, one to the village of Blanchard and the other to Bow-Edison High School. They were fast, courteous, and both the shuttle and parking were free!
 
The Bash, which benefits a number of clean water awareness programs, is most noted for “The Mud Run.” This is undoubtedly the toughest 250 yard race anywhere in the galaxy (100 yards for kids.) The defining element is a three-foot layer of Samish Bay’s finest non-living ingredient, its slate-gray mud. It has the consistency of quick-drying cement and is deeeeep. It is so deep that a number of “runners” who fell had to be extracted by rescuers. If a runner hadn’t duct-taped his or her shoes on, those shoes would almost certainly resurface as a fossil sometime in the far future. 
 
Not to be outdone by The Mud Run, the “World’s Only Oyster Shell Sculpture Contest” (according to Bash officials) lasts longer than the run and provides heaps of oyster shells for individuals and families to test their architectural and artistic hand with the world’s most difficult construction material. If the Romans had used oyster shells for their aqueducts, we would still be using buckets to carry our water. The Bash is really a family affair. Crab races, shucking contests and a mud-tug-of-war among other activities filled the day. 
 
What fills in between the activities is, of course, food. A number of local restaurants provided a wide variety of incredibly delicious shellfish fare including oysters (raw and grilled,) mussels, and clams. There were salmon and hot dog BBQs for the non-bivalve-consuming crowd as well.  The topper of this food frenzy was a layer of real whipped cream supported underneath by a combination of fresh raspberries and blueberries heaped on a shortcake made for the gods. All of that washed down by an award winning Washington state chardonnay, local microbrew, or fruit pop. 
 
One thing missing from this great bit of Northwest Americana was any evidence of a political campaign. I considered that to be a blessing and it got me thinking about the mud. The most common usage of the word “mud” these days is in politics, as in "mud-slinging" or the similar "muckraking". Mud-slinging is the practice of trying to discredit political opponents by spreading lies, distortions, and/or innuendo about them. According to several web sources it derives from the Latin phrase, "fortiter calumniari, aliquia adhaerebit," or "throw plenty of dirt and some of it will stick." So it looks as if mud-slinging, or at least “dirt-throwing” has been with humanity for a long time, probably since the first politician. The term “muckraking” is attributed to President Teddy Roosevelt.  He was referring to reporters who only focused “exclusively on corruption without providing a positive outlook for social problems.” (iAmericanSpirit.) Whether or not "muck" and "mud" are synonymous, the concepts seem closely related.  I suspect muckraking has really been around a long time as well, but under a different name. 
 
We certainly seem to have more than enough slingers and rakers these days, to the point where all that slinging and raking has become quite wearisome. It was really refreshing to find out what mud is really all about, like races and kid’s laughter and eating all those bivalves under Northwest summer skies. All because of that wonderful Samish Bay mud. I say we give mud its proper due and remove all references to mud from the political lexicon. I can think of far worse things to throw at a politician than mud. How about another politician? So going forward, please use the term “politician-slinging” and “politician-raking” when talking or writing about those dispiriting and demeaning practices used too often and by too many in our political arenas.

The Way I See It - Mud resurrected

Wed, Jul 28, 2010, 4:39 am  //  Ham Hayes

It is time we gave “mud” back its good name.

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The Way I See It - En Garde

Wed, Jul 21, 2010, 4:42 am  //  Ham Hayes

“We have lots of robberies.” As I reported last week, that was the apocalyptic statement by the investigating officer to our recent plight in St.…

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The Way I See It - From Russia with Love

Wed, Jul 14, 2010, 5:17 pm  //  Ham Hayes

Ham's final post on his travel comments from Russia.

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The Way I See It - Heart and Gut

Wed, Jun 16, 2010, 4:56 am  //  Ham Hayes

Our society is out of its mind. Well, maybe not quite completely, but it needs to be.

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The Way I See It – The Return of the Grail: Seek Truth. Speak It.

Wed, Jun 02, 2010, 4:22 am  //  Ham Hayes

The unfolding story through time and space in France

3 comments; last on May 19, 2010

From a Political Junkie: That Anti-Incumbent Feeling

Mon, May 24, 2010, 4:34 am  //  Riley Sweeney

Riley Sweeney examines the primaries in PA, KY and AR and what it means for 2010.

6 comments; last on May 25, 2010

From a Political Junkie: Marriage, Values and Culture

Mon, May 17, 2010, 4:55 am  //  Riley Sweeney

Riley Sweeney discusses the discomfort of religious and cultural differences among friends

1 comments; last on May 17, 2010

From a Political Junkie: The Golden Age of Radio

Mon, May 10, 2010, 4:44 am  //  Riley Sweeney

Riley Sweeney asks for plot ideas for a local radio drama

0 comments

The Way I See It - Flights of Fancy

Wed, May 05, 2010, 4:24 am  //  Ham Hayes

Ham is preparing for another fun filled trip by air.

1 comments; last on May 05, 2010

From a Political Junkie: R-71: Citizen votes or citizen legislation?

Mon, May 03, 2010, 4:36 am  //  Riley Sweeney

Is the referendum/initiative process about being a citizen legislator, or more like voting to put something on the ballot?

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The Way I See It - Mandatory Citizenship

Wed, Apr 28, 2010, 4:54 am  //  Ham Hayes

Mandatory voting - Worth it, or too high a price ?

3 comments; last on Jun 09, 2010

Board Games: No Longer Child’s Play

Mon, Apr 26, 2010, 4:55 am  //  Riley Sweeney

Riley Sweeney shares his passion for board games and a few of his favorites games

4 comments; last on Apr 26, 2010

Are you a Hack or a Wonk?

Mon, Apr 19, 2010, 4:55 am  //  Riley Sweeney

Riley Sweeney explains the difference between a political hack and a political wonk

2 comments; last on Apr 20, 2010

The Way I See It - Self

Wed, Apr 14, 2010, 4:58 am  //  Ham Hayes

Procrastination, thy name is Self

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The Way I See It - Tea Party on a roll

Wed, Apr 07, 2010, 4:58 am  //  Ham Hayes

The Tea Party reflects a major shift in citizen political participation.

7 comments; last on Apr 13, 2010

From a Political Junkie: My Whatcom County Dictionary

Mon, Apr 05, 2010, 5:00 pm  //  Riley Sweeney

Riley Sweeney shares his humorous personal definitions for Whatcom County politics.

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The Way I See It - Cranes and cows

Wed, Mar 31, 2010, 4:59 am  //  Ham Hayes

Sandhill Cranes: the Columbia River Basin's swallows of Capistrano

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The Way I See It - Epic of Gilgamesh

Wed, Mar 24, 2010, 4:48 am  //  Ham Hayes

From the earliest known writings of humanity, we hear the voices of distressed peoples.

2 comments; last on Mar 29, 2010

The Way I See It - Healthcare Reprise

Wed, Mar 17, 2010, 4:59 am  //  Ham Hayes

Public approval of Congress continues to slide and for good reason.

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From One Political Junkie to Another: Investing in Infrastructure

Tue, Mar 16, 2010, 4:59 am  //  Riley Sweeney

Supporting the proposed sales tax increase for the WTA - by new writer Riley Sweeney.

3 comments; last on Mar 21, 2010

The Way I See It - Choose your poison

Wed, Mar 10, 2010, 4:49 am  //  Ham Hayes

How we, the public, choose to respond to growing polarization in our society is crucial.

1 comments; last on Mar 10, 2010

The Way I See It - The Fall of Science

Wed, Mar 03, 2010, 5:00 am  //  Ham Hayes

Enough has been revealed, written and said about “Climate-gate” for me to be alarmed.

7 comments; last on Mar 07, 2010

The Way I See It - Beware AHD

Wed, Feb 24, 2010, 5:00 am  //  Ham Hayes

Hockey night in Canada may be replaced.

2 comments; last on Feb 25, 2010

Dysfunctional - the now acceptable word

Mon, Feb 22, 2010, 7:50 am  //  John Servais

It is now acceptable to say that our governments are dysfunctional. I agree they are. The question is - why?

10 comments; last on Feb 26, 2010

The Way I See It - “I’ve got your back.”

Wed, Feb 17, 2010, 5:00 am  //  Ham Hayes

Leaders in government need to rethink their approach.

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Fair Sports are the only way

Mon, Feb 15, 2010, 4:49 am  //  John Servais

Larry Ellison has won the America's Cup in sailing by playing fair. He is a fine example for us all.

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The Way I See It - Beauty or Beast?

Wed, Feb 10, 2010, 4:59 am  //  Ham Hayes

Unlike other species, we need more than basic survival strategies.

1 comments; last on Feb 11, 2010

Respect and Services for county residents

Mon, Feb 08, 2010, 5:00 am  //  John Servais

Our county executive, Pete Kremen, has failed us citizens by ignoring the safety concerns of Lummi Nation.

1 comments; last on Feb 10, 2010

The Way I See It—Quetzal Talk

Wed, Feb 03, 2010, 5:00 am  //  Ham Hayes

Ham is vacationing in Costa Rica. He sends us his observations.

0 comments

Troubling Vancouver Olympics

Mon, Feb 01, 2010, 12:55 pm  //  John Servais

The Olympic games are disruptive to civil rights wherever they are held. This is proving true again in Vancouver.

1 comments; last on Feb 04, 2010

The Way I See It - Death by Secrecy

Wed, Jan 27, 2010, 4:59 am  //  Ham Hayes

Issues are no longer relevant when secrecy is the name of the game.

1 comments; last on Jan 27, 2010

The Way I See It - Upheaval!

Wed, Jan 20, 2010, 5:00 am  //  Ham Hayes

The earthquake in Haiti is a new reminder that we must also be prepared.

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