BY MARGERY HUSSEY
GUEST OPINION
It was unfortunate that the Revenue Canada gouging of already underpaid waitresses of their gratuities (irksome as that is) had to be compounded by the “fur story.” A battle fought and lost. Time to shelve the cause.
There will always be those who wear fur for the sake of wearing fur – not because of weather conditions. There are also people who are leaders and the followers. The two young misguided followers could have had more common sense than to choose a day in the longest period of bitter below zero weather to pull their stunt. Even a diehard fur-hater may have given in. Sad to say, fur makes a big difference in 25 below zero weather.
Animals (the other class of mammals) are instinctively better at protecting themselves than us humans. But we do have the responsibility of protecting ourselves from frostbite.
Remember Paul McCartney and then-wife Heather? Where are they now? What was in their closet?
Since that Guardian front page (protesting fur), I’ve heard a lot of talk about both subjects – tax and fur. When the randomness of tax targeting becomes mindless, there is no room for sage advice or room for the old adage, “life is not fair.” A gratuity is a gift, a free reward.
In a society where we are free to bore holes in our faces, ink-mask our bodies from head to toe, eat bush (kale) with religious fervor, as if it is an elixir, and other enjoyments. The reality is, wearing fur under, over and between, around or attached to a garment is not against the law.
A few decades ago, when the fur hatred was at its peak, the fashion industry, in its wisdom and marketing savvy, ‘atoned’ for using fur in even more subtle ways, e.g. linings, collars, sleeves and the introduction of faux fur. The latter becoming a fierce competitor to the real thing. One can hardly tell the difference.
Professional furriers - yes, it is a vocation - bent over backwards, offering to refashion, refurbish and tone down the old-fashioned head to toe coats. Many of these were heirlooms, bequeathed to family members and held tremendous sentimental value.
Because nostalgic emotion has no monetary value, if not already lost, may be fading fast. Therefore, if I find furs in my closet they are . . . out now! And together we will be gay fur warriors.
- Margery Hussey of Charlottetown is a former supporter of wearing fur, and backs the no taxing of tips for servers.
