Cabela's and the American Dream (spoiler alert)

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The American Dream of the Rugged Individual

By Norma Jaeger Hopcraft

Even though few of us know how to stalk, kill, skin and harvest the meat of a wild animal, there is a part of the American psyche that compels us to think we ought to -- and can -- go it alone in all circumstances and be self-sufficient.

What a lot of hooey!

But it's interesting to look at a place that perpetuates -- and capitalizes on -- that part of the American Dream. Cabela's, the nationwide sporting goods chain, has a store just off Route 78 in Hamburg, PA, on the way home from Athens, Ohio (see recent posts).

The propoganda starts outside. Folks, this is American ideal--a strong individual vs. nature and everything else. Just step inside to make the ideal a reality -- via your credit card.

Inside, among the acres of camo clothing and camping gear, among the thousands of fishing rods, guns, and knives, there are these odd displays of stuffed animals.

I don't know what to make of it exactly. What is this doing inside a retail store?

We've left the American continent apparently. I intended to poke good natured fun today, and failed. Instead I feel irritated that this store uses wild animals to promote its stuff. Ideally, I would feel irate, and write letters, and do something to change things, but I feel that expending all that energy would be in vain, so I won't do it, so I've failed again. 

How about you? What do you think? Feel free to argue your case in a comment below.  And if you like my blog, would you sign up to follow it? Or RT, +1, or Share? Thanks!