The 31 famous rare sheep suspected by Canadian public health authorities of harboring the feared scrapie disease have all been found, slaughtered, and tested free of disease.
But the affair of the missing Shropshire sheep–kidnapped earlier this year by a mystery group known as the Farmers Peace Corps, opposed to the government agenda of summarily disposing of the rare sheep on suspicion of harboring a pathogen–is still alive for the authorities. They are preparing to charge Ontario raw dairy farmer Michael Schmidt with serious crimes in the case, which involved relocating the sheep from the farm of Montana Jones. Schmidt took on the role of mediator between the government and its opponents, but the government clearly sees Schmidt as having been an important part of the sheep-relocation scheme.
Yesterday, Schmidt wrote me that “Canadian Authorities have finally issued a warrant for my arrest. I have to surrender by Thursday (tomorrow) but will be released on a promise to appear in court on January 23. In order to face charges of conspiracy in regards to the lost sheep.”
When government agents raided Schmidt’s Glencolton Farm last August, they warned him that he could face 14 years in jail on conspiracy charges stemming from the case.
Schmidt’s long journey of resistance to North American infringements on food rights is entering a new phase.
**
I would expect most of us here have dealt with difficult family discord at one time or another. Sometimes it comes out in the process of divorce. Sometimes it comes out in battles over estates of deceased relatives. Sometimes it’s the result of a hurtful quarrel of some sort, but the result is similar– close relatives become so angry with each other, they stop speaking, and even takelegal actions against others in their family.
Something like the latter scenario seems to be playing out in the family of Arlin Bender, the Wisconsin butcher being accused by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) of illegally helping his Mennonite neighbors slaughter cattle. It seems a daughter of Bender,whom he says he is estranged from, took it on herself last April to write the Wisconsin judge hearing his case and take issue with many supportive statements Bender’s friends have made on his behalf.
The daughter, Doris Bender of Pennsylvania, wrote Judge Jon Counsell that supporters had submitted letters to the court in which “he was described as being willing to obey and comply with the laws of New York State, where he had lived for most of his life. Sad to say, but his children do not know him as being willing to comply. What they know is an individual who tried to get away with as much as possible and if/when he got caught, would grumble loud and long about ‘such stupid laws.’ Eventually he would comply.”
The letter suggests upset that Bender hasn’t provided more financial support to his daughter. “Those letters also describe him as being compassionate and ready/willing to help those in need. If this is indeed the case, then, why do some of his childen struggle to pay large medical bills? His children do not receive any assistance.”
Doris Bender adds this: “Doeshis family want to see him go to jail? No. Do they want to see him pay large fines? No. Do they feel that he has disobeyed the laws of the State of Wisconsin? Yes.”
Sound familiar? The language is very similar to that used by an individual commenting anonymously following my December 1 post about Bender’s case (signed as “nonameplease“).
Arlin Bender says he has seven children, and Doris is the only one he is on the outs with; he says Doris remains on good terms with her mother, Arlin’s wife.
I would have preferred not to write about such a sad family occurrence. But I thought it appropriate in this situation, since Doris Bender’s letter is not only a matter of public record, but has been used to further accusations against Arlin Bender, not only in court, but via comments on this blog.
Love, mentor, assist, care for the next generations. It means the farm. It means Karma and why we exist on earth.
Merry christmas.
Grandpa Mark
I learned this lesson years ago. When you stand.. you must stand and win….but then you must manage the peace and stay away from the intrigue of more fighting. The challenge is to win the peace as well. That means laying low and teaching…building markets.
Hang in there Micheal. We love you!!
As Arlin Bender’s daughter, I have been following the articles related to his case. And I was impressed with the comments that “nonameplease” was posting on an earlier blog. While I wish I would not need to agree with their comments; they definitely have the situation posted quite accurately. And I appreciate the fact that they have been willing to stand up and speak the truth. I don’t know if I would have had the courage to do what they have done.
I’d like to clarify a few comments that are made in this article……
As I recall in relation to the letter you are referring to (written to the judge last April)…..my name was only on the letterhead of that letter. And yes, I had typed it up, but that does not mean that I wrote it. As a sideline job/source of income, I do at times do typing and such like for others (including my own family). l will not share who actually wrote it.
Another clarification……..I am not the only one of Arlin Bender’s children that has not received financial assistance. A number of us have large medical expenses that we are struggling with.
As far as I know, I have never taken legal action against my own father. And I am not aware that any of my siblings have either. I do not support what he is doing in this case, but neither do any of my brothers and sisters. I am not alone in the way I feel about this situation.
Anyway, I thought I should clarify a few of these areas. Feel free to comment/ask me questions. And if anyone would like to email me privately they may do so to: dorisbender75@gmail.com. And if “nonameplease” from the earlier blog sees this and would like to get in touch, they may do so as well.
Is there evidence they truly suspected any such thing, as opposed to the most vague innuendo combined with hostility toward the very existence of the sheep (and therefore the will to destroy them regardless of alleged need)? Let’s not use corporate media journalistic standards here (stenography for anything the power structure says about its thoughts and intentions).
http://www.eauclairejournal.com/news/story.phtml/AA5F8813/state/another_datcp_attack_on_wholesome_food/
http://www.thecompletepatient.com/sites/default/files/attachments/ArlinBender-OpposBrief.pdf
http://realfoodlaw.com/2012/12/04/brief-update-on-arlin-benders-food-rights-case-in-clark-county-wisconsin/
Airing families dirty laundry is like watching Jerry Springer….nauseating.
One of lifes greatest tragedies…is the loss of connection within a family. Instead of gutting your father publically, uou should invest in some hugs, and forgiveness. It will go much farther to heal. Life only gives us a short time. Family is something that is sacred….the dirty laundry belongs in the laundry room being cleaned. Do your yelling, crying, and catharitic purging privately. Show strength and unity to the outside world.
Doris…you asked for advice, take this home. Make this the christmas that foregiveness and love is shared and invest in becoming reconnected. Make repairs and amends. You only have one dad…when he is gone you can not reconnect. You will live with regret until you die.
Time is of the essence. Moments in life are few. Shunning sucks!!
The links you shared on your post read like a third grade melodrama. DATCP are third graders or worse….they need to grow up! I have said this before…there is something really backward and wrong with Wisconsin. Their regulators refuse to serve its people. In CA this would end very fast!
Always remember, the real threat is neither left, nor right, but center.
Doris,
Thank you for your comment. I am not sure what to make of your description of how the letter to the Wisconsin court came to be. As I look at it more closely, I notice it has your name and address at the top, and is signed, “One of Arlin Bender’s children”. Which leads me into a larger matter, and that is that I personally don’t want to know the details–either of how the letter to the court originated, or of your estrangement from your father. I have learned very well that in such matters there are always two sides to the story, and sometimes three or four. That is why I hesitated to even bring the matter up to begin with. I only brought it up because of the previous comment on my blog and because the letter contained similar language and was written expressly to influence a legal case. It begins: “I am writing you in relation to the Arlin Bender Court Case #2012CV00019. No one asked me to write in relation to his case. I am doing it of my own free will.”
Thank you for sharing. I agree that the loss of connection with family is one of the greatest tragedies in life. And I would love to have this Christmas be the one where my family is united and where forgiveness is present, etc. But it takes more than just me and my siblings………our father also needs to be willing. I personally forgave my dad long ago.
It has not been my intent in the comments here to put my father down in any way or to exploit his personal life (and I am quite confident that nonameplease in the comments on the other article feels the same way). His children love him, they care about him, and they pray for him every day. They do not, however, like the things he is doing.
Yes, I know that shunning hurts and it hurts very much especially when it is from your own father. But I thank the Lord that He has given me the grace and strength to forgive.
Again, thank you for sharing. And feel free to email me at the email address that I gave earlier.
I appreciate your pride in Wisconsin. I just can not for the life of me understand the political tolerance of the citizens of Wisconsin.
Perhaps you can education me about why the Wisconsin citizens tolerate its pro FOOD INC backwardness. Being progressive….is being conscious. Tolerating the Wisconsin status quo with children suffering immune depression, allergies and DEATH from asthma or DEATH from ALLERGIES TO PROPERLY PASTEURIZED MILK ….directly because of no permitted enlightenment or education or access to raw milk is unforgiveable. FOOD INC sucks and your defense of Wisconsin and its totally FOOD INC culture really sucks.
Please explain yourself…I am up for the learning
Given all that is happening in CA – bankruptcy, corruption, fiscal suicide, businesses fleeing, etc., your comments are somewhat ironic. While WI has problems I am sure, and my home state has issue, CA has completely checked out of reality, and has for some time.
My hunch is in a few decades, California will be the new rust belt or Rome, destroyed by the abject arrogance and folly of those in charge, and their people and economy destroying policies and practices. How many cities/municipalities, etc. in CA have had to file for bankruptcy so far – at least 3 or 4, with dozens more teetering on the brink. At some point, the few remaining productive souls will start to flee the state for better pasture, and will find it in Texas and other places where success is not punished nor law abiding citizens treated so terribly.
Russ,
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency previously reported it found two cases of scrapie among sheep associated with the herd. Schmidt and others questioned the veracity of the testing and reporting. That’s why I used what you call “corporate media journalistic standards”–to suggest the authorities reported evidence, but that it was disputed.
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1238547–controversial-dairy-farmer-michael-schmidt-raided-after-sheep-disappear
I apologize for any feelings being stepped on here. Raw Milk is a battle and feelings are just a little small to consider when people and dairies are literally dying.
Regardless of our individual religious and/or political beliefs, what brings us together on this blog is a sense that we need to band together on this “food rights movement” which is much bigger, but perfectly exemplified by raw milk and our discussions of various tangents here.
Please be respectful of others especially those who take geographical differences personally. I do not have any bias towards or against CA or WI, and also keep in mind when you say “the people” in those areas are a collective body but within that, there are many legitimate individual perspectives that need to be considered yet are shaped by powerful forces that the masses do not realize are a devisive, decisive mind control tool.
Be good, or better. And keep on supplying that great milk, we support and depend on you.
small holders who can raise a few sheepies, then get premium prices for a premium product, might actually be able to stay on the homestead … and that wouldn’t do ! in the Grand Scheme of the Industrial -ization of Agriculture, per the Communist Manfesto