Author: Erik 'Tracer' Testerman

I heard about this gent who was killed by a Cape Buffalo while hunting in Africa.

And it pissed me off to see all these kale eating, callus free, vegan, PETA loving, and Anti-Hunters gloating over this.

What a bunch of pansies.

A man used to do awesome stuff. He used to leave his family behind and explore the unknown oceans. He’d venture to new lands and territories with a horse and an axe and conquer death and hostile locals. He’d build civilizations with his bare hands and pure will power. He’d travel to new locals, meet interesting people, then defeat them in battle.

Glory, folks.

There was GLORY in that sort of stuff.

And masculinity. Sheer freaking masculinity.

Today, there ain’t much exploring or adventuring left to do. But it inhabits the soul of every kid who wants to explore the backyard, hunt and capture insects, or pretend shoot the other kids playing cowboys and indians.

Then as you grow up, you have that adventurous rebellious streak almost spiritually beaten out of you by society.

Sit behind the desk.

Shut your mouth.

Learn.

Don’t punch a bully.

Tell a teacher who will handle it for you.

And as you grow into adulthood.

Society kills whatever adventurous spirit you have left. Government controls you and kills your ambitions and dreams. You cow to the fear, the mob, the bills… and you become a wage slave. Pleasing someone else to make more money then you will with the faint hope that maybe you’ll get bumped up a tier or two in pay/rank/role.

And then we have technology which steals your soul. As the quote goes, men did greater things when boobies were harder to see. Now everything you could ever want exists at the touch of a pad.

But your soul, your longing, your desires… they are still there. They are beaten, trampled, and hidden deep in your heart. But they exist!

And men like Ashker Watkins, the man who was gored to death during a dangerous hunt… oh sure. He’s being villified by the new. I had to search to find his name, because everything you see is ‘Texas Millionaire’… as if had it happened to a poor man it would have been a tragedy, but to a rich man, it’s a boon to society.

But Asher.

What cajones.

To travel to the depths of wild Africa to hunt one of the most dangerous animals on the planet.

Adventure. Danger. Risk. Reward.

Badass, sir.

And yes, he died. But I guarantee his family will tell of his death for generations to come. Because it’s legendary. It’s a ‘good death’.

And this is something we should all look up to. A Good Death…. but also a Good Life.

For some of us, it’s simply to be the best father or husband we can be. For others, it’s to slay dozens across a battlefield in the middle east. Others, to cowboy up in the prairies of the midwest, bringing meat and steak to the dainty folks who think their food doesn’t come from animals. Others… to risk it all to spread the Word of God to the unbelievers.

Your life can have purpose. Your life can have glory. And it’s nothing to belittle.

We should all seek out such wonders and glories.

And if you have to go.

Go with a laugh upon your lips, and a sneer at the hangman.

Because they can only kill you once.