"Gnoming" - Innocent Hobby or Genocide?
I stumbled upon some articles this morning regarding the subject of "gnoming." It would appear that a strange development has occurred with bored suburbanites. In an effort to amuse themselves, they kidnap innocent gnomes from neighboring gardens and take them along in their travels. Photographs are taken in unusual places and sent back to the "owners" to mark the trail of the missing gnome.
While I have never been forcibly removed from my humble domicile beneath a mossy rock in the gardens, I am rather alarmed by the frequency of gnome-nappings that have been occurring around the world. A recent story on the relocation of 34 gnomes was featured in The Times in Munster, Indiana. A supposed group of "rogue" gnomes were found playing baseball in a nearby field. Even though three gnomes had been dismembered, the "owner" of nine of them merely expressed sentiment that they had run off from her garden on a lark. Mysteriously enough, donuts for the police were also found on the scene.* My concern is why is this lady holding a gnome baseball team hostage? Have we not our own freedom to play baseball anytime we want without being deemed mischievous or deviant?
Particularly alarming to me is the Travelocity Gnome. There is a whole store on the site dedicated to purchasing gnome items. Beach towels, magnets and even lunch boxes are available. It appears great pride has been taken in his "travels" around the world. Is he a paid spokesperson or merely a slave to corporate idealism? You decide.
There are various liberation armies in our mist...subversive organizations dedicated to freeing all gnome kind. I urge you to write your congressman and work with local officials to pass laws against the enslavement of gnomes. Together, we can end the suffering.
Dusty
Resident Editor and Gnome
*The Times story can be found here.
While I have never been forcibly removed from my humble domicile beneath a mossy rock in the gardens, I am rather alarmed by the frequency of gnome-nappings that have been occurring around the world. A recent story on the relocation of 34 gnomes was featured in The Times in Munster, Indiana. A supposed group of "rogue" gnomes were found playing baseball in a nearby field. Even though three gnomes had been dismembered, the "owner" of nine of them merely expressed sentiment that they had run off from her garden on a lark. Mysteriously enough, donuts for the police were also found on the scene.* My concern is why is this lady holding a gnome baseball team hostage? Have we not our own freedom to play baseball anytime we want without being deemed mischievous or deviant?
Particularly alarming to me is the Travelocity Gnome. There is a whole store on the site dedicated to purchasing gnome items. Beach towels, magnets and even lunch boxes are available. It appears great pride has been taken in his "travels" around the world. Is he a paid spokesperson or merely a slave to corporate idealism? You decide.
There are various liberation armies in our mist...subversive organizations dedicated to freeing all gnome kind. I urge you to write your congressman and work with local officials to pass laws against the enslavement of gnomes. Together, we can end the suffering.
Dusty
Resident Editor and Gnome
*The Times story can be found here.
Hi Dusty,
I am happy to hear from you. I am sorry that I had to include the reported mischievous activities of Gnomes, but the artist whom I chose to profile, Maureen Carlson only makes good-natured Gnomes. I am afraid that Hans Christian Andersen may have had a hand in people perceiving Gnomes as mean-spirited at times by writing them that way in his books. Thankfully, you are here to let people know otherwise. I hope to find more Gnome artists and maybe help people to perceive your clan more accurately then has been reported by Andersen.
Thanks Dusty for your kind words and if you should find some Gnome artists, please let me know.
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Ah, since you are now an honorary princess of all gnome kind, you are now part of our clan as well. May you go forth and spread the good word that we're a loving band of merry men and women.
Love,
Dusty
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