I used to work for the state and there is this old joke that goes something like this:
A old fella was on mountain lake fishing with sticks of dynamite. The new wildlife officer was determined to put and end to this practice so he march up the mountain and climbed in the boat with the older fella.
“Sir, you can’t fish like this–it is disgusting, bad for the environment, and isn’t good sportsmanship.”
Without saying a word, the older fella gently paddled the boat out to the center of the lake.
The young wildlife officer said, “Sir, you can’t continue to fish like this! You have to use a rod and reel just like everyone else.”
The older fella didn’t say anything but lit up a cigarette and took a long draw.
“Sir, cigarettes will kill you. You should stop smoking,” said the young officer earnestly.
The older fella leaned down and reach in a feed sack on the floor of the boat and produced a stick of dynamite with a very short fuse. He leaned over and lit the fuse as the wildlife officer stared in total disbelief.
“SIR! I’m afraid now I’m going to have to cite you! I didn’t want it to come to this!”
The older fella nodded and tossed the lit stick of dynamite at the young wildlife officer who caught it.
“Son, I just have one question. you gonna talk all day or fish?”
Now, I heard this joke and thought it was made up. That was until I read my great uncle’s autobiography. He was stationed overseas during WWII and there wasn’t much food but there was plenty of dynamite and plenty of mountain lakes. He tells in great detail about him and several other from his unit sneaking up the mountainside and fishing with dynamite. They only did a a few times before the upper brass figured out what was going on and put a stop to it.
So anytime I see a beautiful peaceful lake like this, I think of my great uncle’s story and take a moment of silence to appreciate all that our service men and women do for us everyday and that we as a nation should take better care of the people who protect us.