Post #394675 by Cammo on Thu, Jul 17, 2008 1:05 PM

Billy asked me to post something about how I feel about his being banned from the Oasis "chop". He's right, people should speak out.

Well, first off, he hasn't been banned from the Oasis "chop" only, but from all the chops with the regular San Diego group that's been meeting for the last few years. If it was ever put to a vote, nobody asked me for my vote. Or Babalu's. Or Buzzy's. Or at least three other people I know who've been going for the last year.

And that sucks.

Because the whole point of the chops is to allow everybody and anybody to attend. It's that simple. I held the first Chop on August 26th, 2006, down at Mission Beach, and invented the term Tiki Chop Chop. Mr. NoName & the late Dean attended, as well as a bunch of friends and family. It was great, because you never knew who was going to show up next; strangers, lifeguards, etc. (The lifeguards loved it.)

Either it's for everybody or nobody. And who decides? Who decides who a good carver is, when they've never carved before? Who decides what type of personality is acceptable or not?

If the host of the 'chop' has a problem with that, then they are not a host. Time to get a new host.

Unlike HodadHank, I believe in a group experience. I love Oasis and all the Tiki Events that have ever been arranged, and appreciate all the hard work that goes into the making of them. They broaden your outlook. They're GREAT! Nothing like them anywhere. More is what I say, not less. (RATS - too bad about Hukilau!!!!) There's something special that happens, that aloha vibe that runs through it all, where you can be having fun sitting next to three people that you don't have to agree with on all matters of ship or state and still have a wonderful experience the whole time.

So that's about it. Billy is a heck of a carver, he's matured in evey way the last year, and I look forward to anything he's involved in. Same with Thomas, who learned to carve his first Tiki at last year's Oasis Chop.

And that's all I'll say about the whole subject. Got some stuff to make....

GO BILLY GO!