news
08-12-2015, 10:40 PM
Heartache has haunted me over the last several weeks. It comes and goes -- but it doesn't hurt any less when I think about either event that has been front and center in the news: the two boys missing from Florida, Austin and Perry; and the killing of Cecil the lion.
I can't imagine what Austin and Perry's parents are going through. I can't imagine what their community is going through, even though I've had heart-stopping moments as a parent, and I lived in a community devastated by something awful. But not this.
Cecil's murder -- because that's really what it is -- is horrifying because of how he died: lured out of a protected sanctuary, shot, and then chased down. I feel the person responsible is evil and his intentions were evil.
Both are tragedies. One, in the sea; the other on a desert plain. You can't assign a number on a scale of 1 to 10 of how awful these two events are. And yet people are outraged that others aren't as outraged as they are. There are some who don't understand why one of these stories (or countless others) aren't front and center with everyone. There are those who are blaming the parents, the boys themselves, the Coast Guard, for "not being more diligent," "not being careful enough." Groups are calling those who are publicly mourning Cecil's loss "heartless" because they are "more concerned with an animal than with the lives of two teenage boys." There are others who are saying it's time to "move on" from both of those events and focus on other pressing issues.
One tragedy does not diminish another.
Most of all, we do not get to decide what is important to other people. It's none of our business how others feel unless they choose to tell us. And when they tell us, it is not our place to judge their feelings and tell them they are wrong.
And yet that's exactly what is being done. On the news, online, in person.
Normally I would use this space for more uplifting words. But today I want to tell you how sad and angry I feel. I choose to do this. I know not everyone will agree with me, and that's ok. I'm not out to change anyone's mind.
Both are tragedies: one is a horrible outcome of chance; and the other is a meticulous act of cruel intentions.
I have friends who live in Jupiter, Florida. They were involved in their community's efforts to locate Austin and Perry, and to keep their parents and family members embraced and tended to. They kept us posted when there was news. I appreciated that, because when something is boiled down to a three-minute segment on the news, it loses its humanity -- I don't care how good the reporter is. My heart hurts for these boys' families, friends, schoolmates, and community, and my friend's words make me feel connected, even though we're over 1,300 miles apart.
Why am I so attuned to a tragedy in Africa, over 8,000 miles away? Why does this animal's life -- and death -- affect me so deeply? I nearly fell apart when I heard about Cecil the lion being killed. I am a bleeding heart when it comes to animals, I freely admit it. My pets are part of my family. I sobbed when I heard about the illegal and immoral way he was lured away from the sanctuary where he lived, where his lion cubs live; shot with a crossbow, then chased for 40 hours until the murderers ran him down. I nearly threw up when I saw the photos posted online of the "hunter" and his "trophy."
Cecil's murder is newsworthy because these lions are endangered. That's why Cecil was collared and his movements tracked. Conservationists are trying to figure out ways to help lions and other wildlife survive whose lives are all but dust in the wind. By tracking these animals, scientists and environmentalists get a good picture of how these animals live, breed, eat, sleep, learn, and so much more. That's why there are protected swaths of land for many endangered species and laws in place to protect those who live there. For a greedy, selfish, monster to decide that the rules don't apply to him is hideous and illegal and just plain wrong: a life was intentionally, cruelly, illegally taken and for no other reason than vanity.
This is what infuriates me, this is what makes my blood boil. The cruel methodology used to kill this lion, and many other animals, is sickening; but the fact that that someone decided that laws pertain to everyone else, but not him (and that he is above any punishment even if he does get caught), is simply unbelievable. He actively participated in the further demise of an endangered species.
What happens when the last of a creature's kind is killed because "the rules don't apply to me"? "I didn't know it was the last one" is not acceptable. This is it, folks. There aren't "back up" animals. There isn't a "back up" ecosystem. And despite NASA's advances in space exploration, there isn't a "back up" world for our children and grandchildren.
Throughout the rest of the world, others mourn Cecil, too. But many are puzzled by the intensity of Americans' heated hatred for the Minnesota dentist. But I'm not. I think a lot of us here in the States feel embarrassment that "one of our own" is to blame for this heinous crime. I certainly don't want others to think we're all a bunch of selfish, entitled monsters. I've traveled abroad, and will do so again, and there's enough anti-American sentiment to combat already (I've also been told by many people in these foreign communities that they are always happy to welcome Americans. I'd personally like it to stay that way). You are certainly free to choose your path, but you are not free from the consequences of your choice. We, the people, our government, are in a position to punish this criminal because of the consequences of the path he chose. And because he and others have waged war on a wide range of endangered species and ecosystems, I think we have an obligation to do so.
In the end, I have no answers. I'm not a religious person, but found myself praying there could be a happy end in sight for the people who love Austin and Perry, and was further heartbroken when the families decided it was time to end their search. I also pray that Cecil's spirit runs down all poachers in whatever form necessary to catch them and that justice is served. I know that's not a very nice prayer, but it is how I feel.
Until next time, Friends. Wishing us all peace for our hearts. -- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. (http://start.westnet.ca/newstempch.php?article=terms.html/) It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/234567133234/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/48ef576d/sc/7/rc/1/rc.img (http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/234567133234/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/48ef576d/sc/7/rc/1/rc.htm)
http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/234567133234/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/48ef576d/sc/7/rc/2/rc.img (http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/234567133234/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/48ef576d/sc/7/rc/2/rc.htm)
http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/234567133234/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/48ef576d/sc/7/rc/3/rc.img (http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/234567133234/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/48ef576d/sc/7/rc/3/rc.htm)
http://da.feedsportal.com/r/234567133234/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/48ef576d/sc/7/a2.img (http://da.feedsportal.com/r/234567133234/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/48ef576d/sc/7/a2.htm)
http://adchoice.feedsportal.com/r/234567133234/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/48ef576d/sc/7/ach.img (http://adchoice.feedsportal.com/r/234567133234/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/48ef576d/sc/7/ach.htm)http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/234567133234/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/48ef576d/sc/7/a2t.imghttp://pi2.feedsportal.com/r/234567133234/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/48ef576d/sc/7/a2t2.imghttp://feeds.huffingtonpost.com/c/35496/f/677045/s/48ef576d/sc/7/mf.gif
More... (http://feeds.huffingtonpost.com/c/35496/f/677045/s/48ef576d/sc/7/l/0L0Shuffingtonpost0N0Cdana0Emckenna0Cwhy0Eaustin0E perry0Eand0Ececi0Ib0I79787460Bhtml/story01.htm)
I can't imagine what Austin and Perry's parents are going through. I can't imagine what their community is going through, even though I've had heart-stopping moments as a parent, and I lived in a community devastated by something awful. But not this.
Cecil's murder -- because that's really what it is -- is horrifying because of how he died: lured out of a protected sanctuary, shot, and then chased down. I feel the person responsible is evil and his intentions were evil.
Both are tragedies. One, in the sea; the other on a desert plain. You can't assign a number on a scale of 1 to 10 of how awful these two events are. And yet people are outraged that others aren't as outraged as they are. There are some who don't understand why one of these stories (or countless others) aren't front and center with everyone. There are those who are blaming the parents, the boys themselves, the Coast Guard, for "not being more diligent," "not being careful enough." Groups are calling those who are publicly mourning Cecil's loss "heartless" because they are "more concerned with an animal than with the lives of two teenage boys." There are others who are saying it's time to "move on" from both of those events and focus on other pressing issues.
One tragedy does not diminish another.
Most of all, we do not get to decide what is important to other people. It's none of our business how others feel unless they choose to tell us. And when they tell us, it is not our place to judge their feelings and tell them they are wrong.
And yet that's exactly what is being done. On the news, online, in person.
Normally I would use this space for more uplifting words. But today I want to tell you how sad and angry I feel. I choose to do this. I know not everyone will agree with me, and that's ok. I'm not out to change anyone's mind.
Both are tragedies: one is a horrible outcome of chance; and the other is a meticulous act of cruel intentions.
I have friends who live in Jupiter, Florida. They were involved in their community's efforts to locate Austin and Perry, and to keep their parents and family members embraced and tended to. They kept us posted when there was news. I appreciated that, because when something is boiled down to a three-minute segment on the news, it loses its humanity -- I don't care how good the reporter is. My heart hurts for these boys' families, friends, schoolmates, and community, and my friend's words make me feel connected, even though we're over 1,300 miles apart.
Why am I so attuned to a tragedy in Africa, over 8,000 miles away? Why does this animal's life -- and death -- affect me so deeply? I nearly fell apart when I heard about Cecil the lion being killed. I am a bleeding heart when it comes to animals, I freely admit it. My pets are part of my family. I sobbed when I heard about the illegal and immoral way he was lured away from the sanctuary where he lived, where his lion cubs live; shot with a crossbow, then chased for 40 hours until the murderers ran him down. I nearly threw up when I saw the photos posted online of the "hunter" and his "trophy."
Cecil's murder is newsworthy because these lions are endangered. That's why Cecil was collared and his movements tracked. Conservationists are trying to figure out ways to help lions and other wildlife survive whose lives are all but dust in the wind. By tracking these animals, scientists and environmentalists get a good picture of how these animals live, breed, eat, sleep, learn, and so much more. That's why there are protected swaths of land for many endangered species and laws in place to protect those who live there. For a greedy, selfish, monster to decide that the rules don't apply to him is hideous and illegal and just plain wrong: a life was intentionally, cruelly, illegally taken and for no other reason than vanity.
This is what infuriates me, this is what makes my blood boil. The cruel methodology used to kill this lion, and many other animals, is sickening; but the fact that that someone decided that laws pertain to everyone else, but not him (and that he is above any punishment even if he does get caught), is simply unbelievable. He actively participated in the further demise of an endangered species.
What happens when the last of a creature's kind is killed because "the rules don't apply to me"? "I didn't know it was the last one" is not acceptable. This is it, folks. There aren't "back up" animals. There isn't a "back up" ecosystem. And despite NASA's advances in space exploration, there isn't a "back up" world for our children and grandchildren.
Throughout the rest of the world, others mourn Cecil, too. But many are puzzled by the intensity of Americans' heated hatred for the Minnesota dentist. But I'm not. I think a lot of us here in the States feel embarrassment that "one of our own" is to blame for this heinous crime. I certainly don't want others to think we're all a bunch of selfish, entitled monsters. I've traveled abroad, and will do so again, and there's enough anti-American sentiment to combat already (I've also been told by many people in these foreign communities that they are always happy to welcome Americans. I'd personally like it to stay that way). You are certainly free to choose your path, but you are not free from the consequences of your choice. We, the people, our government, are in a position to punish this criminal because of the consequences of the path he chose. And because he and others have waged war on a wide range of endangered species and ecosystems, I think we have an obligation to do so.
In the end, I have no answers. I'm not a religious person, but found myself praying there could be a happy end in sight for the people who love Austin and Perry, and was further heartbroken when the families decided it was time to end their search. I also pray that Cecil's spirit runs down all poachers in whatever form necessary to catch them and that justice is served. I know that's not a very nice prayer, but it is how I feel.
Until next time, Friends. Wishing us all peace for our hearts. -- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. (http://start.westnet.ca/newstempch.php?article=terms.html/) It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/234567133234/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/48ef576d/sc/7/rc/1/rc.img (http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/234567133234/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/48ef576d/sc/7/rc/1/rc.htm)
http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/234567133234/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/48ef576d/sc/7/rc/2/rc.img (http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/234567133234/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/48ef576d/sc/7/rc/2/rc.htm)
http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/234567133234/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/48ef576d/sc/7/rc/3/rc.img (http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/234567133234/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/48ef576d/sc/7/rc/3/rc.htm)
http://da.feedsportal.com/r/234567133234/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/48ef576d/sc/7/a2.img (http://da.feedsportal.com/r/234567133234/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/48ef576d/sc/7/a2.htm)
http://adchoice.feedsportal.com/r/234567133234/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/48ef576d/sc/7/ach.img (http://adchoice.feedsportal.com/r/234567133234/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/48ef576d/sc/7/ach.htm)http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/234567133234/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/48ef576d/sc/7/a2t.imghttp://pi2.feedsportal.com/r/234567133234/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/48ef576d/sc/7/a2t2.imghttp://feeds.huffingtonpost.com/c/35496/f/677045/s/48ef576d/sc/7/mf.gif
More... (http://feeds.huffingtonpost.com/c/35496/f/677045/s/48ef576d/sc/7/l/0L0Shuffingtonpost0N0Cdana0Emckenna0Cwhy0Eaustin0E perry0Eand0Ececi0Ib0I79787460Bhtml/story01.htm)