Thoughts on Harambe and Other Tragedies
I don't blame a mother for "allowing" her child to slip away. I don't think any parent can cast stones.
I don't blame the zoo for the action it took, even though it resulted in a tragedy.
I feel horrible for the gorillas who are going to miss their companion, not really understanding what has happened or why.
I am all for helping endangered species. I wish there were ways other than zoos to do so, but I do believe most zoos are trying their best.
What I absolutely hate are memes posted on social media that proclaim if one is concerned over the death of an animal (now Harambe, previously Cecil the Lion) then that person obviously does not care about children going hungry, soldiers being killed, who becomes the next President, and other hot-button issues. These memes, in short, are the result of faulty deductions.
Allow me to explain. Let's assume someone who is a parent has a sick child at home. The child is running a fever, vomiting, coughing up mucus - you get the picture. Any of us who are parents can relate. If that parent is the average parent, his or her mind is on the sick child. It is not on who is going to be President. It is not on soldiers. It is on the innocent child who is not feeling well.
So let's all accuse the parent of not caring, shall we? Just imagine the meme. It depicts a photo of said child, lying in bed, cheeks red. Then it says: "While you are wasting your time worrying about a typical, childhood sickness, soldiers are killed each day. While you are worried about something that happens daily all over the world, we could elect the wrong person into office as President. Don't you feel guilty?"
None of us would do that. Why? Because we know a parent worrying about his or her sick child does not mean that individual does not care about other issues. Of course they do. But sometimes one issue is more prominent because it is happening right then and there.
That is how it is in these cases. And the fact that it involves an animal does not lessen the tragedy.
In the grief process, people express anger. That is what people are doing right now. It's not that they are not concerned with people. (In fact, if one were to follow their social media activity, I am sure that before this tragedy occurred, they were concerned about other, prominent issues). The people who are concerned about the tragedy at the Cincinnati Zoo are very likely the same ones who have pointed out injustices of all types.
And just to be clear, if those who are posting the meme criticizing another for their concern of this tragedy have been concerned about the Target bathroom issue, those individuals should not throw stones. Let he who is sin free and all....
I don't blame the zoo for the action it took, even though it resulted in a tragedy.
I feel horrible for the gorillas who are going to miss their companion, not really understanding what has happened or why.
I am all for helping endangered species. I wish there were ways other than zoos to do so, but I do believe most zoos are trying their best.
What I absolutely hate are memes posted on social media that proclaim if one is concerned over the death of an animal (now Harambe, previously Cecil the Lion) then that person obviously does not care about children going hungry, soldiers being killed, who becomes the next President, and other hot-button issues. These memes, in short, are the result of faulty deductions.
Allow me to explain. Let's assume someone who is a parent has a sick child at home. The child is running a fever, vomiting, coughing up mucus - you get the picture. Any of us who are parents can relate. If that parent is the average parent, his or her mind is on the sick child. It is not on who is going to be President. It is not on soldiers. It is on the innocent child who is not feeling well.
So let's all accuse the parent of not caring, shall we? Just imagine the meme. It depicts a photo of said child, lying in bed, cheeks red. Then it says: "While you are wasting your time worrying about a typical, childhood sickness, soldiers are killed each day. While you are worried about something that happens daily all over the world, we could elect the wrong person into office as President. Don't you feel guilty?"
None of us would do that. Why? Because we know a parent worrying about his or her sick child does not mean that individual does not care about other issues. Of course they do. But sometimes one issue is more prominent because it is happening right then and there.
That is how it is in these cases. And the fact that it involves an animal does not lessen the tragedy.
In the grief process, people express anger. That is what people are doing right now. It's not that they are not concerned with people. (In fact, if one were to follow their social media activity, I am sure that before this tragedy occurred, they were concerned about other, prominent issues). The people who are concerned about the tragedy at the Cincinnati Zoo are very likely the same ones who have pointed out injustices of all types.
And just to be clear, if those who are posting the meme criticizing another for their concern of this tragedy have been concerned about the Target bathroom issue, those individuals should not throw stones. Let he who is sin free and all....
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