Post by gruntal on Aug 5, 2015 15:37:17 GMT
The latest news is that a certain lion in Africa was hunted and shot dead by an American dentist. It would seem this was no ordinary lion but a rare aberration given protected status. It was thought safe and secure but now we think it was lured out of it's wildlife refuge where it was considered fair game.
The lion also had a name. A very human sounding name. Doesn't that mean it was worth as much as any human called CECIL ?
As is often the case I find the actual fact not as fascinating as the controversy and discussion it has generated. Now so many people with so many pet peeves and causes are parading their take on this. Actually I think many are just using poor Cecil to advert their own agendas. "Let's remember all the aborted babies". " How many African kids died in the same time frame of preventable diseases?" It goes on and on. "It was just an animal." " Can't we get our priorities straight? "
The answer to that is of course no. If it was then we wouldn't have all this controversy, would we?
Lions are vicious wild predators and that one would meet it's end in likewise fashion does smack a little of poetic justice. And I wonder what went on in the lion's mind the last moments of Cecil's life? "I am sorry and I forgive all of you" ? Or " Come close and let me bite your head off" ? What ever it was it was probably more dignified then some of the bleeding hearts that wouldn't hurt a flea. The point is all of creation - at least as it is presented to us now - will go on hurting and hunting each other down. The predator knows dignity whereas the grazer just knows naught but how to run and hide.
What I do find gratifying - indeed sublime - is that we are indeed agonizing. There is no mistaking that. If there was ever any doubt in my mind we were in some state of metamorphosis I look around and see and hear disparate thoughts and opinions. It was so simple when you killed until something killed you. Brute strenght ruled. Now not so much so. Where are we headed? I would like to think this one lion with a human sounding name played it's part in awakening us to what ever we will become.
In that the sacrifice had a meaning ....thank you Cecil.
The lion also had a name. A very human sounding name. Doesn't that mean it was worth as much as any human called CECIL ?
As is often the case I find the actual fact not as fascinating as the controversy and discussion it has generated. Now so many people with so many pet peeves and causes are parading their take on this. Actually I think many are just using poor Cecil to advert their own agendas. "Let's remember all the aborted babies". " How many African kids died in the same time frame of preventable diseases?" It goes on and on. "It was just an animal." " Can't we get our priorities straight? "
The answer to that is of course no. If it was then we wouldn't have all this controversy, would we?
Lions are vicious wild predators and that one would meet it's end in likewise fashion does smack a little of poetic justice. And I wonder what went on in the lion's mind the last moments of Cecil's life? "I am sorry and I forgive all of you" ? Or " Come close and let me bite your head off" ? What ever it was it was probably more dignified then some of the bleeding hearts that wouldn't hurt a flea. The point is all of creation - at least as it is presented to us now - will go on hurting and hunting each other down. The predator knows dignity whereas the grazer just knows naught but how to run and hide.
What I do find gratifying - indeed sublime - is that we are indeed agonizing. There is no mistaking that. If there was ever any doubt in my mind we were in some state of metamorphosis I look around and see and hear disparate thoughts and opinions. It was so simple when you killed until something killed you. Brute strenght ruled. Now not so much so. Where are we headed? I would like to think this one lion with a human sounding name played it's part in awakening us to what ever we will become.
In that the sacrifice had a meaning ....thank you Cecil.
