The Eurasian hunter Charles te Mechelen photographed with a young Javan rhinoceros in Ujung Kulon, Java, in 1895. What I'd like to know is: as things change, do we stay the same?
When I was a little kid, I loved to watch the old safari movies. I loved the wild animals, I loved the native scenes, too. I dreamed of things like: going on a safari, one day? For most of my kid years, I wanted, more than anything, a chimpanzee. I loved, loved, loved them... like little human beings, they were, babies or something. I longed to live like Tarzan... er, maybe Jane? ... lol... swinging through the trees, living in a tree house, eating fruit from the trees... and falling into the arms of my strong, handsome man at the end of the day. In my adulthood, I couldn't understand why I was so intrigued by the old movies... well, maybe it was the wild, dangerous thrill of the jungle... never knowing what would be around the next corner, that kept the adrenaline flowing... a lion, a tiger, a snake??? ... but, it was never about the kill. Never about putting a bullet through the head or heart of some innocent creature. I wonder what we were thinking? I heard there are places, in the States (like Texas?) where rich folks can pay big bucks to have a wild animal (panther?) set loose, so they can make the kill. How sick is that??? I could never understand killing an animal just to have it stuffed and be able to say you killed it. How sad, to look into the still, lifeless eyes of a lion or tiger, that has been taken in this way. It saddened me, recently, to see an elephant foot stool, in a museum. I don't know... I think we are better, but I could be wrong. Maybe not yet better enough.
DH and I were recently watching (in horror) a hunting show where two men with guns were going after a bear. The glee they took in their 'sport' was revolting. It's not like they needed the food or the fur.
Christ-on-a pony! I hope not! I didn't even like pellet gunning the dying rat's head. I could go on and on about our 'throw away culture'. That's why shelters are overflowing with unwanted dogs and cats. And who knew there was a horse overpopulation problem?? My daughter volunteers at the Grace Foundation (horse rescue) and it's heartbreaking to see the sorry condition the new arrivals are in. OMG, I feel the soapbox shuddering under my stomping feet. Why must humans invade, pave over and kill everything?
That's a different perspective.. to think that it is not us that change but everything else is and as things change around us, it casts a different light on us. Hmm... Good one.
When I was a little kid, I loved to watch the old safari movies. I loved the wild animals, I loved the native scenes, too. I dreamed of things like: going on a safari, one day? For most of my kid years, I wanted, more than anything, a chimpanzee. I loved, loved, loved them... like little human beings, they were, babies or something. I longed to live like Tarzan... er, maybe Jane? ... lol... swinging through the trees, living in a tree house, eating fruit from the trees... and falling into the arms of my strong, handsome man at the end of the day. In my adulthood, I couldn't understand why I was so intrigued by the old movies... well, maybe it was the wild, dangerous thrill of the jungle... never knowing what would be around the next corner, that kept the adrenaline flowing... a lion, a tiger, a snake??? ... but, it was never about the kill. Never about putting a bullet through the head or heart of some innocent creature. I wonder what we were thinking? I heard there are places, in the States (like Texas?) where rich folks can pay big bucks to have a wild animal (panther?) set loose, so they can make the kill. How sick is that??? I could never understand killing an animal just to have it stuffed and be able to say you killed it. How sad, to look into the still, lifeless eyes of a lion or tiger, that has been taken in this way. It saddened me, recently, to see an elephant foot stool, in a museum. I don't know... I think we are better, but I could be wrong. Maybe not yet better enough.
ReplyDeleteDH and I were recently watching (in horror) a hunting show where two men with guns were going after a bear. The glee they took in their 'sport' was revolting.
ReplyDeleteIt's not like they needed the food or the fur.
Christ-on-a pony! I hope not! I didn't even like pellet gunning the dying rat's head.
ReplyDeleteI could go on and on about our 'throw away culture'. That's why shelters are overflowing with unwanted dogs and cats. And who knew there was a horse overpopulation problem?? My daughter volunteers at the Grace Foundation (horse rescue) and it's heartbreaking to see the sorry condition the new arrivals are in. OMG, I feel the soapbox shuddering under my stomping feet. Why must humans invade, pave over and kill everything?
I think we're as changeable as the ground we walk on.
ReplyDeleteThat's a different perspective.. to think that it is not us that change but everything else is and as things change around us, it casts a different light on us. Hmm... Good one.
ReplyDeleteIt's disgusting. I think we definitely do change, though not always as fast as we should or in the right direction for that matter.
ReplyDelete