First off, “experts” in Social Media have told me not to write about stuff like this, it’s too off topic and will diminish my subscribers. Second off…. I don’t care.
A dentist from Bloomington, Minnesota killed a lion in Zimbabwe and the world has taken notice. Apparently most of what the dentist did was completely legal. Some of what he did was not, he broke some laws. He should be punished commensurate with the laws that he broke.
This is not the first time the dentist has allegedly crossed the line into illegal hunting. I don’t know the guy but the guy sounds like a very unethical hunter. If I didn’t care about being called judgmental I might even describe the guy as a jerk.
Also apparently, the lion he killed was “beloved.” He roamed “free” for years at a national park. He was described as a gentle giant. He never bothered anybody, he just did what lions do.
PETA has now called for the immediate execution of the dentist. No trial, no evidence, no lawyers, just kill the damn dentist. Other people who are “horrified” at the murder of this innocent lion have threatened to kill the dentist’s wife and kids.
Not far from my office in the same Bloomington, Minnesota a demonstration was held outside the dentist’s office. Hundreds of people gathered to protest this man they called an “abomination.” There was media coverage from around the world.
The death of Cecil the Lion was indeed a big deal.
Mere miles from the dentist’s office is the Hennepin County Morgue. As the protest for Cecil was taking place the body of a little boy was at the morgue. This child was also innocent, he didn’t bother anyone, he was beloved and he was also murdered while doing what children do.
But there was no outrage, there was no protest. The story of Cecil the lion was world-wide news, it was the lead story in Minnesota which is the other side of the world from where Cecil was killed. Cecil was discussed on talk radio for days, he still is as a matter of fact. The story of the murdered little boy was briefly mentioned on the radio, he was one of 30+ murders in the area in 2015…. so far.
Did I mention the fact that the child was a human being and the lion was an animal?
Has the whole world gone crazy?
The protestors in Bloomington and animal rights activists around the world say we must work to ensure no more innocent lions are killed…. ever! I’m fine with that but where are the human rights activists protesting to ensure no more little boys are killed…ever?
Perhaps if people had the same sense of outrage when a little boy is killed as they do when a lion is killed, perhaps then, just perhaps, fewer little kids would be gunned down while playing in the street.
Maybe the whole world isn’t crazy, most people questioned in Zimbabwe hadn’t actually heard about the lion and said they were too busy trying to make a living to care about it. But maybe some people truly do place more value on the life of a lion than they do on the life of a little boy. Judging from the events of the last week that would appear to be the case.
That would also be very, very sad.
I appreciate the post and agree with your sentiment that human lives are more important than animal loves.
I also believe there are a number of activists protesting the loss of innocent lives. They’re just being drowned out by people who don’t want them heard.
The amount of coverage the lion killing continues to get is more than amazing. It’s hard to understand the lack of perspective on the part of so so many. They seem to have no problem being heard… I guess I just don’t get it.
Well said Steve. Is it a case that we in the western world have it so comfortable that some have the luxury of losing site of things that really are important. It seems to me there is a need to believe in something, no matter how unimportant in the scale of things.
I believe you are right. Some of the Cecil protesters also seemed to be out there for the “experience” of it. They sure liked making the news!
Very well said!
Thank you your holiness!
Well said Steve. While it is unfortunate Cecil was shot there mere fact that so many people are killed daily unnoticed to everyone but their relatives is more of a tragedy. I thank you for pointing this out.
Thanks Steve! Maybe people just think they can make a difference for the next Cecil but feel hopeless about all the murders of humans??
Well said my friend, well said!
Thanks Bob!
Fuck you! A human is not better than an animal. Its you who is fucking up this world with you fucked up GOD complex. Why are humans better than animals, is it because we have destroyed the world faster than any animal in history. Is it becuase we as humans cause more suffering than any animal has ever done. We start more wars and kill more children than any animal in this world. Which one is it dick face? From Craig Robinson of Masvingo, Zimbabwe. 07476424052. Address 17-19 West Street, OX7 5LH – come find me. I dare you.
You my friend are what’s wrong with the world. Yours is but one wacko reply. I’ve deleted the others but let yours go through so other people can know how the world got the way it is.
Craig of Masvingo, I’m Tawanda of Harare, Zimbabwe, and honestly, very few Zimbabweans cared, let alone knew, that ‘gentle’ lion! The amount of noise made by the Westeners, esp Americans, boggles not only mind, but the minds of many Zimbabweans. Why was that lion that important? Its just but a lion, we kill many cattle daily, many chickens, all are animals, so why Cecil, who even gave him that name? Lets care more about humans before we pretend caring about lions, or cats or whatever other animal my countryman!
Thank you so much for your comment. I too am surprised by how much noise there is about Cecil, it continues to be a big story in the U.S. today…. and humans continue to be murdered.
It’s sad and amazing at the same time.
Reblogged this on Gr8fullsoul.
Steve, I can only imagine what you’ve experienced since publishing this post. I’m intrigued by the human-hatred many seem to express and feel. I thought it was wrong to hate.
Thanks for your courage to speak up and deal with the hatred you’re experiencing behind the scenes. Keep up the good work! Mike…
It’s hard to believe how may people actually believe the life of a lion is more valuable than the life of a human. One person said we have 7 billon people so “what’s the big deal” with one dead kid. They also said with only 30,000 lions they are much more valuable than humans….
That’s just nuts… but there is a lot of that out there. I really thought the post would make people stop and think… But nope, they are really more concerned with the death of a lion than they are with the death of a child. Wow!
Wow is right. It’s interesting where you end up once you believe that life is just an accident of nature or anything other than what the Bible claims it to be, a gift from a loving Creator.
I actually never expected people to actually just say a lion’s life is more valuable than a human’s. I thought they would say “of course it’s not” but killing the lion is still terribly wrong.
But nope, there have been several people who actually said the world would be better if humans never existed. I can’t exactly get my head around that one… A human writing the world would be better if they never existed… Gee, then who would protest over the death of an animal???
Another if you are upset by Cecil the Lion then you must be upset by (insert your cause here) article. The campaigns against trophy hunting have been going on for years and are international.
Yes it has but this seems different, it goes beyond trophy hunting. Some of these people are behaving as if their closest relative just died. Well, actually worse because apparently they wouldn’t care if their relative died because their relative is a human…. I think.
I feel for Cecil the lion another innocent that has been killed. I also feel for the hundreds of thousands of people and children and babies that are being killed because they do not have good, water or shelter. Or a simple vaccine that could save their lives. There is enough for everyone on this planet. It is time for new ways of living on Earth and less ways of dying. Let everyone bring the human back to humanity to replace what has become insanity.
I’m good with ALSO!
I completely agree. People are ignorant because they get up with what the media preaches to them and take on a mob mentality. If they could think on their own, it might not be so bad.
Thinking… what a concept!
Having read all of the comments, I will add only this: as much as the killing of the lion caused concern for “animal rights”, some of the demonstrators – whose intentions were probably honorable – protested and went home, but I can bet you big money that MOST of them were there for reasons having nothing to do with a lion’s death; nor even the child’s killing, as tragic as that was. So many of them are there for their own agendas and we will likely never know that they are!
It was apparent that some where there for the experience or party atmosphere. The media interviewed 2 people who didn’t know what the protest was for. I guess protest crashing is the new wedding crashing.
I am not sure if I wholeheartedly agree with the comparison – weighing the life of a child versus the life of a lion. I think people are merely asking what it means to be a good citizen of this planet. The Cecil story struck a nerve. I am one of the people who is saddened, but still willing to have a civilized discussion.
There are billions of people on this planet. Billions. I think I read that there are close to 55,000 lions in Africa. Hunters talk about thinning the herd. So what’s one child? Hey, that’s their argument. A man named Walter Palmer decides which animals are allowed to live in the world? Doesn’t sound right to me. How about we stop senseless killing, period.
My 2 cents
I am with you. All life should be valued, placing less value on human life because “there are lots of them” just doesn’t make sense to me.
In a biological/ecological sense, the life of a lion is a million times more valuable by reason of their being close to extinction and their great majestic beauty. It will be a sad sad world without these lovely creatures. Against some misguided humans, they are so defenseless, so helpless, and this is what struck a deep chord among most of us.
Sorry but a lion’s life will never be more valuable than a human life. You would actually rather have your child killed than a lion? Or is it just other people’s kids who are worth less than a lion?
Thank you!
This is very true.. In Zim most people don’t even know the lion. Worse, when we heard the news most reacted by saying “Cecil?! Was this lion named after Cecil John Rhodes?” (the man who colonised Zim. Hence Zim was called Rhodesia before).. Not saying it was right what happened to Cecil, the people involved with his death should be punished lawfuly but there’s bigger issues to tackle in this world.
Very nice to hear from a voice of reason, thank you very much for your thoughtful comment.
Well said. I am not an animal lover. However, I do not want to see harm come to any.
All the people who have died due to police improperly charging them and then overstepping their bounds is an outrage. It needs people from all over to comment, protest, cry. Thank you! Human lives lost matter!
Reblogged this on Mashvee/Simboti Talking and commented:
Couldn’t have said it better, too much noise about an old useless lion, we have other old things we need to take care of!
Steve, it is refreshing to see someone at your level of renown speak out for the right perspective! I hate to see any living thing mistreated, but at the same time love to hunt and fish. The key is as you pointed out, that there is a difference between human and animal life. I guess we’ve arrived here after decades of evolution being crammed down our throats with the support of public institutions that no other religion receives. I like lions, but I LOVE people. Too bad so many others seem to have it backwards.
Thanks Jeff, I’m actually shocked by how many people claim to believe that a lion’s life is more valuable than a humans. But after a couple of questions you discover that a lion’s life is more valuable than the life of OTHER humans, not their own or their families.
So they only have it kind of backwards, they do value some human life with the right perspective, just not all human life….come to think of it, that might even be a bigger problem because ALL human life truly matters.
Great point, Steve!
Let us hunt for you ya slug and get you with crossbows and then skin you
Very thoughtful and helpful comment Alan. I can see why you might think a lion is more valuable than a human.