Reminds me of a joke. Do you think when elephants see men naked, they think to themselves......How does he feed himself with that thing?
Did You ever go see him? Did you take kids? Did they learn anything new? I did. We've gone to the ZOO too many times to count. My boy will be sad. These highly intelligent animals are people too IMHO.
I was 8 years old when Packy was born and it was a huge (YUGE!!) event. Almost up there with the Blazer championship (seriously!!) years later. Packy put little Podunk Portland on the map and made us proud. When they installed the Zoo Key talking information system, Packy was the model for the key. Zoo attendance went through the roof and Packy was a serious tourist draw. I realize it's probably hard for the non native Oregonians and the younger crowd to grasp, but Packy was a true Portland icon. My wife burst into sobs when she heard the news and I had a difficult time holding my own tears back. As he got older, he got to be a mean, cranky old fart, but then, maybe that's why I have such a soft spot for him.....I can relate......
Don't get me wrong, I'm really sad. Quite a bit sadder than I would have anticipated, in fact. I absolutely love the zoo, and I've been a Pachy fan most of my life. I'm genuinely hoping they make a significant gesture like a video tribute, and that it'll be available online so I can watch it later. I just think a "Moment of Silence" at a sporting event is a level of reverence and respect that should be held only for exceptionally decent human beings.
I think the fact that we separate ourselves like we are superior than everything else on the planet is a problem. We hold human life above any other life when all life has value (except for parasites. I never understood why they exist and what would happen if they were gone). We like to say things like we are going to save the planet but realistically we are simply talking about saving the human race. This planet doesn't need us and would live on without us more prosperously.
That's a different discussion, and one which while I disagree with your conclusion, I completely understand your valid argument. My point about the MOS was that I think it's already over-used for famous people who don't deserve it. Kind of how people think the Blazers over-used the "banner in the rafters" honor. It should be granted only to a select few human beings.
yet most elephants are more decent than most humans. most of us are shit fucks. hell, we have a dog as a forum mod cause we know people are shit.
