On Cecil...

Cecil the Zimbabwean lion was hunted, killed and beheaded by dentist Walter Palmer of Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Unless you dwell in a treehouse, you know that the backlash has been vitriol, unrelenting, and caused social media outrage that has turned the hunter to the hunted.

I greatly mourn the loss of Cecil, on the list as a ‘threatened’ animal. As an animal rights activist, a vegan, and as someone who believes in common decency, I share the general sentiment of being appalled and outraged. If the laws exist, Mr. Palmer should be prosecuted to the full extent of them, especially because the circumstances of Cecil’s death seem quite manipulated and frankly immoral.

We know his dental practice has closed. (read the letter he sent to his patients) I am sure at sometime he will move from his hometown. (Sometimes it’s not good to go where everyone knows your name.) The Lion Killer will most likely become his suffix.

Most likely he will change his cellphone, email, haircut, and anything else that can make him as traceable as the GPS monitor that he allegedly destroyed.

We cannot bring Cecil back to life, no matter how many tweets with the hashtag #walterpalmer we angrily send out. Mr. Palmer will still think hunting, particularly large game a perfectly acceptable hobby. Karma in her form will take care of what needs to happen, so what are we the outraged able to do now? We can scream at Palmer until our vocal chords bleed or fingers numb from typing. Or we can reflect…

·      What causes people to believe large game, trophy hunting is okay?
·      Have we contacted legislators to enact laws against this?
·      Have we spoken to our kids about this?
·      What is our attitude toward small game?
·      Can we lose eliminate term game?
·      Are we are that game etymologically comes from ‘joy, merriment, sport’?
·      How do we treat animals in general?
·      Have we invited a hunter into dialog to achieve at least an understanding?
·      What is the relationship of humans and the animal kingdom?
·      Can we wrap our heads around the idea that we are part of that kingdom?
·      Why do people call killing a sport? Trophy? Really?
·      What are we doing to prevent this from happening again?

Game killing will continue. A hunter might think twice before going, but those who are adamant will continue with even greater resolve. If seeing another Cecil survive, how do we reach those people who wish to hunt? I’m not sure, but tearing down Mr. Palmer more than he already has is not be the answer.