Every morning when I drive my kids to school the news comes on the radio. I used to turn it off, or change stations. Now I see it as an opportunity to open up discussion on a variety of topics. I have changed from being a mother wanting to protect her children from all the bad in the world, to wanting to protect them with knowledge.
I think, I hope, I have taught my children three things: a love of words, a love of all life and empathy.
Several mornings ago we were listening to the news on the Orca who killed his trainer. I lived in Victoria when the same whale killed a young female trainer in 1992. It was horrifying. It was sad and I had an overwhelming opinion then and I still do today.
“What do you think that whale is trying to tell us?” I asked my kids.
“Get me out of here!” yelled my oldest son.
“Exactly. It’s sad, isn’t it?”
“It is sad. I feel sorry for that family and I feel sorry for the whale,” said my youngest daughter.
“Are they going to kill the whale?” asked my six year old son. His voice had a little tremor in it. I looked in the rearview mirror and I could see him retreating into deep thoughts.
In their world animals are killed when they hurt people. It happens all the time around here — bears and cougars are regularly shot when they pose a threat to humans. He had made a completely logical step in thought.
“I don’t know. Maybe.”
We drove in silence for a few minutes. All of us feeling a little heavy in our hearts. Our anthropomorphizing hearts.
“I think it would be better to set the whale free than kill it, even if that kills it,” said my oldest son.
I think so too. I don’t know what is going to happen to that whale, but I don’t have a good feeling about it. I can’t stand the thought of violence. I am a pacifist.
Last week during the rioting at the Olympics, I was shocked to see my Facebook wall loaded with people crying out for violence against the protesters. My faith in my friends was diminished. My heart was heavy and sad seeing the harsh words. It’s not that I believe in what the protesters did; I believe in all of our right to peaceful protest. I believe that things got out of hand and damaging personal property was wrong. But suggesting that beating the protesters was a logical response? Wrong.
As humans we can protest against things that we believe are wrong. In my case, I can write about it. Others can march, talk, argue. As humans we need to see when we have failed at something, learn from our mistakes.
*Note: The orca has also been referred to as Tilicum
Photo Credit
Great article!
Tilikum does not belong in captivity. Many people say he would die if set free but this is false. He would first be rehabilitated in a sea pen, then, reunited with his pod or accepted into another pod.
This November 14th is “International Free Tilikum Protest Day” Hosted by our website. Feel free to check it out at: http://www.tilikum.webs.com
Thank you for all that you do!
“things got out of hand and damaging personal property was wrong”
Things did not get “out of hand”. A group of thugs (NOT protesters) set out to destroy (The Bay Downtown), wreak havoc and instill fear in our citizens and those of visiting countries.
This thuggery was not protest, rather, a display of violence and fear mongering, please. There’s a massive difference between the peaceful protest that took place every single day and night to various degrees and the rioting that took place that first Saturday morning.
The Vancouver Police department did a spectacular job. I’d have had the clubs and pepper spray out. You don’t throw newspaper boxes through glass windows and if I was passing by your home and a thug was tossing a newspaper box or shoving a ladder through your window for ANY reason, I’d demand the same – clubs, tasers, pepper sprays – to control the fear you and your children were experiencing.
I agree that there is a difference between “thuggery” and peaceful protest and absolutely think the police did an excellent job. I just don’t agree that more violence is the answer. Arrests yes, clubs – the use of unnecessary force? No way.
I just finished watching Larry King doing a segment on this and not once did they mention that this whale has killed before. Clearly the whale wants out. The sad thing is, if we were to tell our children the truth, we would have to tell them, that the whale will stay where it is because now he will bring in even more money….. because the people in charge?…. believe that people will want to see the KILLER WHALE !!
that is so sad.
I don’t think being aware of what the whale is thinking/feeling is anthropomorphizing; it think it is being an empathic human who is aware of how we are all connected.
Sad, heavy post, but excellent points and beautifully written.
As a mother, I too can empathize with wanting to protect them from all harm; yet wanting to give them the tools to face what may come.
Thanks for this! Keep up the great work of being human, and encouraging your children to do so!
Thank you Mary.