We’ve all heard the story this week. The gorilla dragged the 4-year-old boy through the water, nearly killing him. The staff shot and killed the gorilla. The gorilla died. The boy lived. It sounds like a good ending, right? The little boy's life was saved from the animal. Everything turned out OK. No one was killed. That isn’t exactly how everyone is taking it though.
People are upset because the gorilla died.
I only have two words to say to that:
So what?
Yes, all lives are important—including gorillas, and all other animals. But I never thought it would come to the day where there was a debate on which of these two lives was more important.
What is our problem that we can place animals’ lives as more important than human lives? Aside from the gorilla issue, there are countless other issues according to this topic of discussion. We riot, boycott, and petition to free Shamu and his buddies, but we stand idle when thousands of babies’ lives—human embryos, if you’d rather dehumanize the being—are taken every day, for the comfort of a “mother” and “father” who made a mistake and wants it erased. We make documentaries about how we mistreat animals, we have corporations whose entire goal is to end animal testing, and 10 percent of the population feels so strongly that they don’t eat meat at all.
Where are the boycotts and the petitions to end human trafficking? Where are the corporations that want to end slavery—that still exists, by the way. Where are the documentaries about people that are mistreated? No, I get it. There are corporations. The problem is, we only support them, or take part in what they have to offer to get volunteer hours for scholarships and graduation requirements.
Speaking from a Christian mindset, it’s easy to judge people who have a hard time understanding why the gorilla was killed, or why Shamu and his buds were mistreated. It’s not a clear answer. Jesus was human, we were made in His image, and humans were made to have dominance over all creatures. It’s easy for us to understand.
Now let me take myself out of a Christian mindset. I still don’t see how the gorilla compares in importance. I would understand the anger had they killed the gorilla after the child was pulled out. But what other choice did they have? Tell me how you would view the situation had the little boy died. Tell me how you would view the situation if they hadn’t killed the gorilla and just stood and watched for longer, letting the boy get more and more injured. Tell me what you would think if someone went in there to rescue the boy from the gorilla and they got harmed as well. If the boy had died, and the gorilla lived…would you still want the gorilla alive then?
I know that the concept of animal captivity for entertainment is viewed as wrong, and I can understand why. That doesn’t mean that the gorilla deserves some sort of justice. That doesn’t mean that since the gorilla has been treated wrongly that he can kill this small boy and it be OK. That doesn’t give the monkey an excuse. Because no matter what the set of circumstances, his life is more important the gorilla’s. Hands down.
If it had been you being dragged through the water, hovered over and banged against a wall, you’d be glad the animal was dead, too.
My point is, take a step back and look at the bigger picture. If all the gorillas die off, it will be okay. You know why? Because they aren’t going to grow up to change the world. That little boy can. That little boy’s kids will. That little boy has a soul that can impact so many others. The gorilla doesn’t. That little boy might even grow up to be an animal’s rights activist. You never know. So quit complaining about the death of a gorilla, and fight for the little boy’s life instead.
