Return to Main Pagewalidphares.com

Join email List | Appearance Schedule | Publications | Contact Us 

Last Updated: Aug 14, 2018 - 4:43:16 AM 
           

Home 
CV
Op Eds
Articles
Interviews
Books
     Reviews of Books
     Future Jihad Web Site
     The War of Ideas Web Site
     The Confrontation
     The Coming Revolution
     Lost Spring Site
     The Choice
Printed Media
     Interviews
     Quoted
Radio
TV
Lectures
Walid Phares Blog
Phares in Spanish
Phares in French
Phares in Arabic
Academic
     Florida Atlantic University Teaching
     Lifelong Learning Society Teaching
Slavic Media
German
Portuguese
Videos
Italian
Kurdish
Asia
Romney for President 2012
Donald Trump 2016



Articles

"A Lion Against Poachers"
By Dr Walid Phares
Aug 1, 2015 - 8:13:59 PM

Email this article
 Printer friendly page

Our relation to animals is a daily matter, like our relation to nature and to air. It needs to be improved constantly, but not through the reckless debates between political camps. For we need to remember that a large majority of simple people, a silent majority, which traverses right and left political boundaries, is made up of animal lovers—or at least animal protectors. Don't lose the power of this moment over unrelated issues.

Cecil the King Lion







Zimbabwe's regime wants Palmer, Lion Cecil shooter, extradited? No he should not be extradited to a dictatorship. Tried? Yes he should be tried here in the United States and his fair punishment should be to atone in public and dedicate himself to creating a fund for the preservation of lions. He should spend time at a Zoo taking care of lions and cubs and lecture to children about protection of wildlife. Like the story of Apostle Paul, Palmer should regret his actions and transform himself—with his hunting expertise—into a "lion" against poachers. He knows how they operate and should help governments going after them. That is real justice for lions and intelligent justice...

As to Zimbabwe's authorities, they are the keepers of this universal treasure on their land, and they are responsible for this nature's heritage. They need to go after their own poachers and bring them to their own court system, one after the other. First, they need to show openness, reform their court system, and adopt a transparent political culture. The real breakdown that led to the killing of Cecil, and possibly Jericho, are the holes in the system. They need to be closed and this needs a civil society effort. The illegal killing of Cecil the Lion is a signal event, an opportunity to open the dossier of all poaching horrors in Zimbabwe and on the continent. Precious animals are hacked and bled to death because governments are not protecting them. That needs to change. We need a more mobilized international public opinion, but also a more mature one. For the jungle of reactions that followed the tragedy shows significant immaturity in the debate over protection of animals.

The political left unreasonably tried to tie the drama to its own agenda, brushing away the animal protection issue by hijacking it and linking the shooting to unrelated matters. This in turn caused an opposite reaction with frustrated political comments coming from the right, dismissing the matter, and almost the entire animal protection cause as if it meant nothing. Both camps need to understand that while there are endless causes and agendas out there and many overwhelming human miseries, there is also complex dimension to people around the world who are sensitive to animal suffering and wish not to tie it to any human political agenda—on the left or on the right. It happens that a majority of people, starting with children and a large segment of adults, truly and simply experience pain when they learn of animal suffering. This does not diminish their struggle for human justice. Just the opposite: People sensitive toward animals happen to be those most committed to human and humanitarian causes. That is a fact.

The killing of Cecil is not about this particular Lion King anymore; it is about us as people. Each day, millions of people post about how upset they are for the loss of a furry companion. The same people who say of Cecil, "but he was just an animal," also post pictures of a creature they call "a new addition to the family." Our relation to animals is a daily matter, like our relation to nature and to air. It needs to be improved constantly, but not through the reckless debates between political camps. For we need to remember that a large majority of simple people, a silent majority, which traverses right and left political boundaries, is made up of animal lovers—or at least animal protectors. Don't lose the power of this moment over unrelated issues.

Dr Walid Phares is a Professor of International Relations in Washington DC


© Copyright 2003-2018 by walidphares.com

Top of Page

Articles
Recent Headlines
Independent Arabia: Iran fears a confrontation with President Trump and has little alternatives
The Hill: Trump Rattles White House with Bolton Shake-Up
Fox News: Iran Spends Billions on Weapons Programs, Terrorism While Ignoring Iranians' Basic Needs, report finds
We predicted Iran backed militias targeting Mecca six years ago
"A Lion Against Poachers"
NINE YEARS AGO, PHARES: "HAS THE FUTURE OF JIHAD ALREADY BEGAN?"
Article in India and Global Affairs: "COUNTERING JIHADI STRATEGIES IN THE SUB CONTINENT"
President Barack Obama: Healing the Past and facing the Future
Phares: Ten Top Questions about the ongoing Israel-Hamas confrontation
CHRISTMAS IS NOT NEGOTIABLE!..MERRY CHRISTMAS..