Okay, so we are off on a bit of a journey and as life would have it, there are new things to learn everyday. Let me start by telling a bit of a story that happened several months ago.
The circus was in town and the younger kids insisted that some of us old folks go with them. I must admit that I am not a big fan of the circus. The whole concept seems a little foreign to me. Call me a spoil sport if you like. But, it seems that the circus is one of the spookiest things I have ever seen. Perhaps, it actually began when I was a kid and experienced my first circus. My parents were more excited than I was about going.
I was afraid of the clowns. That’s not so weird. Most kids seem to be afraid of clowns at some point in time — kinda like kids that scream and cry when they are asked to sit on Santa’s lap. There is just something that kids seem to pick up on about adults dressed up in strange garb, pretending to be something they are not. (And, please — no Santa comments. I get the idea.) I’m only saying that kids seem to like the idea until they come face to face with a clown or Santa.
Anyway, I went to the circus with a bunch of kids and their families. All was going well until the animals were led out into the center ring. The little eight year old sitting next to be started crying uncontrollably and her brother — age 10 — stood up and shouted something about animal cruelty. Needless to say, the parents were appalled and I was pleased.
The little boy continued to yell, “Elephants don’t want to do tricks.” Well, they don’t. At least, I don’t think they want to do tricks and be staked out in a small area. And, yeah! I often wonder if elephants visualize what it would be like to run free for as far as the eye can see.
Well, that brings me to one of the strangest things I have ever heard. In 1916 an elephant was hanged in Tennessee, somewhere up near Kingsport. Apparently, the elephant was fed up with her confines so when the handler prodded her behind the ear one last time, Mary (the elephant) had finally had enough and went beserk — or just rebelled. Anyway, Mary ran loose and stomped someone — probably the handler — to death. I’m not sure if she killed one person or more, but you get the idea.
So, 2500 people gathered together and with a huge crane strung Mary up by her neck. The first chain broke so they did it again. Anyway, history shows that it was a very cruel episode, Mary’s body being pulled apart by her weight until she was hanging to her death.
Now, I would say that this has to rank as one of the most bizarre episodes in human history or animal history, except in 1903 an elephant in New Jersey was electrocuted for a similar reaction to human handling. Actually, Thomas Edison filmed the event. (Google it.)
Mary would have been electrocuted rather than hanged except Tennessee could not generate enough electricity to do the job back in 1916.
So, I bring this up for two reasons. First of all, my little ten year old friend wrote about this for his Tennessee history project. Somehow, his wonderful effort to explain this little known fact was not exactly deemed as an historic event, or worthy of recognition as such. But, that really is another story and far more historically accurate than the BS history has recorded about the Monkey Trial in Dayton, TN. (Scopes Trial)
The second thing about this story is that while we cannot bring Mary back we can think about human treatment or mistreatment of animals. Hey! I admit it. I am a tree hugging, whale saving liberal — for those who want to stick a label on my forehead. But, unlike so many liberals who prefer to be called progressives today, I am damned proud of who I am and what I believe in. And, when someone calls me a liberal today, I always say, “Thank you.” I consider it an honor.
Now, to that end, I am most thankful for those people who care enough to take action to save the whales, or the spotted owls, or the elephants. Today I am particularly thankful for those people who began the world’s largest elephant sanctuary right here in Tennesee. What goes around comes around — or call it karma.
Anyway, The Elephant Sanctuary is a real gift of love and compassion. I think we need to plan a field trip when I get back home for the kids.
History proves that humans have done many cruel things to one another and to other living things on the planet. We cannot undo what is done. There is no need to dwell on the past except as a teaching tool for the future. Of course, learning from past mistakes is something humans have a hard time doing. But, The Elephant Sanctuary is trying to make amends for the cruelty others have dispensed to elephants. What a wonderful cause!
We cannot save all the whales or the elephants, but it never hurts to try. Today I am thankful for those folks who decided that elephants need a place to run and took action. I encourage everyone to take a look at The Elephant Sanctuary. And, hey, if you can buy a shirt or make a contribution.
And, for my little neighbor — hanging Mary was a historical event.
