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Title: Gorilla Boy's Mom Shouldn't Be Burned at the Stake
Source: Reason
URL Source: https://reason.com/blog/2016/05/31/ ... ys-mom-shouldnt-be-burned-at-t
Published: May 31, 2016
Author: Lenore Skenazy
Post Date: 2016-06-03 10:31:51 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 3113
Comments: 29

If the manhole in front my apartment suddenly blew up, I wouldn't blame a nearby mom.

Harmbe

The account below seems to capture the shocking and chaotic scene at the Cincinnati Zoo, where a toddler wiggled his way into the gorilla exhibit and had to be saved, unfortunately by zookeepers shooting Harambe, the 400-pound gorilla holding onto him. The gorilla died. The boy has been treated and released from the hospital.

The public has, naturally, weighed in on this, as if any of us in our armchairs have insights as to what was happening or should have happened. Many people are livid that the zookeepers killed the animal, but just as many seem to be blaming the kid's mom. Because of course, bad things only happen to the children of bad parents, and parents who are distracted are freakishly awful. And so this outrageous meme is going around:

Gorilla

Here, then, is what appears to be an eyewitness's firsthand account of the horrible afternoon (lifted from Facebook):

My family and I decided to go to the zoo yesterday after visiting my neice at Cincinnati Childrens hospital. For those of you that have already heard, there was a terrible accident there yesterday. And since every news media has covered this story, I don’t feel bad telling our side. This was an accident! ! A terrible accident, but just that! My husband’s voice is the voice talking to the child in one of the videos.

I was taking a pic of the female gorilla, when my eldest son yells, “what is he doing? ” I looked down, and to my surprise, there was a small child that had apparently, literally “flopped” over the railing, where there was then about 3 feet of ground that the child quickly crawled through! !

I assumed the woman next to me was the mother, getting ready to grab him until she says, “Whose kid is this? ” None of us actually thought he’d go over the nearly 15 foot drop, but he was crawling so fast through the bushes before myself or husband could grab him, he went over! The crowed got a little frantic and the mother was calling for her son.

Actually, just prior to him going over, but she couldn’t see him crawling through the bushes! She said “He was right here! I took a pic and his hand was in my back pocket and then gone!” As she could find him nowhere, she lookes to my husband (already over the railing talking to the child) and asks, “Sir, is he wearing green shorts? ” My husband reluctantly had to tell her yes, when she then nearly had a break down!

They are both wanting to go over into the 15 foot drop, when I forbade my husband to do so, and attempted to calm the mother by calling 911 and assure her help was on the way. Neither my husband or the mother would have made that jump without breaking something! I wasn’t leaving with my boys, because I didn’t trust my husband not to jump in and the gorilla did just seem to be protective of the child.

It wasn’t until the gorilla became agitated because of the nosey, dramatic, helpless crowd; that the gorilla violently ran with the child! And it was very violent; although I think the gorilla was still trying to protect, we’re taking a 400 lb gorilla throwing a 40 lb toddler around! It was horrific! The zoo responded very quickly, clearing the area and attempting to save both the child and the gorilla! The right choice was made.

Thank God the child survived with non-life threatening, but serious injuries! This was an open exhibit! Which means the only thing separating you from the gorillas, is a 15 ish foot drop and a moat and some bushes! !

This mother was not negligent and the zoo did an awesome job handling the situation! Especially since that had never happened before! ! Thankful for the zoo and their attempts and my thoughts and prayers goes out to this boy, his mother and his family.

The local TV station WLWT5 explained that the gorilla was not simply tranquilized “because when the animal is agitated, [zoo director Thane] Maynard said, the tranquilizer may not take effect right away. This was the first time Cincinnati Zoo officials have killed an animal in this manner, Maynard said. The zoo also said this is the first security breach at Gorilla World since it opened in 1978.”

When something terrible does not happen, ever, I’d say we are allowed to assume it won’t happen. If the manhole in front of my apartment suddenly blew up and injured a kid, I don’t think I’d blame the kid's mom for letting him wander out of her sight momentarily.

When we are faced with sudden sadness, we have a few choices. We can sigh. We can pray. We can donate—for instance, to an animal sanctuary. We can commit ourselves to trying to make the world a better place, if only to feel less despair. Or we can force ourselves to understand that the incomprehensible—especially sudden death—either has a bigger meaning (it’s part of God’s plan) or it doesn’t (fate is fickle).

What is easier than all of these is to sink into the sewer of self-righteousness and pretend that if only someone had been doing what we believe we would have done in that unpredictable situation, everything would be peachy. That way we get to feel smug and angry—a heady combination. And the perfect kindling for the burning of witches, or the crafting of national legislation.

Let’s try not to go down either of those roads as we mourn Harambe. (2 images)

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#1. To: Deckard (#0)

The
liberal
world
has
gone
africanization
mad

make
America
sane
great
again

love
boris

If you ... don't use exclamation points --- you should't be typeing ! Commas - semicolons - question marks are for girlie boys !

BorisY  posted on  2016-06-03   14:48:44 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#2. To: Deckard (#0)

I took a pic and his hand was in my back pocket and then gone!

So she couldn't leave the picture taking to someone else, nor properly secure her child while picture taking. Naw, no negligence here.

A government strong enough to impose your standards is strong enough to ban them.

ConservingFreedom  posted on  2016-06-03   14:59:12 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#3. To: Deckard (#0)

Letting your 3 year old run unsupervised at a zoo is definitely neglect.

I saw this mom defend herself on TV and she sounds like the type who lets her kids grow up like weeds,

Public scorn is the LEAST she deserves.

TrappedInMd  posted on  2016-06-03   16:09:14 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#4. To: TrappedInMd (#3)

Letting your 3 year old run unsupervised at a zoo is definitely neglect.

According to the article the kid's hand was in her pocket right before this happened. That isn't neglect and it definitely isn't unsupervised.

Would you suggest that the law require that kids be tethered when they are out in public to avoid this happening?

I saw this mom defend herself on TV and she sounds like the type who lets her kids grow up like weeds,

I bet she even allows them to play in the yard unsupervised.

Oh - the horror!

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul

"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards."

Deckard  posted on  2016-06-03   17:16:26 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#5. To: Deckard (#4)

Would you suggest that the law require that kids be tethered when they are out in public to avoid this happening?

I think the gorilla would make a more protective mother... in fact, the zoo knew it would have to kill that beast before it let the child go.

If this child's mother was an off duty officer, or an officer was standing on duty within eye sight, you'd be screaming to have the mother or officer shot... save that gorilla!!!!

I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح

GrandIsland  posted on  2016-06-03   17:23:40 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#6. To: ConservingFreedom (#2)

So she couldn't leave the picture taking to someone else, nor properly secure her child while picture taking.

The kid was right next to her if his hand was in her pocket.

How would you suggest she secure the child, handcuffs or just a leash?

Look - kids are going to do things no matter how closely you watch them.

Society has gone crazy looking for ways to punish parents for neglect when there is none.

Look at all the incidents of parents charged with neglect for allowing their kids to walk to school, or the park, or even for playing in their own yard.

People are too quick to judge others when something like this happens.

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul

"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards."

Deckard  posted on  2016-06-03   17:24:01 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#7. To: GrandIsland (#5)

If this child's mother was an off duty officer, or an officer was standing on duty within eye sight, you'd be screaming to have the mother or officer shot... save that gorilla!!!!

Look you fucking inbred piece of shit.

I've already said on another thread that they did the right thing shooting the gorilla.

Learn to read asswipe.

If an off duty cop had been there, I doubt he would be a good enough marksman to put down the gorilla with one shot from a handgun.

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul

"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards."

Deckard  posted on  2016-06-03   17:27:12 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#8. To: Deckard (#6)

How would you suggest she secure the child, handcuffs or just a leash?

Those would work, but any means of actually securing the child would have sufficed; having his hand in her pocket is not securing him.

A government strong enough to impose your standards is strong enough to ban them.

ConservingFreedom  posted on  2016-06-03   17:33:33 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#9. To: ConservingFreedom (#8) (Edited)

Those would work, but any means of actually securing the child would have sufficed; having his hand in her pocket is not securing him.

This seems to be an extreme reaction to a non-problem. Do you suggest that all children under let's say the age of five be leashed or tethered when they are in public?

...having his hand in her pocket is not securing him.

Possibly, but he was right there and then suddenly disappeared.

If you had kids that age you would know that they will sometimes do things unexpectedly.

That doesn't mean the mom should be burned at the stake.

If a young child can easily get into the gorilla exhibit, that tells me that the safeguards at the zoo were not adequate to begin with.

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul

"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards."

Deckard  posted on  2016-06-03   17:44:34 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#10. To: Deckard (#7)

If an off duty cop had been there, I doubt he would be a good enough marksman to put down the gorilla with one shot from a handgun.

They did a pretty good job on that gorillas doppelgänger... Christopher Dorner.

lol

I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح

GrandIsland  posted on  2016-06-03   17:45:18 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#11. To: Deckard (#9)

a non-problem.

I didn't realize that one's child falling into a gorilla enclosure was a non-problem. Carry on, then.

A government strong enough to impose your standards is strong enough to ban them.

ConservingFreedom  posted on  2016-06-03   17:46:26 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#12. To: GrandIsland (#10)

They did a pretty good job on that gorillas doppelgänger... Christopher Dorner.

As I recall, they incompetently shot up a bunch of innocent civilians while on their jihad to kill a cop who blew the whistle on police corruption.

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul

"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards."

Deckard  posted on  2016-06-03   17:48:17 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#13. To: Deckard (#0)

If the manhole in front of my apartment suddenly blew up and injured a kid, I don’t think I’d blame the kid's mom for letting him wander out of her sight momentarily.

What a totally moronic statement!!!

потому что Бог хочет это тот путь

SOSO  posted on  2016-06-03   17:49:08 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#14. To: ConservingFreedom (#11)

I didn't realize that one's child falling into a gorilla enclosure was a non-problem.

Seems to me that you were suggesting that all kids be harnessed while in public.

The problem here wasn't the mom, or the kid.

The supposed safeguards at the zoo were woefully inadequate.

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul

"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards."

Deckard  posted on  2016-06-03   17:50:00 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#15. To: Deckard (#12)

No... they turned that domestic terrorist fool into BBQ. One shot, one very dry wooden kookifonian cabin.

lol

I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح

GrandIsland  posted on  2016-06-03   17:50:32 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#16. To: GrandIsland (#15)

No... they turned that domestic terrorist fool into BBQ.

Yeah - he ratted on bad cops.

He must have been a terrorist.

I'm surprised that more innocent citizens didn't get shot by these rage-fueled pricks.

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul

"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards."

Deckard  posted on  2016-06-03   17:52:37 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#17. To: Deckard (#14)

The supposed safeguards at the zoo were woefully inadequate.

What do you expect a zoo to do so you can make excuses for criminals, build 8 foot walls for 6 foot people to look at?

You are a flipping TOOL.

I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح

GrandIsland  posted on  2016-06-03   17:52:54 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#18. To: SOSO (#13)

If the manhole in front of my apartment suddenly blew up and injured a kid, I don’t think I’d blame the kid's mom for letting him wander out of her sight momentarily.

What a totally moronic statement!!!

Yes, by all means.

Let's blame the mom for a manhole cover blowing up.

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul

"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards."

Deckard  posted on  2016-06-03   17:53:28 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#19. To: Deckard, GrandIsland (#7)

This is indeed a very sad story. I have not watched the video. My thoughts are;

1. The enclosure around the gorilla should NOT have allowed a child to get into it. No matter what, kids do unexpected things.

2. When out in public, ALL parents should have their kids under their firm control. NO EXCEPTIONS !

When our kids were small, the rule was simple. You hold Mom or Dad hand. If for any reason, that contact is broke, they were NEVER to be more than arms length away. Break those rules, they got disciplined, and the trip was over, we went home. My biggest fear at the time was child kidnappers. Yes, some might say I was paranoid, but like I told goofy co workers, " you will not see my kids pictures on milk cartons". They are still with us, 40, 31, & 28, very healthy, and mentally well balanced. Yes, we took them to the Zoo when in elementary school

Back to the OP. Yes the zoo should have had a better enclosure, but the dumb ass mother should have not had her head up her ass.

Sadly, the zoo did what they had to do, by shooting the gorilla. I hope they correct the enclosure issue. And, I hope that mother gets a brain.

That is my .02 cents

Si vis pacem, para bellum

Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who don't

Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.

if you look around, we have gone so far down the the rat hole, the almighty is going to have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah, if we don't have a judgement come down on us.

President Obama is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people. --Clint Eastwood

"I am concerned for the security of our great nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within." -- General Douglas MacArthur

Stoner  posted on  2016-06-03   17:53:59 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#20. To: GrandIsland (#17)

What do you expect a zoo to do so you can make excuses for criminals

Oh - now the mom is a criminal?

Yeah, I guess in GrandIsland "everyone's a criminal except cops" bizarro world, that would make sense.

build 8 foot walls for 6 foot people to look at?

I'm sure there are other ways to insure the safety of zoo-goers other than your idiotic suggestion.

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul

"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards."

Deckard  posted on  2016-06-03   17:56:50 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#21. To: Stoner (#19)

No matter what, kids do unexpected things.

Yes, you are correct.

And they will sometimes do them no matter how closely they are being monitored.

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul

"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards."

Deckard  posted on  2016-06-03   17:59:25 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#22. To: Deckard (#21)

" And they will sometimes do them no matter how closely they are being monitored. "

For some, maybe. Mine did not, because they were always strictly under our control.

Si vis pacem, para bellum

Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who don't

Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.

if you look around, we have gone so far down the the rat hole, the almighty is going to have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah, if we don't have a judgement come down on us.

President Obama is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people. --Clint Eastwood

"I am concerned for the security of our great nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within." -- General Douglas MacArthur

Stoner  posted on  2016-06-03   18:04:37 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#23. To: Stoner (#22)

" And they will sometimes do them no matter how closely they are being monitored. "

For some, maybe. Mine did not, because they were always strictly under our control.

Well, that may be true.

You may think you have them completely under your control, but they will do things that surprise you.

When my son was about 3, he sneaked out of the house in just his underwear and walked across the yard to a neighborhood store.

Nowdays, his mom and I would likely be accused of child neglect, back then it was just a humorous incident (we lived in a small town where everybody knew everybody).

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul

"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards."

Deckard  posted on  2016-06-03   18:17:17 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#24. To: Deckard (#23)

" my son was about 3, he sneaked out of the house in just his underwear and walked across the yard to a neighborhood store. "

True. But in terms of the OP, that mother should have had a good hole on him. When out in public with young children, a parent should always be in condition RED.

Si vis pacem, para bellum

Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who don't

Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.

if you look around, we have gone so far down the the rat hole, the almighty is going to have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah, if we don't have a judgement come down on us.

President Obama is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people. --Clint Eastwood

"I am concerned for the security of our great nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within." -- General Douglas MacArthur

Stoner  posted on  2016-06-03   18:24:57 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#25. To: Stoner (#24)

When out in public with young children, a parent should always be in condition RED.

Of course, however the public calls for burning her at the stake are absurd.

Sure, she could have done better I suppose, but who among us is without sin?

What parent hasn't had the same thing happen to them, having a child get loose?

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul

"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards."

Deckard  posted on  2016-06-03   18:28:58 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#26. To: Deckard (#25)

" public calls for burning her at the stake are absurd. "

Yeah, but she was wrong. No amount of arguing on her behalf will change that.

Si vis pacem, para bellum

Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who don't

Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.

if you look around, we have gone so far down the the rat hole, the almighty is going to have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah, if we don't have a judgement come down on us.

President Obama is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people. --Clint Eastwood

"I am concerned for the security of our great nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within." -- General Douglas MacArthur

Stoner  posted on  2016-06-03   18:39:54 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#27. To: Deckard (#14)

Seems to me that you were suggesting that all kids be harnessed while in public.

No idea where you got that - I suggest that kids should be actually restrained when circumstances warrant, as this kid was not.

The supposed safeguards at the zoo were woefully inadequate.

On that we agree - there's no way that kid should have been able to wriggle in there.

A government strong enough to impose your standards is strong enough to ban them.

ConservingFreedom  posted on  2016-06-03   19:41:34 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#28. To: Deckard (#25)

the public calls for burning her at the stake are absurd.

Nobody has called for literally that - what exactly are they calling for?

A government strong enough to impose your standards is strong enough to ban them.

ConservingFreedom  posted on  2016-06-03   19:44:09 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#29. To: Deckard (#18)

Let's blame the mom for a manhole cover blowing up.

Are you really that dense? There are no fences or barriers or warning signs to mothers to keep their kids away from manhole covers. There are plenty of signs and warnings, along with plain old common sense, for mothers to keep their kids away from climbing over physical barriers that separate them from potentially dangerous wild animals. What exactly do you not understand about that? Do you honestly believe that walking in reach of a manhole poses the equivalent danger as walking in reach of a gorilla, especially when there are significant physical barriers one must overcome to get that close to the gorilla?

потому что Бог хочет это тот путь

SOSO  posted on  2016-06-03   22:44:05 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


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