I won't be popular for saying it but ... was one Emperor Penguin really worth the $80 000 spent to return it to its natural habitat?
Sure Happy Feet (as the penguin was known) captured the hearts of millions ... and yes, what a privilege to see one up close ... and of course, it provided valuable practice for veterinary students and biologists ... and naturally it brought the conservation debate to the forefront of thinking (personally I don't know if that's a good thing but I won't go there) ... but really, was it worth the cost?
I personally prefer not to think of the alternative (having an animal put to sleep) which probably makes me a hypocrite (then again, I eat meat and prefer not to think of where it comes from either) but on the other hand, is this penguin likely to survive in the wild? After all, he was found on a beach far from his natural habitat with his stomach full of sand. I have a feeling that Happy Feet may have been a few sandwiches short of a picnic. And when it comes to survival of the fittest in the wild ... well, I'll leave it up to your imagination.
People - and corporations - and whoever else - are free to spend their money as and where they will but I can't help wondering what a difference that money could have made to the Horn of Africa? Or to the poor in this country? The children that go to school hungry and barefooted ... the elderly who cannot afford heating ... those without a roof over their heads ... Granted it probably wouldn't go far but surely it would make a difference to some lives?
Have we become such a mixed up crazy world that we value the life of an animal over the life of a human? Some would say that a life is a life, regardless of whether human or animal. But it is the human that has been created in God's image and who has an eternal soul ... something that cannot be said for an Emperor Penguin no matter how adorable he is (and I'll admit that he is cute).
Call me callous. Call me unfeeling. Call me insensitive. Call me whatever you like. I would love to see Happy Feet returned home, but at such a cost I believe we have our priorities mixed up.
Sure Happy Feet (as the penguin was known) captured the hearts of millions ... and yes, what a privilege to see one up close ... and of course, it provided valuable practice for veterinary students and biologists ... and naturally it brought the conservation debate to the forefront of thinking (personally I don't know if that's a good thing but I won't go there) ... but really, was it worth the cost?
I personally prefer not to think of the alternative (having an animal put to sleep) which probably makes me a hypocrite (then again, I eat meat and prefer not to think of where it comes from either) but on the other hand, is this penguin likely to survive in the wild? After all, he was found on a beach far from his natural habitat with his stomach full of sand. I have a feeling that Happy Feet may have been a few sandwiches short of a picnic. And when it comes to survival of the fittest in the wild ... well, I'll leave it up to your imagination.
People - and corporations - and whoever else - are free to spend their money as and where they will but I can't help wondering what a difference that money could have made to the Horn of Africa? Or to the poor in this country? The children that go to school hungry and barefooted ... the elderly who cannot afford heating ... those without a roof over their heads ... Granted it probably wouldn't go far but surely it would make a difference to some lives?
Have we become such a mixed up crazy world that we value the life of an animal over the life of a human? Some would say that a life is a life, regardless of whether human or animal. But it is the human that has been created in God's image and who has an eternal soul ... something that cannot be said for an Emperor Penguin no matter how adorable he is (and I'll admit that he is cute).
Call me callous. Call me unfeeling. Call me insensitive. Call me whatever you like. I would love to see Happy Feet returned home, but at such a cost I believe we have our priorities mixed up.
Comments
I didn't know it cost $80,000 to return Happy Feet back to his home. I guess one way to look at it is if they would have spent the money on research anyway, then this is just another project for them. Maybe they will learn something that will help people in the future... probably not, but it's a thought. It is sad, but there are people who will gladly give money to help an animal, but will not give money to help humans. Maybe their thinking is that animals can't help themselves. But there are lots of people that are pretty much helpless too.
I think they should just have charged $1 per person to use the website to track Happy Feet. I know I am interested in what happens to him, so I imagine there are 80,000 people out in this world that would have paid $1 to defer the costs of this and get to watch his progress. Then again, if you'd give a dollar to do that, would you give a dollar to help feed the hungry? Priorities, priorities!
We had a missionary from Africa in our church on Sunday. He wants to start an orphanage, but because of the paperwork costs within the government there, to do it will cost around $15,000-$20,000. We were able to give $1500 to help them, but that's a drop in the bucket. He already has 10 kids living with them in their home. He was weeping... because he said he can't bear to see them tossed out like trash, like a dog on the street with no one that cares about them. So he keeps taking them in, but there are so many more kids that need a safe place. Are the priorities of the world messed up? Yes, they are. But then again, I'm convicted myself because not every dollar I spend is spent in a totally selfless way either.
It reminded me of a song by Casting Crowns, 'While We Were Sleeping':
"United States of America
Looks like another silent night
As we're sung to sleep by philosophies
That save the trees and kill the children"
Though it could apply to any nation on earth, not just the US.
This song also helps us to re-evaluate our priorities, not monetary, but spiritual. It talks about how Israel missed the coming of the Messiah. But it also asks America (and us) whether we will (or have) missed Him as well, with distorted views and priorities.
Son #2
P.S. I highly recommend Casting Crowns to everyone!
I don't spend my money in a totally selfless way either (hey, we're renovating a house) but I do wonder about our priorities in general.
BTW, Son#2, I think that song is from my CD. Does that mean it's no longer in my house??? I didn't know all the words and I'm glad you brought them to my attention. They are so true.
It just seems to me that while Happy Feet is an adorable penguin that endeared himself to many, he is after all just an animal, and that money could have been better spent.
Son #2