Two days ago the Kentucky Derby winning horse Barbaro was put to sleep. Barbaro was injured almost a year ago during the running of the Preakness, the second of the famed "Triple Crown" horse races. Numerous surgeries and intensive care treatment could not induce proper healing, so the animal was put down.
Over the course of the last eight months, Barbaro has apparently received millions of letters, phone calls, website well-wishes, flowers, and food wreaths. There have been candlelight vigils, and no doubt more than one person who has prayed for the horse's healing.
Am I missing something here? Barbaro is not Barbara -- this is a horse, not a person. He is an animal specifically raised and trained to entertain us by running races, and then to breed more entertainment animals. Is it possible that I'm just a fool with no soft spot in my heart for a horse with a broken leg?
It's possible.
Alternatively, is it possible that it says something about our society when millions of people write letters of comfort to a horse? When people send flowers to an animal, and read press releases on the hour about surgery results?
It tells me that a lot of people must not have much substance in their lives. It tells me that in this "Christian nation," we are looking to every source imaginable for a little inspiration, a wisp of joy. Our faith and our families apparently are not captivating enough ... we need a tragic horse story to stir our hopes. Hmmmmm ....
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Haven't you ever prayed for your job? I'm sure the horse was a major source of income for some people (I don't mean gamblers).
But, yeah, concerning everyone else, I see what you mean... Lets hope they're even more giving to the children than they are to the beasts.
“First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”
“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
If a 'food wreath' is a crumb, they have a lot to live up to.
----TEXAS
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