Underdogs
A few weeks ago, GTB and I watched Happy Feet, that cute little caper about a runt penguin. During the part where the-penguin-whose-name-I-can’t-remember-but-who-is-voiced-by-Elijah-Wood is being chased by a seal GTB got angry. “Mean seal” he said.
Last night, we watched a DVRed episode of Planet Earth where seals were being ripped to shreds by great white sharks in the ocean off the South African coast. “Hurry, little seal. Get away!” GTB frantically screeched.
For GTB, it’s all about the underdog. So American.
My feelings about seals never change. Predator or prey, I think they suck. And it’s mostly because I grew up in a town largely dependent on the fishing industry, and fishermen HATE seals.
So this story made me laugh out loud. While my dislike of seals would never go so far as to make me able to actually shoot one (because that would require that I have a gun, which I don’t [just kidding!]), I still feel for this fisherman.
GTB on the other hand, is probably incensed. I can just hear him: “Poor little seal!” If the story had been about the seal ripping the salmon to shreds though….
June 1st, 2007 at 12:50 pm
There was absolutely no frantic screeching, o exaggerator of the truth. Sheesh.
Besides, sea lions are assholes. And their inland encroachment is a well-documented problem. I’ve got no problem with trying to scare them away.
June 27th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
“no injured or dead sea lion could be connected with the case”. He’s in the witness protection program for another “incident” months ago in the same area!
June 27th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
I’m pretty sure that the guy was not trying to “scare” the sea lion. His thoughts were probably more along the lines of “I’m gonna kill that little MF”.