(no subject)
Lions are typically seen as the patron animal of courage. Look at stories like Kimba the White Lion, or the Lion King. (Okay, they're the same thing, but you know what I mean.) Look at the Wizard of Oz; a lion who was cowardly was considered odd.
Why is this? Why are lions given this honorable position?
Let's look at what a lion is: It's an apex predator. What that means is that it sits at the top of its local food chain. What THAT means is that there's nothing around to challenge it, or threaten it.
So why is an animal, who acquires its strength, its muscle, its size, not by hard work, but rather by the good fortune of evolution and genetics; why is this animal, who, unlike so many of its environmental neighbors, never has to so much as worry about its own safety, barely has to worry about where its next meal is coming from; why is THIS animal heralded for being COURAGEOUS? If anything, lions should be the patron animal of laziness, not "courage". They spend most of their day lounging on the prairie. All the other animals around have to actually work. All the other animals have to swallow their fear and take risks just to feed their children. Lions have got it made, and yet they're still treated as if they've earned their respect. Anyone who accords a lion courage doesn't really know what courage is.
Why is this? Why are lions given this honorable position?
Let's look at what a lion is: It's an apex predator. What that means is that it sits at the top of its local food chain. What THAT means is that there's nothing around to challenge it, or threaten it.
So why is an animal, who acquires its strength, its muscle, its size, not by hard work, but rather by the good fortune of evolution and genetics; why is this animal, who, unlike so many of its environmental neighbors, never has to so much as worry about its own safety, barely has to worry about where its next meal is coming from; why is THIS animal heralded for being COURAGEOUS? If anything, lions should be the patron animal of laziness, not "courage". They spend most of their day lounging on the prairie. All the other animals around have to actually work. All the other animals have to swallow their fear and take risks just to feed their children. Lions have got it made, and yet they're still treated as if they've earned their respect. Anyone who accords a lion courage doesn't really know what courage is.