Harambe vs. Alligator: Which is the Greater Tragedy?

[Relentless_Hippie]

Recently news reports have been featuring tragedy after tragedy but there are two situations I'd like to analyze. Not too long ago we all heard about the death of Harambe the gorilla in efforts to save a four year old boy's life. Shortly after there was an incident at Disney, which cost two year old Lane Graves his life. Both are tragic and traumatizing events and both families deserve sympathies and good wishes, however that is not what has occurred and it reveals a very ugly and disgusting truth about our society.

Deny it if you must, but once I heard about the gorilla incident and saw the reactions of many people, users of gag as well, I became disgusted and appalled at our society. That fact of the matter is, people would not have treated the Harambe situation the same way if that little boy wasn't black. Now before we go on I will say I am nothing like those people who throw the race card into every situation, I am nothing like those people who try to victimize myself through history, I am nothing like those people who blame the "white man" for self inflicted problems. I'm not even black, but I am aware of how blacks are viewed and truth be told the value of a black man's life in America is no more valuable than that of a dog.

In both situations the parents weren't thinking things through. Both parents were somewhat irresponsible and both parents are to blame in each situation, however the majority of the blame is to go to the facilities these issues have taken place.

Behold!

This is the infamous "barrier" designed to ensure the safety of park visitors and keep people out of the enclosure. Keep in mind that just beyond this fence is only about 5 ft. of land before falling nearly 10-12 ft.

Any "barrier" that a small child is able to make it passed with ease is no barrier at all. The design of the park was both lazy and stupid. It doesn't make sense that this little boy was able to make it beyond that fence. But even more so that people would be upset that this child was a survivor in a life or death situation. This should be a time of celebration and happiness, also a time of generosity and concern. This is a traumatizing event.

Not once has anyone thought about his mental state, the emotional well being of the parents, or even his siblings. Instead they respond with #JusticeForHarambe and demand criminal charges be pressed on the parents. People responded with death threats to his mother, and even the news went so far as to dig into his father's history in order to reveal a criminal past that occurred nearly a decade ago. What the hell does that have to do with anything? Why is the father even being brought up? He wasn't even at the zoo when it happened!

Alternate Ending

A little baby boy losing his life is a heart breaking story to tell and a harsh reality to accept. People have been showing nothing but support and caring towards the family as they should be. My issue here is with the hypocrisy. Since this child's death five alligators were euthanized in hopes of finding the one that cost this boy his life.

Where are the animal rights activists screeching their heads off? Why isn't anyone angered by this fact and why isn't there protesting and #JusticeforDisneyGator occurring? Because. He is considered valued above an animal. I don't see people searching for a criminal history of his parents in order to blacken their name and embarrass them among the public.

Killing those gators isn't going to undo what has been done. It won't bring the boy back, it won't change anything.

I don't see people joking about how the parents should be put to sleep instead or discussing criminal charges being pressed. I don't see people placing the entirety of the blame on his father. In fact, I see most people actually thinking logically and placing the blame in the correct place. At the park. The truth is, because of his father's carelessness his son is dead. That is a very hard pill to swallow. It may not have been intentional, it was a very tragic mistake, but nonetheless the father and the park contributed to this loss of young life.

Both parents in both situations have a small contribution to what has occurred. The real people we should be angry at are the people who own these parks. This father's carelessness has caused a much darker reality to enfold itself among us while Michelle Gregg's situation was almost as dark yet people wished death on her and not this man nor his wife. Both situations are the same, but with an alternate ending. Had the alligator been shot and the Michelle Gregg's son killed people would have had the same responses. Lane Grave's ending was dark. He's hardly begun his life but same with the other child. One is a tragedy and the other a survivor story. What makes one family more deserving of sympathies than the other?

Or better yet, what makes the father who unintentionally lead the son to his death better than the mother who almost did the same thing?

[Anonymous]

Both were horrible tragedies that could have been prevented.

I agree, and I never have thought about it in this way. Why where people protesting for Harambe and not the alligator? Could it have been a matter of the outcome being different? If he would have died, would there have been less hatred for the mother of the child?

Why is it not the fault of the parents of the boy who was splashing in the water and suddenly got eaten up by an alligator? Why aren't people saying "they should have kept an eye on their child" here? Is it because the outcome was different?

Is it a matter of two different species? That alligators are "more dangerous" than gorillas? That nobody wants to protest for an alligator because they are nuisances?

Or is it a matter of the race of the victims, and that we are stereotyping people based upon race? Would people been more sympathetic to the boy who fell into the gorilla enclosure if he were white?

Well, these are only "what if" questions. It doesn't matter now, as a boy and gorilla are dead. RIP.

These are all questions I ask myself, and this Take really made me think. Great myTake.

[JRICHARDS1996]

The one where the child died.

Is it really contest? Then again, this is the same society which thinks that it is cruel to feed mice to your snake but 'progressive' to slaughter the unborn in the name of choice.

[Relentless_Hippie]

Well yeah obviously, but that wasn't what this was about. It's about the hypocrisy in both situations. Why is the human life valued in one situation but not the other? Why does one family receive prayers and blessings but not the other? Why does one family deserve criminal charges and death threats but not the other?

[Anongirl6]

I feel terrible for the parents in both situations. Many parents have turned away from their kids for a few seconds and the kid was getting into trouble. Which is to be expected they are kids. The situation where the boy died was a hard pill to swallow because once that alligator had it, it wasn't going to give it up. They both could've been prevented because honestly both establishments could've done more. That barrier is hardly a barrier. And Disneyland could've educated customers about the dangers of alligators and to not go near any body of water. Or put up plenty of signs to stay an X amount of feet from the water.

[Anongirl6]

So I have been thinking and I think that one life is valued more than the other because A. the boy died, which I think is a big reason why B. an alligator had that kid, once the alligator had it, it wasn't going to let it go. C. I think when you're surrounded by animals that are dangerous and I think people expected the mother to be on guard all the time. While when you're at a beach, you're more laid back. I hope other zoos and the other Disney parks learn from their mistakes.

[DivaMonae]

I agree with you a 100%. Maybe if the boy didn't make it out alive him as well as his family would get less hatred like the other family.

But then again maybe not? It could be the outcome, it could be the different race, it could be the difference of animals. Who knows either way it doesn't make it right 😕

[Maik567]

"Harambe vs. Alligator: Which is the Greater Tragedy?"

The tragedy where a two year old child died. Question answered.

[Relentless_Hippie]

Well yeah obviously, but that wasn't what this was about. It's about the hypocracrisy in both situations. Why is the human life valued in one situation but not the other. Why does on family receive prayers and blessings but not the other? Why does one family deserve criminal charges and death threats but not the other?

[Maik567]

If that wasn't what this was about then why the fuck did you use that as the title? Just to create controversy for no actual reason I'm guessing.

The reason is because the kid didn't die. If the kid had died in the other incident too they would have gotten sympathy, that's just how humans act. And similarly if the 2 year old hadn't died but they still shot all the alligators to save him, there would have been an outrage towards the parents. I agree that it is hypocritical and ridiculous, but this really isn't about race and its weird how far you are trying to go to make it about race.

[Relentless_Hippie]

Not really trying to make it about race, it's just something I believe is an influencing factor, at least for some people. Nonetheless I've stated my main issue is the hypocrisy. People have selective morality. All in all I respect your opinion, thanks for commenting.

[Anonymous]

You know before the fact that it was a little black boy... black people was yelling racists because the gorilla was black. I saw this all over the internet. And on the radio and tv. Then after it came out it was a black family... nothing was said from those idiots yelling racists.

[Dred1614]

If some moron says Harambe, my faith in humanity will be lost. It's obviously the alligator. Imagine losing your child in such an unexpected and especially gruesome manner. That's something that people never recover from and small potatoes when compared to the necessary killing of an animal.

[Dred1614]

*the killing of Harambe is small potatoes compared to the unspeakable tragedy at Disney. That last sentence of my answer came out wrong.

[Anonymous]

You're a dope. I think I tried to explain to you before that one family actually had their kid die at Disney of all places while the other has their kid alive and they weren't paying attention at a zoo. And gorillas are endangered. Alligators are not. In fact, I believe some of the governments of those states hires people to kill a certain amount off each year.
Huge differences. Stop with your race baiting nonsense. Is this site just full of ignorant douches?

[OlderAndWiser]

Calling people names is juvenile. Raising "differences" (endangered vs. non-endangered) that don't make a difference is simply desperate. Avoiding responding to his arguments is a concession that you have nothing of substance to say.

[Opinion Owner]

@OlderAndWiser
"I tried to explain to you before" means that there was a past discussion. She keeps pushing the racism angle.
Endangered vs non endangered, the fact that one kid actually died while the other had a couple of scrapes, where and how they happened are more than simple "differences" and how they don't make a difference is beyond me.
I didn't avoid responding to *her* arguments. Clearly.
Mind your business, old man. How's that?

[OlderAndWiser]

It is very possible that the one child is alive because of the actions that were taken. That child did not die most likely because of the actions of the zookeepers so, since the child didn't die, that means the zookeepers over-reacted? Do you think it would be preferable to have the gorilla alive and the child dead? Should the zookeepers have taken that chance with a human life?

It does seem that there is a disparate reaction to the two events. Perhaps that is because, in the one event, the animal is a gorilla and much, much closer to human life than an alligator. But that does not mean there is a racial component in the reaction. I am am extremely traditional, conservative person and I resent the way that some people play the race card, but that doesn't mean that race is never an issue, does it?

I am colorblind and don't always accurately perceive the gender of users on this site. That is an affliction which I have had my entire life and not a reflection of my age.

[Spermdumster666]

if the gorilla had killed the boy they would have kept their mouths shut so that showd how much they actually care one way or the other. Male gorillas kill baby gorillas thats not their own.

[Littlett25]

I don't see why people think Harambes death wasn't necessary. He literally was dragging the boy around, I don't understand how that was considered non harmful.

[Maxemeister]

I think that there are more tragic situations than this and we don't have to only be talking about animals

[johnnywoods]

The two year old dying is more tragic. Breaks me heart!

[mrfoox]

Well said