|
Hi Frank,
I give you points for trying, but I don't
think a large part of the population is going to agree with you. Animal
lovers come in large numbers and this is what I would call a public
relations nightmare. It's not clear to me how the reporter got the details
of the horses demise, but whether Karl invited the reporter on board for the
experience or simply relayed the details verbally it was a huge mistake and more
than likely will affect him, and reflect upon him, negatively. In the
US at least, a horse is more often observed as an intelligent domesticated "pet"
or "work partner" than a beast of burden as it was 150 years ago. Things
may be different in Roatan, but the article was published by a large US media
outlet with (I suspect) a large US based readership. Compounding the
problem is the intent behind the action. I think most urban-based folks
will find the concept of shooting a horse (regardless of age) and dumping it in
the ocean to attract large fish so that you can make money taking people on a
dive trip to watch those fish eat the horse, insensitive. I think you
raised an interesting (and debatable) point when you compared the horse to other
animals and said, "where do you draw the line". However, I also think most
people would place horses way above that line if one where ever officially
defined. Had the horse already been dead (which is what Karl should have
told the press even if reality was different), it would have been a much
different story since it could have been spun more positively. Call me
crazy, but somehow the vision of bringing a horse out on a boat, shooting
it in the head, tying cinder blocks to its hoofs and sending it overboard to
attract "big beasts" from the ocean depths kind of takes the romance out of a
1,000 foot dive to the bottom of the ocean to see big fish eating in their
natural environment. I've met Karl and he's an intelligent, respectful,
nice guy. But I think he made a mistake with what he did, and most
assuredly advertising the process to the press. If he continues the
procedure in the future, he may find PETA or GreenPEACE surrounding him as he
surfaces from the deep with orange spray paint cans at the ready.
my two cents,
Jon
|