The world recently lost a one eyed, three legged dog named Gus to cancer. The little creature had been given the title of the "Ugliest Dog in the World" by the most confusing and mind numbingly weird species on earth- Human Beings.
He beat several other canines to win the title apparently. I mean, let's just take a look at what we're saying here and admonish ourselves. A dog competed against other dogs for the title of the world's ugliest dog.
Admit it. You haven't heard anything sillier. You and I both know that he didn't wake up one day, look in a mirror, conclude he had a fairly good chance and saunter off to sign up for the pageant.
It's a shame indeed that beauty has come to be associated in the human world by one's physical appearance.* But when we apply our own questionable standards to poor creatures of the animal kingdom, and judge them by the same, it really leaves me grasping in vacuum for something to say.
I don't know what drives human beings to act this way towards animals. Dressing them in people's clothes, making them participate in ugliness contests, getting them married to each other...
Camus once said that man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is.
Is that why we can't stand the fact that there are wonderful creatures who are quite at peace with being what they are?
Is it envy that drives people to humanise animals?
I like to think so. It's much more a reflection of reality than the alternative that comes to my mind...
Pity.
*Reminds me of a poem I read recently. Allow me to share.
A young spring-tender girl
combed her joyous hair
'You are very ugly' said the mirror
But,on her lips hung
a smile of dove-secret loveliness,
for only that morning
had not the blind boy said,
"You are beautiful"?
-- Spike Milligan
