I came across an interesting editorial in the Star Tribune in which a woman’s own experience with the law has changed her views toward trophy-hunting dentist Walter J. Palmer:
Then in mid-August an event rocked my world. Criminal allegations were made against me in connection with a minor traffic incident. As with Palmer’s situation, no charges have been filed, but there is an ongoing investigation.
I found out with excruciating firsthand experience that I like the American justice system — innocent until proven guilty. Thank God I live in a country where I trust that the legal system will sort things out. I am not afraid. I believe the law will treat me fairly.
But there is no “fairness” for Palmer. Though he has not been charged with a crime at this point, he has already been judged and has paid a terrible price for the accusation — which he has denied — that he knowingly killed Cecil after the lion was lured out of the park.
After becoming “an accused” myself, I suddenly have empathy for Palmer. I finally looked at the facts objectively, and I educated myself. This is what I know to be true:
Hunting is legal. Trophy hunting is also legal. Palmer is not the only person to have killed a lion. Hundreds of exotic trophy animals are brought into the U.S. every year. I still detest trophy hunting, and I believe it is only a matter of time before it will be outlawed.
I think this is why people prefer to try people in the court of public opinion. It’s easier to see “justice” done than actually working to get laws changed so that people might actually stop their offensive-but-legal practices. Slacktivism runs rampant these days, but actual work to change hearts and minds (and laws) is rare.
Did anyone notice besides me that yesterday was “International Day of Peace”? Did anyone currently not engaged in waging peace actually stop their fighting because of it? I’m sure it made someone feel good to get that on our calendars, but beyond that what good did it do? Do they imagine somehow that Kim Jong Un woke up yesterday, looked at his calendar, and thought, “Wow, cool idea. I think I’ll stop oppressing my people and threatening my neighbors today.”?
What was particularly heart-warming about this editorial is that the writer actually did something:
If you were accused, would you like to face an angry mob? Of course not. Can we please put aside the trial by media and public opinion and death threats? Is it too late to proceed in civilized fashion? I hope not.
I owe Palmer an apology. I initially reacted in anger when I was only focused on the suffering of Cecil. Now I see things differently, and I am sorry.
I spoke to Palmer recently. I simply told him I was glad he was back in practice and that he did not deserve what happened to him. I said a few more things. He really didn’t say anything at all. He just hugged me.
It was a brief conversation. I did not talk about trophy hunting, or the awful things I said about him in July. I hope to give him a full apology someday. And I hope that when he hears it, he will forgive me. I am truly sorry.
Who do you think is more likely to move Palmer to give up trophy hunting, the social media activists who made his life a living hell for several weeks, or this woman who decided whatever he did does not justify what she did, and is making an effort to make amends?
For the record, I’m against trophy hunting, too. I understand those who hunt for meat, but killing an animal just to say you did it is a lousy reason to end a life that did nothing to you. But Palmer broke no laws, and it’s difficult to disprove his claims that he didn’t know how his guides lured the lion for him to shoot. To quote the editorial:
In terms of this particular hunting trip, I don’t know what Palmer did or did not do, or what he knew or did not know. And neither do you.
Huh. Couldn’t have put it better myself. I keep hoping more people will wake up and realize that no amount of nastiness justifies your own nastiness. And changing people’s minds through nastiness is not only rare, but likely breeds only begrudging compliance, not a mind truly changed.