Have you heard about the Silverback Gorilla that was shot in order save the four year old boy who fell into it's enclosure? The internet is all a-buzz with the story, almost every reaction I have read is criticizing the "lazy" and "negligent" mother.
I watched the video of the incident, and it absolutely wrenches my heart to think of how terrifying that must of been for his mother. Not only would the fear for your child be overwhelming, but the intense feelings of guilt that that you could have or should have prevented it... I can't even imagine how that would feel.
It is a tragedy that in order to save the boy, the gorilla was killed. But I certainly believe that the value of a human life is higher than an animal's, even an endangered one. I think the little boy's life is more valuable than the gorilla's, and I think his mother's life is more valuable than the gorilla's, and thousands of people on the internet are well on their way to ruining this woman's life.
The mother's name is Michelle Gregg.
Did you know that she has four children? I have two children, and it is already impossible for me to keep them both perfectly safe at all times, and mine are not even very agile yet. Do you know how many mothers have lost track of their child for just a moment?
Do you remember the mother, Cherish, who accidentally left her baby in the shopping cart at the grocery store? The hashtag #IStandWithCherish was started, because so many mothers connected with the ability to make a mistake like that. And how that one mistake should not define her life, or cause her children to be removed from her, or cause her to be placed in jail for negligence. Mothers all over the world related to Cherish and wanted her to receive the forgiveness and mercy that they would hope to receive if they were ever in her shoes.
I'm not going to say I know the right thing to do in this situation, because there are a lot of details that I don't have, and I'm not in a position to judge anyway, but I am choosing compassion and mercy and forgiveness on this one. I'm choosing to relate to a mom who I'm assuming is feeling terrible enough that this happened on her watch, and I'm choosing to extend the compassion and forgiveness that I hope would come my way if I ever ended up in her shoes. And I'm choosing to rejoice with her that her little boy is safe and well.
Labels: Motherhood