Cecil killing dentist's driveway trashed with graffiti, pickled pigs feet and animal crackers

[magical thyme]

10. Cecil didn't commit suicide and didn't really have a lot of choice in the matter.

His senseless slaughter is a loss to all of us, animal and nature lovers in particular.

Fwiw, I've been driven to the brink of suicide twice in the last 6 years. My animals are the only thing that keep me going. The 2nd time, after I wrote about it on DU when I started seeking homes for my pets, I was banished. Ironically, I got the practical help that I needed -- just a link to a gov program -- to overcome what seemed an insurmountable hurdle from a forum made up of banished DUers.

As somebody prone to depression who has been driven to the brink twice, I can write with authority that if I ever again get driven to the point that I give up and check out, I do NOT want any protests or demonstrations or any other bullshit on my behalf. Suicide is an intensely personal issue. Yes, there are societal and economic factors involved, but much of it goes well beyond that.

It's not like there aren't plenty of protests going on about other social issues, including suicide (eg just google Sandra Bland -- 53.3 million results; black lives matter -- 145.0 million results; occupy -- 74.8 million results).

I can't help but wonder why it bothers some people that others dare to protest the senseless slaughter of endangered species. It's not like there's any shortage of other protests out there.