An American dentist killed a lion in Zimbabwe and everyone on the Internet lost their minds.
And it doesn’t surprise me one bit.
In case you missed it — and you likely haven’t — Minnesota dentist and North Dakota native Walter Palmer is accused of killing a collared and protected lion named Cecil after allegedly baiting it out of a Zimbabwe preserve with the help of hunting guides in early July. Whether or not this basic version of the story is completely true or not, Palmer’s life as he knew it is over.
Why? Because of so-called social justice and Internet-fueled outrage. Palmer has received death threats, is loathed by millions and will probably never be able to re-open his practice, leaving his livelihood in jeopardy. He has been the target of animal rights activists and regular people the world over. Hundreds of thousands have signed a White House petition asking for Palmer to be extradited to Zimbabwe.
Palmer and his guide have admitted they screwed up. The aging lion was protected and shouldn’t have been killed. It is very unfortunate.
That said, how much does it really matter?
Dustin Monke 