I can't tell if those lions are maneless males or females. Either way they really had to work hard for a kill that they didn't even get eventually, so I wouldn't consider them conservatives at all. That croc was pretty opportunistic too but also didn't get the kill.
I don't see it as a metaphor for anything in particular, but I would suppose that even though the calf was rescued it was in such bad condition that I am guessing it didn't last long afterward. That might be us electing Obama and figuring that will help all of the problems go away.
The conservatives have had 28 years in power, including the last 8 years on steroids. With the destruction of our transportation system and the ensuing depression it might have been too much.
I love that video. The message I take from it is, "never give up."
it also says "never leave anybody behind. always go back for your comrades."
it was our highest calling on the teams and one of the reasons there's never been a SEAL captured, or left behind.
not. one. ever.
Evan, that's a fascinating video. It's been up for a while now on Youtube, and got so many hits that someone grabbed it for a "documentary". :o)
As for it being a good metaphor for democrats...I think, not so much.
At least, not until you identify which buffalo voted to side with the lions, and which buffalo then waited until most of the other buffaloes decided to go back and try to rescue calf-america, before she became an anti-lion buffalo.
(Okay; not very MUCH of an anti-lion buffalo. More like an anti-lion buffalo who meows piteously because so many of the other buffalo's are mad at her for schmoozing with the lions for several critical years. 
)
In fact, as she herself said, she seems to think pretty highly of the rather dumb, ageing, lion that the lion party has chosen to succeed the idiot lion who dragged the lions AND the buffalo's, (again, with herself buffalo's help...:o) ) into the Mara River, when he and his fellow lion advisers told ALL the animals that swimming with Nile Crocodiles would be a cakewalk, and would pay for itself.
Just speaking for myself, I think that your call for mending fences with she and her "buffalo" followers, is a bit premature, considering that she's been giving the lions some pretty good tips on how to attack her fellow buffalo; you know, the one who hasn't been nearly as accomodating to the lions, as has she.
Hey! Here's a thought :o) if she really want to "rescue the calf" (And to be accepted back into the buffalo herd for another down-the-road try at being the bull-goose buffalo, let her ACT like a buffalo, instead of twitching her tail at all those big, black-maned dudes, and acknowledge that she's not going to get it this time, and make some overtures to the buffalo who IS, it's become obvious, going to get it. :o)
I see no sense in "reaching out" to her, and celebrating her buffalo-ness, when she's still shredding the herd, and moving to the right to get upwind to take a leak, to try to stampede the buffalo's into believing that the other animals won't support Obama-buffalo because his hide is too dark. :o)
Oh.
A pre-requisite to her re-joining the herd, is that she should also learn how to count. :o)
I, too, have seen this before and it is an incredible example of facing down fear and recognizing the right thing to do and doing it... naturally.
No committees, no "should do", no stopping to draw up plans, garner support.... just doing the natural right thing.
Standing up to bullies is like this as well. They run away when faced down. People come out of nowhere to lend support when a stand is taken.... that is right.
The doubting thomas buffaloes hung back, distrusting their leader, but actually only distrusting themselves. Doubting that they knew the right thing to do or if they could even do that without becoming a victim. The fearless ones, the ones who know naturally the right thing, always lead..... and are frequently shouted down by the doubting Thomas buffaloes as they progress to the goal... naturally.
and what Tanbark said...
They got the claws,
But we got the numbers!
Don't let that "herbivore" label fool you: The Cape Buffalo is considered one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. According to some authorities, they kill more people every year than any other African animal. They're highly unpredictable; wounded buffalo have even been known to ambush their hunters, or anyone unfortunate enough to be passing by at the time.
Cooperation's important, sure, but mass and horns, combined with attitude, obviously count for quite a bit, too.
I can't read too much into this (and certainly nothing metaphoric). Lions snatch calf, croc snatches calf, tug of war ensues, calf escapes. "Nature, red in tooth and claw."
Or as Woody Allen said in Love and Death, "It's like an enormous restaurant."
"It's like an enormous restaurant."
what a great quote, thanks for the reminder!
It's about leadership as much as it is about cooperation.
Battle wasn't joined until one of the herd took the initiative and attacked. It took that one, tossing a lion into the air, to remind the rest of their power. Once that lion left the ground, the outcome was set, and not one moment before.
Of course, the trick for that one is to make the demonstration sufficiently convincing that the herd doesn't "let him sacrifice himself."
But it has to start with one. That's the lesson I take away from this.
With the caveat that, going back to the metaphor, our current herd is so inured to its own suffering that it will let any number of heroes fall before stirring itself to anything resembling action.
Yeah, the metaphor can't be perfect.
The lesson to be learned is that a bunch of tough motherfuckers can tear up some seemingly tougher motherfuckers if they just get it in their mind to do it. The hardest part is the initial "fuck it." After that, it's all just follow-through.
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