Our family got a dog about two weeks ago. I called a local no-kill shelter (funny, considering we took our bad dog to the yes-kill shelter four years ago) and asked if they had any dogs that were good with kids. They told me about a four year-old, male poodle/bichon mix they had, and my son and I went to visit him.
He was absolutely adorable, we adopted him (although I think we could have gotten a chinese baby girl for less money) and I have once again become a dog person. The same woman who can not sleep with her husband now shares a bed with a warm pile of fluff that loves her unconditionally, never slaps her and screams for juice, never punches kids at Montessori, and never talks. Ever. About anything, but especially not about Lego Star Wars.
So what is a white, liberal/bordering on socialist woman with an extremely high IQ(email me – I will tell you!) and sense of social justice to name her dog? Well at the shelter his name was Kiko. I did not like that, so I changed it to Biko. You do know who Biko is right? Stephen Biko, the South African anti-apartheid martyr that Peter Gabriel immortalized in his mid 1980′s song of the same name?? Of course you don’t because I am not only smarter than you, I’m better.
Only this week has it occurred to me that perhaps it is, oh I don’t know, slightly douchebaggy to name your dog, an all white dog no less, after the hero whose death mobilized the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. I bet his children and grandchildren would think, “Thank you, oh beautiful nice white lady. It is only through you naming your dog after our father do we feel his memory truly lives on. Thank you for carrying the torch of freedom throughout the neighborhood of Fernwood, in the magical land of tolerance, Spartanburg, South Carolina.”
If I die tomorrow, please have the dog carry my ashes in a pouch on his body, while Peter Gabriel’s Biko plays throughout whatever secular meeting hall you can reserve. I think that Stephen Biko, who died in the custody of the South African police who were not held accountable and claimed it was suicide (he beat HIMSELF to death) would approve and say that we are indeed brothers in the fight against evil.
you truly are insane. i should know.
I thoroughly enjoyed this posting and its links. Good stuff.
You really need to start working at work! heeheehee.
I have a pure-bred Bichon, Casey, because of my allergies. While he scared the fuck out of me the first few weeks (dog ownership is tons of responsibility and expensive), he cuddles up to me in bed every single night. When the boyfriend is being an ass, the dog is always there to lend a paw. I would choose my dog over the BF any day of the week…which is an indicator that the relationship is about over. I LOVE my dog.
And you’re right, a chinese baby girl or a Guatemalan baby boy would have been less expensive the first few months…and provided a tax break.