In 1971, Congress declared wild burros “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West.” It lamented that the ambling pack animals were “fast disappearing from the scene.”
What a difference 45 years makes.
Today, some people in Arizona are describing burros using language typically reserved for invasive species or criminals. They are now “non-native” and “feral.” They are causing many “burro-vehicle collisons” on highways. To the horror of equine rights groups, one local official even proposed hunting them.
“Many states have a wild horse problem,” Steve Moss, the Mohave County supervisor who suggested hunting — not seriously, he says — said in an interview. “Arizona has a wild burro problem.”
That problem — a booming population of federally-protected burros in northwestern Arizona — has now reached Capitol Hill. Last month, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) met in Washington with Moss and other Arizona officials about the burro business, and he demanded action.
“It’s time that Congress held a hearing to examine the rapid growth of burro populations in Arizona,” McCain said in a statement.
So let’s go ahead and have hearings on the wild burros crisis of Arizona.
Maybe they can decide that the burro is a victim of white privilege. After all, didn’t The Lone Ranger ride a white horse?
Also, the poor burro was always the one pulling the load and second fiddle to white Silver. The burro is indeed the working class hero that John Lennon sang about.
Better than that, we can fund a “Burro studies” program at a state university and give loans to kids pursuing such a degree.
I don’t know how the wild burro problem will turn out. Just be careful driving in Arizona. The wild donkey blocking traffic is not a white rich kid supporting Sanders and claiming that everything is rigged.
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