A horse is a horse / Of course, of course,\nAnd no one can talk to a horse, of course / That is, of course, unless the horse\nIs the famous Barbaro!\nGo right to the source and ask the horse / You cameras and anchors and newsmen, of course.\nWho needs a story when a horse is the source?\nGo talk to Barbaro!
Then people they weep and sob a streak / And waste the time of day,\nBut Barbaro could never speak / Until they gave him something to say!
A horse is a horse / Of course, of course,\nAnd this one he bugged me with all his force\nBut no one could possibly hate a sweet horse.\nWell, listen to this:\nI'm glad the horse is dead!
Before we begin, keep in mind -- 85.\nNow, this nation hasn't seen equestrian coverage like the Barbaro tragedy since the days of Mister Ed. In the United States, public opinion might shift on politics over the course of a year, but there's no shaking our stance on horses -- we love 'em.\nBut the question becomes, when is it sweet and when is it scary? A dead horse received more attention than a living anything last week. And not just in thoughts or prayers, but in real-life, take-10-minutes-and-find-a-message-board-to-post-on comments. \nBefore you draw and quarter me with a team of trusty steeds, just read a small sampling from the Barbaro message board on the University of Pennsylvania's veterinary medicine Web site. \nAnd while you read, remember 85.\n--"Dearest Barbaro. You were an inspiration to all of us. ... We walked to the local farm and broke the news to the horses. They were devastated."\n--"Janet and I are absolutely devastated about your death. I can't look at your pictures without crying."\n--"I'll think of you every time I hear thunder."\n--"Rainbow Bridge: Barbaro crossed there. Meet with God. He is a beautiful rainbow. A horse who can fly. My Sentimental Friends. My Love, Dee Mirich."\nI wish I was making all this up. I really do. But the worst part is I didn't even dig for those posts. Those all come from nine messages sent in a 10-minute stretch Feb. 1 -- that's three days after Barbaro died. The messages still poured in at a rate of about one every minute.\nNow after all that, remember 85? That's how many U.S. soldiers have died in Iraq since May when Barbaro suffered his injury. Eighty-five human beings -- our countrymen -- who also didn't deserve to die.\nBut where are their message boards? Who will think of them at the sound of thunder?\nIt begs the question: What kind of creatures could get so distracted by something meaningless that they're able to ignore the death of their own kind?\nWhy a horse, of course.
