The masses have been had.

[Calavera]

One death is a tragedy; a million is a statistic.
Joseph Stalin

I love hoaxes. There's something about making the world into nothing but a collection of bumbling fools that makes me smirk. It reveals how easily we can be tricked and how gracefully we may each handle the fact that we have been made to look like idiots.

After a few early years of experience, I learned to spot a hoax, or at least patiently wait until some small bit of evidence showed up that could help me in determining whether or not it was genuine.

Evidently, my experience paid off as the curious topic of a starving dog and a monstrous artist came to light via the Internet. I sat by and refused to sign any petition until I saw facts.

And now, I find that the masses have been had.


Recently, society, particularly the animal welfare groups, have been up in arms about the artist Guillermo Habacuc Vargas who gave the public an unusual display of art in Nicaragua. The exhibit included rocks of crack cocaine set alight in an incense burner, the phrase "Eres Lo Que Lees"* spelled out in dog biscuits, the Sandinista anthem being played backwards, and a dog fresh off the streets tied up in the middle of it all.

When this emaciated pooch suddenly disappeared, the crowd went nuts. How could this man cause the death of this innocent little doggy?
Burn him! Burn him, I say!

But wait....it appears you have been had. After gallery hours when the crowd had gone, the dog was given food and water in the few days that it was a star. After the exhibit had run its course, it was released back onto the streets from whence it came, having suffered no cruelty and having had the pleasure of a few good meals for once.

Not surprisingly, the rumor still floats around, along with a petition that encourages you to do your part in order to stop this "monster."
I suppose stupid really is as stupid does, eh?

Now, let me ask you a quick question. Even if that dog had died at the hands of the artist, what would you think? Would you stop to ponder why this one death mattered to you personally while every other death in the world does not? Would it simply be the fact that this death was brought to your attention?


You have to stand in awe of this artist. With a simple hoax that fooled us all, he gave us something to think about....why do you care about a dog, and take time out of your day to be angry over it, and sign petitions about it when it's in an art gallery.....and not when it's out on the streets?


The death of one, indeed.....





* "You are what you read."

[pixcoco]

What you don't know doesn't hurt you.