Slashdot Mirror
Bison To Become First National Mammal Of The US (washingtonpost.com)
mdsolar quotes a report from Washington Post: North America used to be teeming with bison. But in one century, their numbers plummeted from tens of millions to just a few dozen in the wild after hunters nearly wiped out the continent's largest mammals. Now, the bison is about to become the first national mammal of the United States. The National Bison Legacy Act, which designates the bison as the official mammal of the United States, passed the House on Tuesday and the Senate on Thursday. The legislation now heads to President Obama's desk to be signed into law. At a time of political gridlock and partisan bickering, lawmakers agree on an official national mammal. The bison, which will join the bald eagle as a national symbol, represents the country's first successful foray into wildlife conservation. Lobbying for the official mammal designation was a coalition of conservationists; ranchers, for whom bison are business; and tribal groups, such as the InterTribal Buffalo Council, which wants to "restore bison to Indian nations in a manner that is compatible with their spiritual and cultural beliefs and practices."
For a bull to be the national animal of a bully state.
When the Republicans took over Congress, you knew they'd tackle the really important issues. I guess naming the national mammal is at least a step up from the 60 (yes, that's a six and a zero) symbolic votes to repeal Obamacare or another 72 weeks of investigations into "what really happened in Benghazi".
This is why they're too busy to even have hearings regarding trivial items like filling a vacancy on the Supreme Court.
"What do you say, shall we try to get something done?"
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You are welcome on my lawn.
We killed the bison, almost to extinction, to shit on the natives.
We put up fences everywhere to prevent the bison from ranging, so that we could raise cows. They're easier to control, and thus more economically viable.
The only reason we even have bison now is that they became commercially interesting, because there is a niche market for their meat.
Ben Franklin wanted the national animal to be the turkey. The Bison is a much better symbol. Hunted near extinction, prevented from living its normal life... and we pretend we love it.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
In fact, nerds are interested in most of everything.
With the exception of the absolutely meaningless and inconsequential labeling of a goddamn animal species as the 'national mammal' of some country. What the fuck is next? Updates on the life of Whothefuckcares Kardashian?
Honestly, even if India would have declared that cows are no longer 'holy' in their country it wouldn't belong on Slashdot (even though it would be a much, much bigger deal than this bullshit).
No. this is noise that distracts everybody from what does matter, nothing more.