Where's the love?

I don't usually comment on current events, but I can't let this one go.  The public in general has been vilifying the mother involved in the Cleveland Zoo incident.  Let's take a step back and examine the facts, or lack thereof.

Just this morning, I read a Facebook rant where this guy was saying that parents need to get off their phones, stop taking selfies and watch their kids.  I agree.  However, I haven't seen any legitimate article to state that is what happened here.  There are tons of memes circulating that state the gorilla was watching the child better than the mother.  Again, I have seen no such facts.  Why are we so quick to judge?  Let's face it, we have all been there.  You are out with your toddler.  You stop to get something out of your 'battle bag' (the large tote bag you haul with you everywhere that contains toys, tissues, wet wipes, change of clothes and other necessities for toddler life)  You look up not 2 seconds later and your little escape artist has vanished.  You look left, then right.  Now you spot him/her doing the thing you just got finished telling them for the 40th time not to do.  What happened to the village?  Did no one see this child? One adult stepping forward could have made a difference.  

Seriously, when did we stop caring? Granted, there are people who wouldn't appreciate your involvement.  Get involved anyway.  Be a jerk.  Block the hole the kid is attempting to climb through, alert the parent to the child's activity.  Don't stage whisper, "I would never let my child do that." Yes, there are asshole parents out there.  Take the high road.  I assure you, the zoo did not want to kill Harambe (the gorilla), but we need to remember that the gorilla is an animal.  We cannot know what his intentions were toward the child.  If it were your child, how long would you want them to wait to make a decision?  The child was already in the enclosure for 10 minutes before the command came down. Can you imagine?  You are watching  a gorilla drag your child around for 10 minutes.  

That is enough heavy stuff for today.  I'm going to return to my fluff blogging soon enough, but I just had to get this off my chest!!