I'm beginning to think that we should all take a page from The Book of Cows*. These escapee beerfest coo beasties weren't trying to hurt anybody, but they were obviously tired of fences***, y'know? They just wanted a little freedom, and maybe some beer. What's wrong with that? Not a damned thing, if you ask me. It's kinda' like the tank guy (see: 06/05/04 rant). You eventually get really tired of being herded and pushed around and branded and milked, y'know? Metaphorically or otherwise. And Paul's theory** may be close to the truth - cows are sweet and peaceful creatures who seem to accept their fate most of the time - but hey, even cows get mad. And just because they accept whatever The Man heaps onto them doesn't mean they HAVE to.
Hm, 'wonder what it'd be like if COWS could build TANKS... 
I do know - if Paul's thoery is correct - that I would make a really baaaad cow. I think people in Nova Scotia - and everywhere else - would start being REQUIRED to learn some tranquilizer gun skills and fast. Every home would need one on hand, with lots of darts. Backyard barbecues would never be the same, beef sales would sharply decline, tofu and Portabello sales would skyrocket, people would be wearing a lot more synthetic shoes, and the term "Mad Cow" would take on a whoooooole new meaning.
I know who I'd trample first (AND second), too. And then I'd go get some beer.
Much love, many moos, and más cerveza,
-s

 
*Pablo, mi hermano, I bet you are just lovin' this stuff**.
**Pablo thinks that cows are sort of emissaries. He thinks that they know that they are here for use as meat and milk and that they peacefully accept that. That may be true, but women used to peacefully accept that sort of thing too, and look what's happened.  
By the way, I consider Pablo sort of an expert on this issue (cows more than women, but women too...). He says they have circled 'round him when he was meditating in their field, and once when he fell asleep there, he was awakened by having his feet licked by a big wet tongue. By cows, I mean, not women.
***This is my all-time favorite Far Side.