Doggone Hypocrisy

Did you know that the White House lawn is a national park? Neither did I. Just another national park our dogs will never be able to visit.

I discovered this little fact when the Bush family issued a holiday video last month to promote his vision of sprucing up our national parks. To do so, the President enlisted the help of the family Scottish Terriers, Barney and Miss Beazley, to spread the message. The dogs were given the rank of "Junior Park Rangers" and most of the press had a good yuck over the lighthearted 7-minute video.

But dog owners aren't laughing.

Just wait until Barney and Miss Beazley head out to try and do their new jobs. That will wipe the wag off their tails in a hurry. At one point in the video Barney pictures himself and Miss Beazley at Mount Rushmore. That's nothing but a dream Barney boy. Dogs aren't allowed at Mount Rushmore. Dogs are also not allowed outside of the valley floor at Yosemite, below the canyon rim at the Grand Canyon, anywhere but one trail at Zion and on an on. You guys will have a real blast at Yellowstone where you won't be able to ranger more than 10 feet from any roadway. And don't even think about getting frisky in your home state's jewel of a park, Big Bend National Park.

Poor Barney and Miss Beazley. They are just the latest in a long line of dogs who have been exploited in the name of salesmanship. Count all the times you see television commercials or magazine ads that feature dogs running around off leash on a beach, or jumping into a lake or chasing a frisbee in a park. Seems so natural doesn't it? Just don't try this at home.

If you want to view the Bush family dog holiday video:
http://www.slate.com/id/2180451

<<Back To January 2008 Newsletter
<<Back To Article Index