Saturday, January 26, 2002 |
01:34 - It's actually more poetic than sad...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_1783000/1783910.stm
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Marjan, the lion at the Kabul zoo that everyone around the world has been sending their money to help save, has died. Old age. Very old age.
"So it was all in vain," some will say.
Hardly.
Marjan was ready.
He carried memories of an Afghanistan where life was primitive but good. He was once a cute and beautiful cub and all was right with the world.
He suffered poverty and maltreatment, and finally lost the sunlight and blue skies when a vengeful warrior stole his sight.
Through it all he clung to Omar, his elderly keeper, who also remembered the way things used to be. This giant was a kitten in Omar's arms, rubbing and nuzzling him with what was left of his once-beautiful face.
And Marjan kept waiting.
The Afghan war came and went, the Taliban were driven out, and visitors began to flock back to the zoo and the museum. Life returned to Kabul. Marjan's story circled the globe, and the peoples of the world started an outpouring of generosity to rebuild the shattered remnants of the Kabul Zoo.
Marjan was a king, and like a good king, he brought salvation in time of hardship, and prosperity in time of famine. Now Marjan was ready. For 25 years he waited till his work was done. And now that he had fulfilled his destiny, he laid down and slept.
Go into the light, Marjan. You opened our eyes, and now it is your turn to see.
-- John Burkitt
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