Every now and again, a nice story makes the round that a lot of people really find fascinating. One of my journalism professors said it used to be called a “blight,” a simple feel-good story. And right now, we really need one.
Just in a matter of the last few days, the President is suspected of making a phony phone call to a C-SPAN talk show. The director of the FBI traveled to the Olympics in Italy and was seen partying with the American hockey team basically overshadowing their gold medal win because the taxpayers footed the bill. And of course, the President had to make it about him as he reposted an AI video of himself as a hockey player. On top of that, Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense (not War) tried to act like he bench pressed 315 pounds, even though a lot of people noted not only was his form off but it was probably closer to 200 pounds.
It’s basically like the entire administration lives in a Spike TV limbo from the 2000s where people screamed “Extreme!” all the time. And that’s no surprise so many people still support him because they wish they could return to that pre-Obama era.
But it’s a little Japanese macaque named Punch-kun or simply Punch that has caught a lot of attention with his stuffed Orangutan doll. Last year, Punch was abandoned by his mother shortly after he was born and has gained a lot of attention on a live Internet feed. The stuffed doll was given to him because macaque are known to cling on to their mothers when they’re young.
Zoologists have reported it’s very uncommon for macaque mothers to abandoned their children. And the fact he’s also been abandoned by his tribe has many people rooting for him. Maybe it’s because a lot of people can identify with how Punch (which is an appropriate name) because he’s got the odds stacked against him for no fault of his own. People can relate to that.
The orangutan dolls have sold out at Ikea and people are talking about him online. It’s almost like we’re having another solar eclipse occurring. Politics aside as the Trump Administration wants to start a war as the Epstein Files are making people change their minds, people seem to be fascinated by the young primate and also concerned he’s being bullied. At the same time, he found a bodyguard protector for a little bit.
It just goes to show that animals make us feel better. Look how people enjoy Grumpy Cat or Boo, the fancy Pomeranian at one time. Then there’s Kareem and Fifi who run the Instagram page Don’t Stop Meowing focusing on their cats. One of their cats passed away and as they were visiting the gravesite, a friendly stray cats keeps popping up, so they eventually adopt it.
Our furry friends and even those with scales make us feel better. A dog cut in on the cross-country skiers course at the Olympics. It reminds me of a time I was covering a football game and a stray cat came running alongside the home-team’s sideline as everyone stopped and watch, laughing.
And then when they had to shoot Harambe, it seemed a lot of people got pissed off. We don’t like to see animals harmed for no reason which is why Good Boy’s filmmakers had to spill the beans he makes it out ok. TikTok users broke down upon hearing that Butters, an orange cat with mobile issues had to be put down as his health was declining.
People need Punch to have a happy ending because with all the bad things going on, this is one more happy story we really need right now.
What do you think? Please comment.
Zane Says 