TOW#23: article "The Value of a Life, Though Toxic and Tiny" by Pamela Gwyn Kripke

Bunny Vs. Snake

Which one is cuter, a bunny or a snake? Many people would choose the bunny because it is soft and fluffy, whereas the snake is slimy and creepy. But does that change whether one life is more important than another? Pamela Gwyn Kripke writes about who receives a cute little frog as a pet. But when he realizes that it is poisonous, he does not find it as amusing anymore. 

At first the boy fed the frog and took care of the frog all the time. After he realized that it was dangerous, he was reluctant to take care of it. The frog began to suffer because it was not fed nor taken care of. Ultimately, the boy realized that he had done a horrible thing and that just because the creature is no longer a safe pet, it does not mean that the frog's life is worthless. 

Kripke appeals to pathos by talking about a pitiful animal. When the frog is describes as suffering and sad, it creates a guilty feeling towards the audience because people feel bad that an animal is suffering because of carelessness. Being indifferent toward an animal just because it is not appealing to one's eye is wrong. Every life is important equally; no life is more important than another because of its physical appearance.

Kripke sends out a broader message throughout this essay. Her reference to frogs could be a reference to people, that everyone is unique and important in their own way. No one is more important than another. Everyone and everything are equal. It is upsetting to see one or one thing being love more because of its physical appeal. It is not fair and judgmental.

Everything and everyone deserves love and care. Physical impairments should not determine that. The frog was poisonous, so what? Does that mean it deserves less love than anything else? It is an alive, breathing creature that was made to live. It should not be disregarded because it isn't appealing. 

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The World's Most Poisonous Frogs