Column | Anti-American ideology in the zoo? But of course, it is really woke!

From experience I know that animals, but also places they accumulate, such as zoos, are a thorn in the eyes of ultra -conservative strongholds. I was once in a zoo research group and I did research into the image of monkeys. Anyone who deals with zoos is by definition involved in exotic import, extinction, evolutionary theory, and with education. Among other things, I studied how humorists use monkeys to mock conservative male leaders as evolutionary underdeveloped. George W. Bush For example, is often compared to a chimpanzee, Trump with an orangutan (because orange), and Erdogan With a silver ridge. Trump is not on the map as a large animal lover anyway; He’s the first without first dog In the White House, he scolds women for ‘fat pig’ and ‘dog’ And migrants ‘eat cats and dogs’.

But still, why did Trump be aiming at a zoo? Is there a plan behind it, or is it to quote Hillary Clinton, « stubbornness« ? Although Democrats often like donkey are presented (Clinton himself too), and republicans as an elephant, she makes him a cup of smaller in the masterfully: nothing smart, nothing plan, just megastupid. My first inspiration is that nature is frightening for every dictator with an aversion to LGBTIQ+. After all, the animal kingdom is a blissful orgy, everything is happening there: homosexuality, hermaphrodites, group sex, self-pre-planting. Kill.

But instincts are there for distrust, and so I consult one of my favorite philosophers, Rosi Braidotti. I call her from a busy children’s book fair in Bologna. How does she see that, this hunt for the zoo? She suggests that zoos are often important research centers that invest heavily in scientific research into extinct (animal) species and climate change. Exactly what Trump hates. She also points out to me critical thinking such as’green colonialism« And » ecoracism.  » In short, it comes down to the extermination and destruction of ‘indigenous‘Types by Westerners in landscape input. They are replaced by plants and animals that stand for national identity, such as horses and cows – species that often also cause problems for the climate. In short, attacking a zoo fits seamlessly ‘Plan 2025’ That colonialism defends as a good thing.

I swirl over the fair and everywhere I see images of animals, because children’s books are mostly animistic parties, from talking dinosaurs to wise monkeys (new decree?). I am talking to an American printer, and ask how he views the animal utilization issue. He is cynical. Everywhere where money is, businessman Trump will use the claiming and ‘the American ideology’ and ‘anti-woke’ opportunistic. Smithsonian will make it, by the way, he suspects, which drives on funds. But such a zoo, that is easy to rake money in, because there is no congress involved in stopping Trump. Now that we are at a book fair, he still has a good idea for a book. It is eating or being eaten! Eating the Rich. A Cookbookisn’t that what? Putin, which sauce does it taste best with? Trump, how do you serve him? Musk, on a bed from Tesla? Make eat the rich great again! Witty, that reference to the ancient left sloganbut where are the big protests in America? He tells me that last week thirty thousand people Together came to encourage Democrat and activist Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez. Europeans do not read that in the news, because that ugly howling monkey dominates everything. But really, there is movement, there is resistance. Every zoo will confirm: native and exotic animal species don’t just row.

Stine Jensen is a philosopher and writer. She writes a column at this place every other week.

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