" Once upon a time " was the traditional first line of most fairy tales and the story line usually served to either warn little kids of dangers to be avoided or had a humanitarian twist to deliver a sound nights sleep. Today we live in a more questioning age and it seems that the cynics are quick to question the motives of altruistic events.
Just such a story emerged from the fire devastation that has been destroying so many homes in the suburbs of Los Angeles. The news cycle is enlivened by the contributions from ordinary citizens who use the camera in their Smartphones to grab their five minutes of fame.
It seems that Oscar Gonzales was driving home along a highway flanked by flames when he spotted a rabbit desperately trying to outpace the fire. He got out of his car and with a massive wall of flames as the backdrop, raced onto the roadside and scooped up the rabbit. Another citizen recorded this event on his or her phone, and the clip was offered to a Los Angeles television network.
The clever news editors thought that this was just the right clip to lighten the panorama of burning homes that the traditional Santa Anna wind was once again inflicting on California. Oscar became an instant hero and most people applauded his brave action to save endangered wildlife.
This " Rabbit Rescue " quickly went coast to coast in the television news cycle and from there got an instant airing on social media. That picture of Oscar backlit by flames and with the rabbit in his hands went viral and was probably viewed by a billion people.
Not all approved of his action. The story has sparked a lively debate about whether his actions were helpful - or whether he triggered a disaster. It has been suggested that perhaps that rabbit was not running from the fire, but trying to reach a litter of babies. That sparked a story in some sections of the media that suggested that " the wildlife rescuer may have doomed a litter of baby rabbits ".
Unfortunately, this is a story that has no happy ending. Oscar thought of taking that rabbit to a rescue centre but they were all closed. It is assumed that he released it when he reached an area safe from fire and it is now establishing a new home in an unfamiliar bush setting. We will never know. The news cycle has moved to other events - and that rabbit was yesterdays story !
It would be interesting to know how this changed the life of the man who saved the rabbit. His family, friends and the people associated with his work will all have an opinion and most will be favourable, but it seems inevitable that he will face criticism from some. Such is the price of instant fame.
Many here in Australia may remember a film clip from an earlier bushfire season where a firefighter encountered a scorched Koala - and offered it a drink from his water bottle. That seemed to receive universal approval, but such is the mood of social media today that a repeat would most likely bring cynics to the fore.
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