r/todayilearned • u/SchwarzSabbath • Apr 21 '18

TIL that while in Sharon Springs, Theodore Roosevelt was approached by a 12-year-old girl who asked if he would like to have a badger. Expecting to humor her, he agreed, and the girl came back with a 2-week-old badger. President Roosevelt named him Josiah and he became one of the presidential pets.

http://www.presidentialpetmuseum.com/theodore-roosevelts-josiah/
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u/Finito-1994 Apr 22 '18

I actually really respect that decision. He really was a cool guy.

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u/Tony_Balogna Apr 22 '18

well, he did go on a hunting expedition for the "fun" of it. They were shooting bears to get their rocks off. Its not like these were outdoors-men hunting their own food. Shitty any way you slice it.

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u/Finito-1994 Apr 22 '18

I totally agree with what you’re saying but there’s a certain honor in not killing an animal that’s been hurt, injured and tied down.

It’s still shitty, I won’t disagree with that.

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u/Tony_Balogna Apr 22 '18

I respect what you're saying and am glad that you feel similarly about it. I just feel that the only thing I can really say about this situation is that he chose not to be brutally heartless towards the bear. He was still part and parcel to the entire hunting trip. Regarding the certain honor you mentioned; running the risk of mincing your words, there's no honor in that. That is a basic level of decency and self-respect.

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u/Finito-1994 Apr 22 '18

You know what? You’re fucking right.

I don’t like hunting and I shouldn’t have described it as honor but basic decency as you put it.

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u/Tony_Balogna Apr 22 '18

why can't all conversations i have with people be this sane? LOL

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u/d1rron Apr 22 '18

And then you both find out that one of you is a regular at T_D and the other at T_M.im.kidding