A CHAT FROM LONDON: One man’s food is another man’s poison...

Early this week the free travel newspaper, Metro announced that a 47-year-old, South London woman married her dog called Sheba. The casual news report was on page two. If I was the editor of Metro, I would have made it front page, head line news.

It is alleged that Amanda Rodgers (pictured with Sheba), the said bride, found love in her pet worth more than guys. Metro quotes Ms Rodgers: “I know the wedding to Sheba was not real in the legal sense, but it was a nice way to mark what Sheba means to me… Sheba had been in my life for years, making me laugh and comforting me when I was feeling low. I could not think of anything more I would need from a life partner.”

It is said the Londoner, married the female animal after two failed marriages. The ceremony in Croatia was attended by 200 people. Yes, two hundred guests. Are you still reading this, dear reader? Is this making any sense to you?

One of 19 online comments sent Monday night by Carol Norwell, chided: “You cannot marry an animal. Marriage requires nuptials and the happy couple consummating the marriage…there are laws against bestiality, so the marriage would be null and void.

Whilst I won’t argue that someone can “love” their pet, there are certain ways they cannot love their pet and carnally is one of them.”

Carol Norwell used the word “bestiality” which is as taboo as “incest” or such sexual terms. Bestiality, according to the English dictionary, has two meanings: sex between a person and an animal and savagely crude behaviour.

Another opinion from Canada by Christina Griffin reflected on the issue of gender: “See what the gays started. Everyone laughed at me when I said if we let two men get married next thing people will marry their dogs. Well, here we are.”

All subsequent comments have been condemning and disbelieving. A woman from Cardiff in Wales wondered: “What is the world coming to? You can love your pets but no need to go to these extremes.”

Extremes indeed.

On Tuesday the “newly weds” were interviewed on London’s ITV. Amanda continued defending her stance and romance by declaring: “...There are different kinds of love – my love for Sheba is very deep. We have a deep connection.”

This is, however, not the first time a human being has “married” an animal. Across the world stories of humans marrying snakes, dolphins even objects (including one who married a bridge!) litter and spread.

Bizarre as it may sound to the majority of us, these “relationships” continue to happen – and getting publicised – thanks to the internet and instant communication. Just switch on You Tube and anything is possible and visible during these past eight years (You Tube was launched in 2005).

Like the girl who ate her own used tampon. Or the drunk and intoxicated young female who was so high that she was kissing, embracing and making love to a tree somewhere in Brazil in 2012. The two-minute clip has approximately half a million viewers and it is alleged that the lady died soon after. Extreme and disturbing, yes.

There are numerous clips of men and women deep kissing dogs. The most stunning is called “Confessional” where a young white woman starts by declaring, “Dear world there is something I would like to share with you...”

Almost a million viewers have watched the one and half minute drama of the dog licking the smiling woman’s mouth, teeth, tongue and lips. It is really nuts. Especially because the woman (and many other people kissing dogs in the mouth) seems to find it pleasant, hilarious and funny. So many examples of a crazy world.

A clip which was removed and caused a lot of heated discussion was a US based Latin–American woman, Alyssa Rosales, actually having sexual intercourse with a dog. She is now an Internet celebrity making a living charging fees to watch her videos including that infamous one.

So many examples of a disturbing, crazy world; yes.

But is this crazy or and freedom?

You would think it was only whites, right? How wrong. A short African film was circulating on the net and mobile Apps, last year.

It documents Lingala speaking males sharing their love for dog meat. In very clear, graphic details the film tells how the animal is prepared, chopped up, seasoned and cooked into a “pleasant mchuzi”.

Finally dog meat is “enjoyed” with ugali.

Someone said to me, you cannot criticise what other people are doing because this planet is for everyone and everything. We don’t pay to live or share Mother Nature’s free given goods!

Survive and benefit from whatever conditions permit. Should people complain that they are starving of food and love with so much available on our huge planet? One man’s food is another man’s poison...