Back in May I wrote a post suggesting the duck should be considered the official bird of the world. I was enchanted by the image of the iconic bath tub toy gracing harbors around the world. Designed by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, it became an instant hit bringing smiles to a multitude of faces. Don't we all need a symbol like that to remind us there can be a better world out there?
The poor duck, like most of us, has had his difficulties staying afloat. He's been deflated by typhoons and power outages and maybe even punctured by eagle talons as they perched looking for a feed. He's well traveled having been everywhere from Sydney and Sao Paulo to Amsterdam, Hong Kong and now Taiwan. Unlike our representatives to the world, he has been an instant and consistent hit. We used to be like that. Where's our duck when we need him? Not a quack, mind you, a duck.
Yesterday he was resting quietly at Keelung Port awaiting New Years activities when BANG! He exploded! Not the type of fireworks anticipated, that's for sure. And way too early. While the cause, for the moment, remains unknown, rest assured it was not a terrorist attack. Ducks don't attract that type of attention unless it's disenfranchised groups in America attacking Phil Robertson.
Just like Phil and his Duck Dynasty, the rubber ducky will rise again and again and again. Not because of corporate greed but because people like him. He represents no threat, no animosity, no partisanship. All he does is make people happy. As Phil might say, "Happy, happy, happy."
So ends the year. A Duck Dynasty of a different sort would be most welcome. One where mean spiritedness doesn't win by attacking the beliefs of an individual, where people try to find good rather than evil and maybe even smile now and then over a uniting entity. Like a 50' rubber ducky!
Happy New Year to all my faithful readers and thanks for coming along for the ride.
