Being a donkey can be quite trying here in the Middle East.
First, you have to worry about this:
Suspected Palestinian militants blew up a donkey rigged with explosives on Sunday next to an Israeli commuter bus near Jerusalem, slightly damaging the bus, the army and witnesses said.
Life is certainly no picnic for the donkey. And now, they have become the picnic:
DURING RAMADAN, ALGERIANS HAVE CONSUMED 571 TONS OF DONKEY MEAT. AT LEAST 1500 DONKEYS WERE SLAUGHTERED IN A GOVERNMENT-OWNED SLAUGHTER HOUSE. IT IS ILLEGAL TO SLAUGHTER DONKEYS FOR FOOD, AND FOUR VETERINARIANS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED. (AL-HAYAT, LONDON, 11/21/03)
Mind you, it is much harder being Israeli here. At least, when you are a donkey, you have PETA to defend you. They insist that no animals be hurt – only men, women and children.
