Last week, I almost ran over a celebrity.

I don't mean a notable human--I mean the wild turkey that for a couple of days became a minor celebrity ("the infamous turkey of Central Street" as someone called it) on Winchendon-related social media. Somehow, the turkey got into the middle of Blair Square (also referred to by me as "the scariest intersection in Winchendon") and either couldn't or wouldn't leave.

I have finally been getting to a major project that involves many trips to the transfer station, and as I turned onto Central Street from Front Street on one return trip, suddenly this turkey was right there, in the street. I just missed her. The last time I went by that day, the turkey was out of the road and in front of Maliska's realty office, looking put out.

Subsequent reports peppered Facebook, including someone saying it was eating birdfood in their yard on Beech Street, reports that people had tried to shoot it or run it over, and a photo of the turkey on the roof of Christo's Pizza, whence it had flown when someone allegedly attempted to corral it. Eventually, and probably inevitably, the turkey was reported deceased, although it was never clear just what happened.

But what troubles me more than the fate of the unfortunate turkey was how funny everyone on social media thought it was, even after the turkey was dead. The jokes, ranging from sick to sicker, simply wouldn't let up. Nobody seemed to feel bad about it. The sad fate of a vital, beautiful living thing was merely cause for coarse humor about new menu items at local restaurants.

What kind of a society do we live in when the suffering, pain and unnecessary death of living things is treated as a hilarious joke?

It's what bullies do--torment their victims and then claim they "were only kidding" and "can't you take a joke?" It's what haters of all kinds do--make a cruel mockery of those they hate, in order to view them as less than human, not worth taking seriously. It's a form of self-defense against feeling empathy and compassion. Until the early 1900s, crowds would gather to watch public executions. They would roar with laughter at the terror and agony of the condemned.

We're deluding ourselves if we think society has progressed very far from those attitudes. We enjoy suffering and death just as much when it's in video games and movies--or in real life, when we're on the aggressive side. Those who attacked the Capitol on January 6 had never had more fun in their lives; cell phones recording every juicy moment, their livestreams and tweets were ebullient.

This weekend is Easter, a sacred holiday which many people in Winchendon observe with great solemnity. The Easter story describes crowds who mocked the suffering of Jesus and laughed at his pain. Do you think that wouldn't happen nowadays? Right now, the trial of Derek Chauvin for last year's murder of George Floyd is proceeding in Minneapolis. Raise your hand if you've never heard a sick joke about Floyd's death or the protests that followed it.

If your hand is up, you're lying. We all heard those jokes. But did we challenge them?

HEAL Winchendon is working on projects to increase awareness of diversity, equity and inclusion issues in our town. But, as everyone who's ever been in recovery can tell you, nothing can change for the better until you acknowledge that a problem exists. We can't improve Winchendon without recognizing where improvement is needed. We can't alleviate suffering as long as we're in denial of others' pain.

There are plenty of things we can laugh at. Ourselves, first and foremost; pomposity and hypocrisy, ridiculousness, exaggeration, the unbearably cute. But pain, suffering, death, and misfortune, even that of a lesser being--never. Every time we belittle another's pain, it's we who are left with the scar.

Poor infamous turkey of Central Street, R.I.P.

Inanna Arthen