Views

      I've been watching Roderich and Elizaveta for about two months (roughly), and have become fascinated with them.  They aren't very interesting for someone just glancing at them, but if you look closely the way they are sitting there and their behavior are very intriguing.  They seem to have a very close relationship with each other as they can be seen snuggling together in the nest later in the night.  When people see them they don't see what I see.  They see them as filthy scavengers or disease ridden vermin and they deserve more than that. 
      Pigeons have helped us a lot in our history and Cher ami is one of those pigeons.  Cher ami is french for dear friend and this pigeon saved about 200 lives in WW1 while receiving the following wounds: bullet to the breast, a blinded eye, and leg barely attached by a tendon.  She sent a message from a division of allied soldiers that were behind enemy lines.  When the message was received, medics worked hard to save her life and was given a small carved wooden leg to replace her damaged one.  She was treated as a war hero and is now in the Smithsonium Institution.  She has recieved the award "Croix de Guerre"  Which is French for cross of war.
     Pigeons also do other important things.  They have the ability to see in colors like us and ultraviolet light, which is very helpful when rescuing people in the ocean and such.  They have a homing device which allows them to easily carry messages to people.  It is not really known how that works though.  The point of me telling all these different stories is that pigeons deserve more than disgusted looks and blatant ignorance on what they are and do.  People often dislike all the different organisms that don't looks all that pretty or don't seem to have that much intelligence.
     We humans shouldn't judge because other beings seem to be less of what we are.  They don't fit our criteria on what is good or worthy of our attention and compassion.  Most insects and rodents and some birds fall under the bar of what we expect and like.

Works Cited:

Eddie Rickenbacker.  Home of heroes. "Cher Ami". 12 dec. 2014

N.A. Pigeon control resource. "Pigeons as lifesavers" 12 Dec. 2104