A Penguin called Sir
I love to see it when just one person does something out of the ordinary or with compassion, but to see an entire regiment do it is quite a sight. Here is a link to a story about a very special penguin (well, three very special penguins) and the honor bestowed on him for his service: Penguin Receives Knighthood.
The article talks about how these three penguin’s have served the elite Norwegian King’s Guard. What makes me smile most about this isn’t that it’s a sweet, fluffy story about an adorable Penguin. No, why I am smiling today when I look at that flight-less bird walking in front of a row of uniformed soldiers standing at attention, is because these guards are honoring an animal for his ability to serve and inspire them. They have acknowledged that this creature, while not human, is capable of great things.
There is something to be said for the desire to bestow prestige to something just because you can. Even though little Nils Olav cannot speak the language or communicate his gratitude, he gets the accolade just the same. Maybe he doesn’t know why, by our standards, that it’s special; but I would like to think he feels the excitment of the title regardless. Now that’s a good thing.