In 1991, Pale Male and First Love set up housekeeping atop a luxury apartment building in downtown Manhattan. As thousands of New Yorkers watched in awe, the daring new couple continued to try to start a family. Red-tailed hawks are rare, even in the wild - a pair of such exotic creatures within the boundaries of New York City was cause for common commotion. Birdwatchers who'd never watched birds before stalked the determined couple as they fought off the city's pollution of air, noise and lights that went on 24/7. It took four mating seasons, but the adoring couple finally introduced their three new fledglings to the Big Apple. They became a national symbol of tenacity, determination and courage against all odds. The nation watched as the three newborns finally ventured from their high-rise nest and managed their first flight to the treetops of nearby Central Park. Ironically, shortly after her youngsters had learned to fly and fend for themselves, First Love captured a pigeon that had been poisoned by one of New York's self-appointed pigeon eradicators. That was her last meal; Pale Male became a widower, and father to three who still needed nurturing and instruction. Over the next decade, Pale Male took three new mates and fathered at least 25 new red-tailed hawks. In every instance, he never once wavered from being the provider, the responsible father, and the guardian of his new brood. Always attentive to his mates, he would bring gifts of dead rats, pigeons, or other prey. When their were fledglings in the nest, Pale Male hunted tirelessly, as much as a dozen times a day, to provide for his family. It was the kind of adoring love, dedication and commitment typical within the animal kingdom - but not as typical among today's humanity. Selfless and undeterred in his duty as head of the household, Pale Male provided a valuable lesson to those who observed him 1500 feet below. It wasn't "all about #1..." it was about protecting, preserving and providing for others before even thinking about himself.
O.U.T.R.A.G.E. social scientists were keenly aware of how wordly the world had become. Not just in the U.S.A., but all over the globe, people were willing to cheat a neighbor, steal from a friend, or scam an innocent bystander for their own personal benefit or pleasure. Attorneys thought nothing of charging some poor slob $300-an-hour for filling in the blanks of a legal document. Doctors had no compunction over charging a sick little old lady $72 for a ten-minute office visit. Identity theft ran rampant as crooks stole credit card information, cell phone numbers and financial data to enrich themselves. Corporations didn't flinch when accused of consumer fraud, and often considered fines or government penalties simply nothing more than "a cost of doing business". Auto manufacturers sold cars with faulty designs, knowing that some people would be killed, but weighing the 'collateral' damage against the effects of bad publicity before spending the money to correct the design flaws. Restaurant chains and supermarkets deliberately sold 'super size' or 'family size' products knowing that their customers were paying more - and consuming more - unhealthy food. Parents would reject the needs of a wayward child, even going so far as to cut them from the will, all because the child didn't 'listen' to them. Dealmaking became an art form, particularly in the political and social arenas. "I'll vote for your bill if you'll support my pork legislation." Or, "I'll offer you the promotion and pay raise, but I'll expect sexual favors upon demand". It was all about...."ME"......and to hell with everybody else. The global society could learn a lot from Pale Male and First Love. In fact, human beings around the world could learn valuable social lessons from the animal kingdom when it came to civility, monogamy, commitment, and dedication.
So could countries and governments.
It was time to try and bring world leaders together toward a common harmonious goal. Perhaps the meeting between China and the United States on the soil of an Iowan pig farm would be a step in the right direction. O.U.T.R.A.G.E. had scheduled the first meeting for