Dear Ferret Folks-

All of this fuss over one word...dumb. The thing is that 'dumb' has
two meanings, and we're only focusing on one.

Yes, "dumb" is today used interchangeably with stupid. Look it up,
however, and you will see that it was once used interchangeably with
mute, as in incapable of speech. Ferrets do vocalize (dook-dook-dook!)
but they are incapable of speech. Sorry. But they *are*. They'll dook
and chatter, but there is no underlying grammar and syntax to it.
"Dumb" is no longer a politically correct word for mute...as in deaf
and dumb. But you will find it in the King James Bible, published in
1611.

I have noticed over the years that our friend J. Gordon, the *Reverend*
J. Gordon posts the occasional Biblical quote verbatim, or language
that resembles the Elizabethan dialect found in the King James version.
"Dumb" as in mute is one of the things that you will find in there.
Here is what J. Gordon posted:

>These little guys don't have a clue of what is going on nor do
>they care. They are totally innocent and devoid of capability of
>understanding but just the same they demonstrate unconditional
>love and appreciation to me. That simple act by those dumb animals
>lightened my heart to bring a smile to a very worn person.

I genuinely believe that J. Gordon was trying to express his belief
that his ferrets live in a state of grace...innocent, free from our
defining human sin and guilt. And yes, incapable of speech. *Dumb*, in
a word. But with loving hearts. Abundantly loving hearts. And we're
starting to kick the snots out of him over it, and I wish we would
stop. J. Gordon loves his ferrets, loves them dearly. He doesn't
mistake them for fur-bearing *vegetables*. Let's not beat on him
for something he didn't say.

Alexandra in MA

[Posted in FML 6007]