On May 28, 2016, a worker at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden shot and killed Harambe, a silverback gorilla, after the 17-year-old animal dragged around a 3-year-old boy who had fallen into his enclosure.
More than four months later, the gorilla lives on only through played-out memes.
Harambe’s death was initially met with public outcry, expressed mostly through emotional Facebook posts, which I am certain he would have loved. The uproar was understandable, as Harambe was a member of an endangered gorilla species, threatened by habitat destruction.
Still, the life of a human child was at risk, and the zoo wasn’t going to take any chances.
This ethical dilemma was a common topic of discussion in the immediate aftermath, but since then the memory of this rare gorilla has become an incredibly popular topic of jokes and memes. An endangered species that humankind is killing off has one less member because we shot him. Classic comedy.
Before you declare me the PC police, a term that reflects about as much originality as a Harambe joke, let me explain that the poor taste of these jokes is not the root of what makes them absent of comedic value.
How the hell is it considered funny after four months? What am I missing here?
If someone makes their anonymous username “Harambe,” people erupt in laughter. If a student answers a question in class with “Harambe,” the classroom struggles to stifle its giggling. Where is the humor in this?
Humor, in most instances, is supposed to be unique. Even observational comedy, Jerry Seinfeld’s craft built on shared experiences, gives a new perspective on a topic that everyone is familiar with. Simply stating a dead gorilla’s name is not unique or a new perspective.
It seems to be either a sarcastic memorial for the gorilla or a jab at those who actually cared about his death, neither of which are particularly distinctive.
Dissecting any joke can remove its comedy, but with Harambe there is very little to analyze. It seems that simply the word “Harambe” itself is what makes people laugh.
These antiquated memes have gone on long enough. It’s time to retire this stale joke and move on with our lives. This trendy joke will die off eventually, as all do, so why not give it a quick and painless end? The alternative seems to be continuing with these quips until people’s uncontrollable laughter turns to a forced annunciation of “ha ha ha.”
If those who constantly use this joke truly love Harambe, they will let the joke die with dignity, preventing the uncomfortable pity laughter of their peers once everyone is done with this trite wisecrack.
The internet is a beautiful place, full of all sorts of memes. This election has gifted us with a plethora of characters and photos we can spin to our comedic advantage. The latest example of this is Ken Bone, the breakout star of the second presidential debate. There is so much source material out there, so why settle for something unoriginal?
Let your beloved gorilla pass on with some dignity. We all deserve better. Harambe deserves better. Do it for Harambe — by letting these incessant jokes go.
