I remember when I first saw The Lion King. I loved that movie, and still do. But I remember when Mufasa explans the circle of life to Simba in response to his question about the apparent unfairness between the predators and the prey. Mufasa, in short, explains that while the lions eat the wildebeast, the lions eventually die and fertilize the ground that the wildebeast eat to live. (Logically, on a molecular level we're all cannibals).

In spite of James Earl Jones' deep and calming voice, and the clever harmony of it all, I still thought that was a pretty bum deal for the wildebeast. They have to die by tooth and claw, while the lions, presumably, die in a less terrifying way.

It makes me wonder whether it's right to teach kids that the natural world is basically a fair place, because on the one hand you want to retain their innocence, and on the other you don't want to lie and set them up for too big a disappointment. Should I teach my future kids that Santa is real, or should I inform them camly that our socio-economic status and cultural leanings are the main determining factors in what presents they'll receive? Should I teach them about dog heaven, or about dog decomposition? Hmmmmm...