So the city of Swift Current gave one of our most beloved landmarks the ax (or bulldozer) if you will. Billy Buffalo is now a memory. In it's place we'll soon see a new generic playground.
Bad move.
This is one thing where we had to take a look at Billy from an outsiders perspective. Show of hands, who has kids? Oh, put your hands down, I can't see you. When traveling eastbound on the #1 have those kids ever pointed out the large Moose in Moose Jaw? Of course they have. People stop at the Moose, take pictures of the Moose, spend some money take a piss and move on. Billy Buffalo had the same appeal to people passing through our community. If it was a safety issue then at least close his ass up, take the slide off and save the landmark.
Oliver Platt is a great actor. One of his best roles was in the movie "Bicentennial Man". An average movie with Robin Williams. Platt's character, a scientist named Rupert Burns had a great quote. Robin Williams plays an android who throughout the movie becomes more human. When it is time to have a human face, he wants it to look perfect. Burns, talks about how it's the imperfections that define us as people. He singles out his big ugly nose as "who he is". It's a good point. The other day, a woman told me that Adrien Brody is an attractive man. THE GUY WITH THE OBLONG BEAK FOR A NOSE! Yep.
Billy Buffalo was a big ugly imperfection. You know what, passing through Swift Current just got alot more mundane for people used to seeing Billy.
Pass this on to your favorite City Councillor. Don't replace Billy with a generic playground. Put something unique there. You've already killed a defining part of our city. It's like removing Cindy Crawford's mole.
Willi$
