A Pig's Tale: Hog Named Six Seven Spared by Miami-Dade Leader.
While perhaps not at the same level as granting clemency to Thanksgiving turkeys, but the mayor of Miami-Dade conducted a ceremonial pardon event this week by formally pardoning the life of a swine named Six Seven.
Daniella Levine Cava executed the holiday gesture at the Cuban-themed Latin Cafe 2000 in the heart of Miami’s iconic Little Havana neighborhood.
“The swine has done no wrong. She is worthy of this pardon. No offenses are on her docket,” declared Levine Cava in a speech with inescapable allusions to the vast quantity of executive clemencies issued since the commencement of a current administration.
“Unless you count eating 6 or 7 apples per day,” she went on. “I hope she experiences a lengthy and joyful existence without fear.”
This ceremony, simultaneously observing and challenging the region’s Hispanic tradition of eating roast pork during the holidays, was established to mirror the yearly bird sparing at the White House.
The swine, provided by a Coral Gables firefighter, was given its name from the modern linguistic fad of young people exclaiming “six seven” – inspired by a musical verse – often seemingly at random. The craze became so widespread that a prominent word reference recently declared “six-seven” its top term for the year.
A New Life
The pardoned swine is now scheduled to spend its days at a rural sanctuary “far from charcoal and roasting pans”, according to the ceremony's official statement.
“The pig pardon has become one of our favorite ways to open the festive period,” said the event host, in a notably cheerful message.
“It embodies the character of Miami: happy, multicultural, and based in heritage that bring people together. Annually, we are honored to observe heritage and mercy in a way only Miami can.”
Participants enjoyed a vegetarian menu of spinach croquetas and strong coffee as they toasted the pig's pardon.
