This antipodal misconception came from the original concept that "elephants always forget." Where the change came nobody is sure; but, by definition, elephants do not ponder for long on anything.

Dictionaries define elephants, along with rhinos and hippos, as "non-ruminant" animals with thick skins. Think about this definition. As people, we know that it is always the "thin-skinned" people who never forget an affront. "Thick-skinned" people just let affronts roll off them and go on their ways. While this may not be totally applicable to pachyderms, it gives us one glimpse into nature itself.

Then, ponder on the meaning of ruminate. Of course it means to chew one's cud, but it is much more than that. It also means to think long and hard on a subject. I really doubt that elephants, rhinos or hippos take long periods to think about issues. They all seem pretty content to do whatever it is that elephants, hippos and rhinos do.

Oh, pachyderms would like you to think they never forget. That way they could be left alone and feared for their long memories. We would expect them to seek revenge even after many years of interlude since an affront to them. But, the truth is that they hardly even remember you once you are out of their sight. They have their own peer group in which they are quite happy.

I have looked deep into the eyes of an elephant and seen his soul. The elephant does not have a lot of light in those eyes-if you know what I mean.

So, let's debunk this myth and leave the pachyderms alone. What do you say?

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