Lions in Bellingham

I'm going to stick my neck out here and say- I don't think people should put cement lions on their front porches.
I've seen cement lions of various sizes around Bellingham for years, but lately they have become way too common. Perhaps a local statuary business had a sale. I don't know. But I think the effect of cement lions as lawn ornaments is not what the residents were hoping for when they put them there.
I have seen giant stone-carved lions in front of castles and cathedrals, and this is as good a time to say it as any- statues of lions look stupid, I don't care where they are sitting.
I'm not willing to make that kind of blanket statement about many lawn ornaments. If someone wants a plastic beagle's butt sitting on the grass, made to look like the rest of the dog is dug into a hole, that's valid self-expression. If someone wants to turn old garden tools into strange looking birds, okay. I will even look politely away if you have a flock of pink, plastic flamingos.
Perhaps my aversion to cement lions is the juxtaposition of a powerful wild animal sitting complacently next to a pot of begonias. Maybe it's because they are supposed to look majestic even if they are guarding a run-down duplex. Most likely it is because lions are symbols of royalty- and don't get me started on how much I hate that!
I might dislike them for a different reason every time I see them, but one thing I am sure of. If you ever get the impulse to buy a cement lion, you should resist it.
Nancy Sherer