

They didn’t choose them so much as adopt them. They were assigned by a cartoonist named Thomas Nast in the late 1800’s. He used them to make fun of the parties and people loved his cartoons so much the animals he used just kind of stuck in popular culture for them.

Not just not subordination following them is specifically illegal and historically “I was following orders” has NEVER been justification or gotten anyone off their charges. You follow illegal orders YOU are a criminal as much as your commanding officer.