Thinking back to when I was a kid and stupidly bringing down a beautiful and innocent kingfisher with my catapult still haunts me- and will forever.
The words from my parents still echo in my mind. What on earth made me do such a senseless and cruel thing? No idea.
All I know is that it made me appreciate, love and respect animals so much I went through massive depression when my cat that stuck with me through thick and thin, helped separate the fake females from the real one, traveled with me for almost twenty years and had to finally leave and then when our dog left us which signaled the end of my marriage.
Sometimes, couples stay together for all the wrong reasons- and, sometimes for the best. Like the unconditional love of a pet.
Sure, we hear it all the time how dogs are a Man’s best friend and that we should bless the beasts and the children. And then what?
I am hardly a do-gooder and have made some seriously bad choices and decisions in my life, but realizing the full extent of animal abuse happening around the world today has fueled me to wonder where we, as human beings, have gone wrong.
Yes, the continuous abuse by human beings to other human beings continue- physically and mentally. And it’s not just wars that bring this on.
It’s something far more deep-rooted and, at least to me, has to do with how we were brought up, the love of our parents and the lessons they taught us.
Like my guilt over the kingfisher and taking those very tough twelve steps trying to make amends can be a life-long journey- and often a journey worth every step- not for anyone else except for your own peace of mind.
Animals were put on earth long before the human species. They ruled and roamed the world and are one of the many miracles of nature.
Today’s “wars” between mankind is already baffling. But the senseless “war” against beautiful and defenseless animals has me confused- and filled with a rage also reserved for pedophiles.
Okay, so, in China and Korea, dogs are bred for their meat and beaten to death for this “delicacy.”
I can’t accept it, but, every culture is different and if this is how it is, what can I do? What can anyone do?
We cannot change cultures and let’s not be hypocritical and forget what goes into a haggis, Chicken McNuggets, the Michael Vicks case involving dog fighting and how gulping down a chicken embryo in the Philippines is considered a delicacy.
At least to me, it all comes down to education and showing where we have gone wrong, making our children understand what we were and why we’re here and how we are all part of one Garden Of Eden and to avoid serpents at all costs that have many wanting “to bag a big one”, killing elephants for their tusks, the cruelty to animals in circuses, at homes, the belief that ground rhinoceros horns “cure impotency” and so many other human wrongs.
All this wrong must surely be corrected by a global re-learning process and program.
Somewhere along the way, us human beings dropped the ball.
Today, the senseless slaughter of dolphins and baby seals continue and weekend hunters slaughter animals that harm no one for sport. Sport?
Much has to do with governments being in the clutches of big business and refusing to change laws despite all the false bravado of political speeches.
Well, if that’s the case, it’s up to each one of us to bring about Change and prove to ourselves that Yes, We Can and how a Change Is Not GONNA Come- but MUST come. Now.
This is where, apart from the efforts of PETA and pleas from Paul McCartney and other celebrities to stop animal cruelty, there needs to be a holistic movement and not anything sporadic- a relentless holistic movement that cannot be quelled and which grows and educates in the process.
Everyone from MTV, global brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, the producers of children’s programming, the creators of products for children- books, toys, games- should have some form of a “clause” that teaches young minds that can be so easily manipulated, what’s right from wrong.
Twitter is a great way of creating awareness. Same with Facebook. But awareness and bringing the barbaric way this planet is hurtling towards and make it come to a full stop starts with new laws and enough pressure placed on governments to clean up their own backyards or face the consequences.
This is where a toothless organization like the United Nations has zero clout.
This is where, perhaps, child becoming father to the man and young voices and minds about what will be THEIR future after we’re long gone might be heard today to better effect.
Think about it- but more than anything else, DO something about it.
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