Multiple Musings
What an interesting past couple of days! I found out that my high school aged son has a friend who’s mom has similar beliefs to me. Now that might not seem like a big deal, but around here, it’s huuuuuggggeeee. She even worked for a while at the local community radio to which I am an ardent admirer and supporter (KPFT 90.1). Again, might not seem like a big deal but at times it is literally a floating case of fresh water and protein bars to a girl on a deserted island. I have yet to meet her but I spoke with her on the phone and it is very encouraging that there are those that live among us that might actually have similar views. Goosebumps.
We, the boys and I, went to Schlitterbahn this weekend, in Galveston. We were going to participate in the Adopt a Beach clean up, but with crazy tornadic weather, we couldn’t get down there until noon. So the boys got the reward without the work. They were willing so that counted for something. It’s not completely finished yet, and it is a tad bit pricey, but it was a great time. My younger son and I spent most of the day together, which was a huge novelty. I don’t see much of Cody on the weekends when he’s not at his dad’s. He’s a social creature and is out with his friends most of the time. But this weekend, he didn’t want to invite anyone to the park, and he seemed pretty happy hanging out with me. We had a great time. We didn’t see Rohan and Josh for about three hours during the day, so they had a great time too. I went to change at around seven in the evening and when I got back they were all asleep on the picnic table – teenage lightweights. The boys had pizza at Marios and I had a great minestrone soup. We made it home around ten. Rohan spent the night and went home the next day. This is all so very topsy turvy. Cody is usually the one with a friend over and Josh is very much the recluse – writing and recording music on his laptop in his room or creating films on the PC. It was a refreshing change. Sunday, I even said to Cody that if he wanted to go over to a friend’s house, he could. Nope. He wanted to hang out at home.
We got a volleyball/badminton net and supplies, set it up in the backyard and had one of the best afternoons I have had at home in a while. Badminton is a fun game. There was only a little bit of bickering, at the very end, but that’s to be expected between me and my husband ;).
The greatest news outside the family that I got this weekend was a surprise email from my great friend Lori. She wrote to ask if I was serious about establishing a vegan café/drive thru, since we had kicked around the idea one afternoon while hanging out. It really came out of nowhere, as the best ideas usually do. The thought of promoting the vegetarian/vegan on a daily basis appeals greatly to me. And working with someone to whom I not only admire but genuinely like is such a huge bonus. Hopefully, we will work out all the particulars and get that going pretty soon.
I remember being told a long time ago that sure while you’re young you have all these “dreamer” ideas about the world that tend to lean towards the left, but then you grow up realize your responsibilities and you become conservative. Not only did that never happen but I also found that I have started leaning even more to the left. I find it more compassionate over there. I know that the right especially the far right believe that those of us on the left are communists, socialists and generally out of touch with reality or that’s what they want others to think anyway. But let’s look at some facts:
Environmentalism
Boy! Does this drive the neocons crazy! It’s like they believe that enviros are only here to annoy them and throw the proverbial wrench into the free market machine. But let’s put this into perspective. The environment – our land, water and air – is the single most important thing we have in this world. Without it, we are screwed. No matter how hard NASA looks, they cannot seem to find a backup “earth”. This is all we have. Do we really want to mess it up? I know it dampens free enterprise to say – no don’t cut down those trees we need them. Yes the yellow beaked horned whatever might need them as well but we need what the trees do ALIVE more than what they can provide dead. They clean our air. They help to stabilize the earth with their root systems. They provide shade. And trees are beautiful. When we say – don’t dump that crap into the water – it might be because we don’t believe that a massive fish kill is in the best interest of the marine community – but we also believe that humans will suffer if we contaminate our water supply with known carcinogens. Although this isn’t exactly the most science friendly administration in recent history, I’m sure just about every single person will refuse a sip of water from the Mississippi. Why? Because it is the single most polluted waterway in the country with over 700 million tons of toxin dumped into it between the period of 1991 and 1994. I can only imagine with the environmental track record of this administration what the levels must be now.
Now think about where that water goes – not just into the ocean or streams but how the plants along the edge pull it in through their roots. Think about evaporation. We have a crazy mentality. I see it all the time here. People throw trash and dump their ashtrays in the street. It’s a car thing, most of the time. There was this wonderful actor on with Bill Maher this weekend. Golly, if I can’t remember his name – Ian MacSomething, maybe? Anyway, he was talking about how spending all your time in a car changes you. The car becomes your world. You are inside this little cocoon, isolated and cut off from the essence of the world. You do not interact. You can tell this is true by the number of people who openly dig around in their nasal cavity at stoplights. When you have this kind of disconnect from the world you are less likely to care about it. You are less likely to say hello, wave or shake someone’s hand. Think about walking – hearing the sounds, the voices, seeing people interacting, brushing against people with no fear or care whatsoever, bumping into someone and saying – oh! Excuse me! Yet someone approaches your car and what happens? You batten down the hatches – doors lock! Windows up! Stare straight ahead! Change light, damn you! Someone pulls in front of you in traffic, or rather, someone pulls in front of me in traffic and I am incensed! How dare you! Yet someone runs down the platform to a train and jumps in and I barely notice. Maybe a stray “barely made it!’ thought passes. Why? Because we are not protected, we are part of the mix. I found this to be so true while protesting. When I am on the side walk or walking there’s a vulnerability that makes it very difficult for someone like me to approach a car – a person on the sidewalk no problem – but a car – shudder – not very good at that. But if I am at a table with a barrier between me and “them” I am much more confident. Weird, huh? It can be a good thing but it can be a bad thing. I want to be more interactive. I love going to cities where there is a climate that one can go without a car – not just temperature wise but public transportation wise as well. It’s freeing. And when I lived in San Francisco there is a taste and a feel from being in city that you cannot get from a car. Walking through the different areas is exhilarating, even when you’re a little lost. Because you are a part of it. That’s what I believe one of our biggest problem is. We are removed. We are isolated. From nature. From each other.
Today I went to with several members of In Solidarity with Animals and Society for Peace with our companion animals and walked (yes! walked!) the four blocks from KPFT to the Chinese Consulate. We camped there for an hour or so and you know, there is nothing to do but INTERACT. With each other. With the people who actually walked by us. They had to engage. Cars. Well, they are their world. Some slow to read the signs, others honk and give you a thumbs up, but for the most part cars just go by like so many satellites, so much universe matter streaming along at assorted speeds on their path to wherever. The protest, by the way, has to do with the really staggering number of companion animals being skinned, some actually while still alive, for the fur trade. China has NO animal protection laws.
None.
The thin and angry Chinese man who turned out to be the vice consulate was extremely upset with our being there. It’s not their fault, ya know, it’s not the GOVERNMENT’S fault that people behave illegally.
Huh.
Well, duckie, that’s just a tad bit wrong cuz, you see, it’s not illegal since you have NO ANIMAL PROTECTION LAWS!
Oh! But laws take time.
Here they do, but there you don’t even have to ask the people – you’re a communist country! Pass a mandate. Simple.
He was very mad.
He’s going to be mad every first Monday of every new month until they do something about it. Because that’s when we will be there bringing shame to his country. And we all know that the Chinese are very sensitive to shame. Unlike every living being on the planet.
Anyway, I wasn’t talking about animal rights right now, I’m talking about the environment.
I don’t get this stumbling block or rather brick wall. Why the venomous tone when talking about environmentalism? It’s like being mad at your maid for keeping your house clean. All this nonsense about oil and gas when it is so painfully obvious that we are seriously distracted from the actual prize. We should be consumed with change. Consumed night and day with changing from fossil fuel to solar or lunar or wind power. Why on earth are we wigging out over this? And the talk turns to coal and nuclear power? Is that a joke? Can we stop moon-walking? Forward! We are suppose to EVOLVE. Progress is moving forward. We don’t want to regress. We are bright, why are acting so stupid? It’s crazy. All this frenzy about oil and what does our leader do? Reduces the pollution restrictions on the oil companies extraction of oil. Ah! But of course! That just makes so much sense, eh? It’s like putting your dirty boots ON to go inside or pumping sewage and spraying it like miracle grow on your garden. It’s so nonsensical. But damning the people who want the air and water to be cleaner. The land to be healthy – yeah, attack them. That makes loads of sense. Blame the people who want to protect the natural life of things. Because not only do they just suck and think they’re so much better than everyone else, they are also ruining other’s chances of making a profit. And that’s pure evil.
Animal Rights Activists
My number one most reviled comment: I didn’t climb all the way to the top of the food chain to eat rabbit food.
Ha.
Ha.
Please.
Stop.
Too.
Funny.
Let’s get this straight right now. You didn’t climb anywhere. You were placed. You were placed in a custody role or better yet, a guardian ship. Like a lifeguard at a public pool. It doesn’t matter if there are creeps splashing little girls. Or parents who refuse to use infant/toddler swimmer diapers. Your job is to guard the life of those in your pool. If one is going down, you do not casually look over and say – ah! I didn’t really deem him worthy of being in my pool so it’s ok if he goes. That is not your job. Your job is to guard. To watch over, like a shepherd. We were not put in charge of all this stuff, of all these beings to use them for our own selfish gain. I would like one person to tell where it says in the bible we can do what we are doing to animals. And I am not talking about dominion because that is the most misused word in the world. Animals have been here helping us since the beginning of time. Helping us farm, build, carry stuff, carry us, every conceivable aspect of our lives has been aided in one way or another by animals. And we repay them…how? But they don’t deserve our respect, right? They are, after all, just animals. But what is the different that makes cruelty justifiable? It’s well hidden? That’s true. Our culture, our society has developed top-notched expertise in making cruelty covert. Those of us who know about child abuse, know that secrecy and cover is only attained with wealth. So many people believe that child abuse is a “lower” class, poverty issue, when in fact, it is prevalent in every class, every socio-economic base.
No one is immune.
No one. The wealthy can cover it, that’s all. They aren’t in “the system” that many people with lower incomes are in – Medicaid, food stamps, WIC, etc. They don’t have to go through the prying eyes of the government to make ends meet, so they can cover their sins more easily. My last case for CASA involved a nurse and a doctor. They could hide it. Cruelty can be covered, and in this country it is. Did you know it is illegal in some states to take photos inside a factory farm? Illegal. You know something bad is going down there if you aren’t allowed to take pictures of the animals that are put out for public consumption. Not even for free, you pay for it! Farm animals are exempt from any of the protections that other animals receive. So, again, you know it’s gotta be bad. We were placed at the top of the food chain, in a custodial role. I wonder what our report card is looking like right now. Do the grades go that low? Because billions killed every year, is a lot. It’s genocide on an inconceivable level.
Fur? Leather? Perfume in the eyes of bunny? Starving dogs for pet food? Battering monkeys, social beings, who are incarcerated for testing. This is who we are? Just for a moment, take a step out of yourself and imagine watching from a guardian position the testing of electrical currents on a monkey strapped into a metal contraption that does not allow him to move. Would you stand by nodding, saying “right on! Go tester go!’ Would you avert your eyes? Really? Would you? Then it’s just a matter of witnessing it? THEN WITNESS! Things are being done in your name, under your watch that would make your skin crawl and would make you feel chunks of bile in your throat when you passed by certain products in the store. We cannot do the teenage mantra “I didn’t know!” anymore. Because you do know. You do know because it has been revealed countless times. If you heard screaming from next door would you turn your stereo up, because that is what people used to do. Believe it or not child abuse, spousal abuse, domestic violence was considered a “family” issue and was ignored or overlooked even by the police. When I was being stalked by an ex-boyfriend at Texas A&M, I reported it repeatedly. Candy and flowers were on the doorstep as I came home, and the door was broken down in one of many fits of rage in the evening. The police would be called, and I remember, repeatedly, my hand shaking as I pulled back the shade to see them clapping him on the back, laughing and shaking their head as they waved and got back into the car. Crazy kids!
It’s not like that anymore. People sometimes ignore it, but now, by law, the police have to do something. When I hear screaming, I go towards it. That’s my nature – to the embarrassment and horror of my husband. And sometimes, because I have witnessed the horrific abuse of animals in labs through the many outlets that have investigative footage on their websites – I can hear the screaming of monkeys who are punched in the face, who cling desperately together and shriek as they are ripped from each other’s grasp, who are thrown around and twisted and electrocuted and tortured in this archaic excuse called animal testing. It is going on now, all around us. Under our watchful eye. We don’t move to take care of the most dependent of us, those who we have the Creator’s directive to protect – what does it say about us? As evolved human beings? Don’t make excuses. We don’t have any, anymore. There is no excuse for cruelty and violence against the weak, is there? Do we say – oh, yeah, that mom had every right to strap that kid into a steel “straight jacket” and apply electrodes to her child’s exposed brain. Hey! It’s her kid! Of course not. Children should be protected. Why? Because they are not able to “do” for themselves, to fend for themselves. Left alone they would perish. Yet we take animals out of their natural habitat and thrust them into what appears to me as something right out of the Elizabeth the First’s era – racks, entrails removed while still conscious, horrific, barbaric acts on creatures in which we are in charge. It will be the shame of the human race when history shows what we have been doing. As we look at history books where we see saws and people holding down a screaming man, and we cringe and grimace and think how amoral were these people? Sure things are learned, but what was the cost? When is the cost too high? Simply not worth paying? I say – now. No actually, I say yesterday. The cost to our environment, the cost to our priceless animals is too high.
No. I don’t want every animal to have it’s own fluffy pillow and crystal serving dish with caviar. How ridiculous is it when those with whom we disagree throw out extremes?! I just want animals to be where animals are supposed to be. In the desert, in the sea, in the jungle, in the brush, in the trees, in the sky, in the mountains. Like the clouds and sand and leaves and water, I want them in the surroundings God created for them. That’s what I want. No fluffy pillows. Just lions being lions. Elephants being elephants. Chickens, cows, sheep, and all the other animals we continue to exploit able to be as they were meant to be. That’s all I want. Is that too much?
What an interesting past couple of days! I found out that my high school aged son has a friend who’s mom has similar beliefs to me. Now that might not seem like a big deal, but around here, it’s huuuuuggggeeee. She even worked for a while at the local community radio to which I am an ardent admirer and supporter (KPFT 90.1). Again, might not seem like a big deal but at times it is literally a floating case of fresh water and protein bars to a girl on a deserted island. I have yet to meet her but I spoke with her on the phone and it is very encouraging that there are those that live among us that might actually have similar views. Goosebumps.
We, the boys and I, went to Schlitterbahn this weekend, in Galveston. We were going to participate in the Adopt a Beach clean up, but with crazy tornadic weather, we couldn’t get down there until noon. So the boys got the reward without the work. They were willing so that counted for something. It’s not completely finished yet, and it is a tad bit pricey, but it was a great time. My younger son and I spent most of the day together, which was a huge novelty. I don’t see much of Cody on the weekends when he’s not at his dad’s. He’s a social creature and is out with his friends most of the time. But this weekend, he didn’t want to invite anyone to the park, and he seemed pretty happy hanging out with me. We had a great time. We didn’t see Rohan and Josh for about three hours during the day, so they had a great time too. I went to change at around seven in the evening and when I got back they were all asleep on the picnic table – teenage lightweights. The boys had pizza at Marios and I had a great minestrone soup. We made it home around ten. Rohan spent the night and went home the next day. This is all so very topsy turvy. Cody is usually the one with a friend over and Josh is very much the recluse – writing and recording music on his laptop in his room or creating films on the PC. It was a refreshing change. Sunday, I even said to Cody that if he wanted to go over to a friend’s house, he could. Nope. He wanted to hang out at home.
We got a volleyball/badminton net and supplies, set it up in the backyard and had one of the best afternoons I have had at home in a while. Badminton is a fun game. There was only a little bit of bickering, at the very end, but that’s to be expected between me and my husband ;).
The greatest news outside the family that I got this weekend was a surprise email from my great friend Lori. She wrote to ask if I was serious about establishing a vegan café/drive thru, since we had kicked around the idea one afternoon while hanging out. It really came out of nowhere, as the best ideas usually do. The thought of promoting the vegetarian/vegan on a daily basis appeals greatly to me. And working with someone to whom I not only admire but genuinely like is such a huge bonus. Hopefully, we will work out all the particulars and get that going pretty soon.
I remember being told a long time ago that sure while you’re young you have all these “dreamer” ideas about the world that tend to lean towards the left, but then you grow up realize your responsibilities and you become conservative. Not only did that never happen but I also found that I have started leaning even more to the left. I find it more compassionate over there. I know that the right especially the far right believe that those of us on the left are communists, socialists and generally out of touch with reality or that’s what they want others to think anyway. But let’s look at some facts:
Environmentalism
Boy! Does this drive the neocons crazy! It’s like they believe that enviros are only here to annoy them and throw the proverbial wrench into the free market machine. But let’s put this into perspective. The environment – our land, water and air – is the single most important thing we have in this world. Without it, we are screwed. No matter how hard NASA looks, they cannot seem to find a backup “earth”. This is all we have. Do we really want to mess it up? I know it dampens free enterprise to say – no don’t cut down those trees we need them. Yes the yellow beaked horned whatever might need them as well but we need what the trees do ALIVE more than what they can provide dead. They clean our air. They help to stabilize the earth with their root systems. They provide shade. And trees are beautiful. When we say – don’t dump that crap into the water – it might be because we don’t believe that a massive fish kill is in the best interest of the marine community – but we also believe that humans will suffer if we contaminate our water supply with known carcinogens. Although this isn’t exactly the most science friendly administration in recent history, I’m sure just about every single person will refuse a sip of water from the Mississippi. Why? Because it is the single most polluted waterway in the country with over 700 million tons of toxin dumped into it between the period of 1991 and 1994. I can only imagine with the environmental track record of this administration what the levels must be now.
Now think about where that water goes – not just into the ocean or streams but how the plants along the edge pull it in through their roots. Think about evaporation. We have a crazy mentality. I see it all the time here. People throw trash and dump their ashtrays in the street. It’s a car thing, most of the time. There was this wonderful actor on with Bill Maher this weekend. Golly, if I can’t remember his name – Ian MacSomething, maybe? Anyway, he was talking about how spending all your time in a car changes you. The car becomes your world. You are inside this little cocoon, isolated and cut off from the essence of the world. You do not interact. You can tell this is true by the number of people who openly dig around in their nasal cavity at stoplights. When you have this kind of disconnect from the world you are less likely to care about it. You are less likely to say hello, wave or shake someone’s hand. Think about walking – hearing the sounds, the voices, seeing people interacting, brushing against people with no fear or care whatsoever, bumping into someone and saying – oh! Excuse me! Yet someone approaches your car and what happens? You batten down the hatches – doors lock! Windows up! Stare straight ahead! Change light, damn you! Someone pulls in front of you in traffic, or rather, someone pulls in front of me in traffic and I am incensed! How dare you! Yet someone runs down the platform to a train and jumps in and I barely notice. Maybe a stray “barely made it!’ thought passes. Why? Because we are not protected, we are part of the mix. I found this to be so true while protesting. When I am on the side walk or walking there’s a vulnerability that makes it very difficult for someone like me to approach a car – a person on the sidewalk no problem – but a car – shudder – not very good at that. But if I am at a table with a barrier between me and “them” I am much more confident. Weird, huh? It can be a good thing but it can be a bad thing. I want to be more interactive. I love going to cities where there is a climate that one can go without a car – not just temperature wise but public transportation wise as well. It’s freeing. And when I lived in San Francisco there is a taste and a feel from being in city that you cannot get from a car. Walking through the different areas is exhilarating, even when you’re a little lost. Because you are a part of it. That’s what I believe one of our biggest problem is. We are removed. We are isolated. From nature. From each other.
Today I went to with several members of In Solidarity with Animals and Society for Peace with our companion animals and walked (yes! walked!) the four blocks from KPFT to the Chinese Consulate. We camped there for an hour or so and you know, there is nothing to do but INTERACT. With each other. With the people who actually walked by us. They had to engage. Cars. Well, they are their world. Some slow to read the signs, others honk and give you a thumbs up, but for the most part cars just go by like so many satellites, so much universe matter streaming along at assorted speeds on their path to wherever. The protest, by the way, has to do with the really staggering number of companion animals being skinned, some actually while still alive, for the fur trade. China has NO animal protection laws.
None.
The thin and angry Chinese man who turned out to be the vice consulate was extremely upset with our being there. It’s not their fault, ya know, it’s not the GOVERNMENT’S fault that people behave illegally.
Huh.
Well, duckie, that’s just a tad bit wrong cuz, you see, it’s not illegal since you have NO ANIMAL PROTECTION LAWS!
Oh! But laws take time.
Here they do, but there you don’t even have to ask the people – you’re a communist country! Pass a mandate. Simple.
He was very mad.
He’s going to be mad every first Monday of every new month until they do something about it. Because that’s when we will be there bringing shame to his country. And we all know that the Chinese are very sensitive to shame. Unlike every living being on the planet.
Anyway, I wasn’t talking about animal rights right now, I’m talking about the environment.
I don’t get this stumbling block or rather brick wall. Why the venomous tone when talking about environmentalism? It’s like being mad at your maid for keeping your house clean. All this nonsense about oil and gas when it is so painfully obvious that we are seriously distracted from the actual prize. We should be consumed with change. Consumed night and day with changing from fossil fuel to solar or lunar or wind power. Why on earth are we wigging out over this? And the talk turns to coal and nuclear power? Is that a joke? Can we stop moon-walking? Forward! We are suppose to EVOLVE. Progress is moving forward. We don’t want to regress. We are bright, why are acting so stupid? It’s crazy. All this frenzy about oil and what does our leader do? Reduces the pollution restrictions on the oil companies extraction of oil. Ah! But of course! That just makes so much sense, eh? It’s like putting your dirty boots ON to go inside or pumping sewage and spraying it like miracle grow on your garden. It’s so nonsensical. But damning the people who want the air and water to be cleaner. The land to be healthy – yeah, attack them. That makes loads of sense. Blame the people who want to protect the natural life of things. Because not only do they just suck and think they’re so much better than everyone else, they are also ruining other’s chances of making a profit. And that’s pure evil.
Animal Rights Activists
My number one most reviled comment: I didn’t climb all the way to the top of the food chain to eat rabbit food.
Ha.
Ha.
Please.
Stop.
Too.
Funny.
Let’s get this straight right now. You didn’t climb anywhere. You were placed. You were placed in a custody role or better yet, a guardian ship. Like a lifeguard at a public pool. It doesn’t matter if there are creeps splashing little girls. Or parents who refuse to use infant/toddler swimmer diapers. Your job is to guard the life of those in your pool. If one is going down, you do not casually look over and say – ah! I didn’t really deem him worthy of being in my pool so it’s ok if he goes. That is not your job. Your job is to guard. To watch over, like a shepherd. We were not put in charge of all this stuff, of all these beings to use them for our own selfish gain. I would like one person to tell where it says in the bible we can do what we are doing to animals. And I am not talking about dominion because that is the most misused word in the world. Animals have been here helping us since the beginning of time. Helping us farm, build, carry stuff, carry us, every conceivable aspect of our lives has been aided in one way or another by animals. And we repay them…how? But they don’t deserve our respect, right? They are, after all, just animals. But what is the different that makes cruelty justifiable? It’s well hidden? That’s true. Our culture, our society has developed top-notched expertise in making cruelty covert. Those of us who know about child abuse, know that secrecy and cover is only attained with wealth. So many people believe that child abuse is a “lower” class, poverty issue, when in fact, it is prevalent in every class, every socio-economic base.
No one is immune.
No one. The wealthy can cover it, that’s all. They aren’t in “the system” that many people with lower incomes are in – Medicaid, food stamps, WIC, etc. They don’t have to go through the prying eyes of the government to make ends meet, so they can cover their sins more easily. My last case for CASA involved a nurse and a doctor. They could hide it. Cruelty can be covered, and in this country it is. Did you know it is illegal in some states to take photos inside a factory farm? Illegal. You know something bad is going down there if you aren’t allowed to take pictures of the animals that are put out for public consumption. Not even for free, you pay for it! Farm animals are exempt from any of the protections that other animals receive. So, again, you know it’s gotta be bad. We were placed at the top of the food chain, in a custodial role. I wonder what our report card is looking like right now. Do the grades go that low? Because billions killed every year, is a lot. It’s genocide on an inconceivable level.
Fur? Leather? Perfume in the eyes of bunny? Starving dogs for pet food? Battering monkeys, social beings, who are incarcerated for testing. This is who we are? Just for a moment, take a step out of yourself and imagine watching from a guardian position the testing of electrical currents on a monkey strapped into a metal contraption that does not allow him to move. Would you stand by nodding, saying “right on! Go tester go!’ Would you avert your eyes? Really? Would you? Then it’s just a matter of witnessing it? THEN WITNESS! Things are being done in your name, under your watch that would make your skin crawl and would make you feel chunks of bile in your throat when you passed by certain products in the store. We cannot do the teenage mantra “I didn’t know!” anymore. Because you do know. You do know because it has been revealed countless times. If you heard screaming from next door would you turn your stereo up, because that is what people used to do. Believe it or not child abuse, spousal abuse, domestic violence was considered a “family” issue and was ignored or overlooked even by the police. When I was being stalked by an ex-boyfriend at Texas A&M, I reported it repeatedly. Candy and flowers were on the doorstep as I came home, and the door was broken down in one of many fits of rage in the evening. The police would be called, and I remember, repeatedly, my hand shaking as I pulled back the shade to see them clapping him on the back, laughing and shaking their head as they waved and got back into the car. Crazy kids!
It’s not like that anymore. People sometimes ignore it, but now, by law, the police have to do something. When I hear screaming, I go towards it. That’s my nature – to the embarrassment and horror of my husband. And sometimes, because I have witnessed the horrific abuse of animals in labs through the many outlets that have investigative footage on their websites – I can hear the screaming of monkeys who are punched in the face, who cling desperately together and shriek as they are ripped from each other’s grasp, who are thrown around and twisted and electrocuted and tortured in this archaic excuse called animal testing. It is going on now, all around us. Under our watchful eye. We don’t move to take care of the most dependent of us, those who we have the Creator’s directive to protect – what does it say about us? As evolved human beings? Don’t make excuses. We don’t have any, anymore. There is no excuse for cruelty and violence against the weak, is there? Do we say – oh, yeah, that mom had every right to strap that kid into a steel “straight jacket” and apply electrodes to her child’s exposed brain. Hey! It’s her kid! Of course not. Children should be protected. Why? Because they are not able to “do” for themselves, to fend for themselves. Left alone they would perish. Yet we take animals out of their natural habitat and thrust them into what appears to me as something right out of the Elizabeth the First’s era – racks, entrails removed while still conscious, horrific, barbaric acts on creatures in which we are in charge. It will be the shame of the human race when history shows what we have been doing. As we look at history books where we see saws and people holding down a screaming man, and we cringe and grimace and think how amoral were these people? Sure things are learned, but what was the cost? When is the cost too high? Simply not worth paying? I say – now. No actually, I say yesterday. The cost to our environment, the cost to our priceless animals is too high.
No. I don’t want every animal to have it’s own fluffy pillow and crystal serving dish with caviar. How ridiculous is it when those with whom we disagree throw out extremes?! I just want animals to be where animals are supposed to be. In the desert, in the sea, in the jungle, in the brush, in the trees, in the sky, in the mountains. Like the clouds and sand and leaves and water, I want them in the surroundings God created for them. That’s what I want. No fluffy pillows. Just lions being lions. Elephants being elephants. Chickens, cows, sheep, and all the other animals we continue to exploit able to be as they were meant to be. That’s all I want. Is that too much?
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