"Three things in human life are important.
The first is to be kind.
The second is to be kind.
And the third is to be kind."
— Henry James
I found that quote in Real Simple this month and it's really stuck with me, I've even put it on my screen so I can be reminded of the need to be kind in my day-to-day life. What really gets me is that not only is it very true, but we humans are so very bad at it most of the time.
An example, I got this magazine last night - it's called allanimals and it's a newsletter from the Humane Society of the United States. Reading all the things that happen to animals, I was crying by the time I got halfway through it. Now I know that I have a weakness for animals. I love them, I have too many of them, I feed strays, I brake for ones in the street, I cry when I see a dead one on the side of the road. I think that the animals in our lives make our lives better - that even goes for the wildlife in the back yard.
So as I'm reading this magazine looking at all the cruelty we inflict on animals it makes me wonder how we, as a species are doing. I have a bit of a problem with animals as food or clothing (I'd love to be a vegetarian in theory, but in reality I love my quarter pounder with cheese too much). At least there is some purpose for their deaths. But when I read about Adam the kitten who was set on fire by two girls for no real reason, or Miracle a puppy also set on fire but happily rescued by a Detroit police officer, or all of the Dog Fighting. I just don't get it.
Who does this? Who among us values life so little that somehow it's okay to harm another living creature (I must make a note of my own hypocrisy here, I will kill any insect that gets in my way)? Perhaps these people are sick and I should be happy that I don't have a brain that "gets it". No matter what the reasoning or excuse, it breaks my heart that we can't be kinder - to everything.
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3 comments:
I definitely feel for you as I am in the same boat. I have always had a heart for the strays and even cry when I see them lying on the road.
You asked "who does this". Well the answer is the same people who do these things to children, wives, girlfriends and other human beings. The humanity in our world is crumbling before our very eyes. We as the empathetic are those who will start the revival and get the word out. I also believe prayer works miracles.
Hey, you're leaving to visit your sister tomorrow. Smile!
I'm going to go give Dookie a big hug now.
Animals definitely do brighten our lives, and I can't go read any of those links to those sad storied you mentioned or I will cry. I did hear about Miracle on the news though, and I felt so bad for what happened to her. However I am not particularly fond of Pit Bulls, yes I know it's still sad, but I am an ER nurse and therefore see way too many kids bitten by pit bulls that it is hard for me to see why anyone would want such a dog. That doesn't mean I think they should be abused, just maybe they shouldn't spend $10,000 to save her life. That's what the news said her vet bill would likely be. Who is paying it I wonder.
Oh and I am a vegetarian, but not because of animal cruelty but that is definitely a bonus. It's more like animal grossness (I know it's not a word) that keeps me from eating it.
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