A thought for the day from the animal advocacy community.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
I feel that most people are compassionate and caring ...
I feel that most people are compassionate and caring and if they only knew what was happening, they would join forces with us to stop the horrific use of animals on the planet ~ Kari Bagnall.
I regrettably don't think that all people are compassionate. I think a significant number are and it is up to us to work together to subject people by adverts and education to make the link they have been conditioned to ignore through capitalism,consumerism and culture between the animal and the meat on supermarket shelves and their plate .To encourage them to actually think and dwell on how it got there and the suffering felt by the sentient being and how wrong it all is.
You may be right Shelly, here at the sanctuary I live in my own little 'Jungle Friends World' and the interns and volunteers I see day in and day out are truly the most compassionate, unselfish, caring people you will ever meet. So my outlook may be a bit skewed - I am also considered to be an eternal optimist. The good news is that to reach the 'tipping point' we only need 15% - 18%! I used to think the critical mass needed to be a majority, but have since learned that is not true. This really has me feeling hopeful about the future; I believe we will reach the 'tipping point'!
I agree with Kari that we have reason to be hopeful, even though there are lots of people doing pretty horrible things to other animals and, of course, one another.
Shelly, I think you're right, but also not exactly right. Where you're not exactly right is that most people are usually quite compassionate - to those about whom they are most concerned. For example, while there are exceptions, most mothers love and are compassionate towards their own children. But you are right in that it most people are, in part, a product of the society they live in, and most human societies don't value most other animals very highly at all - whether they are human animals or nonhuman animals. So, you are also right that our job is create a culture wherein most people see themselves as the kind of person who is compassionate towards everyone, not just the ones they are most close to.
I agree with Kari as well. I too feel that most people are compassionate and caring. I think, in regard to other animals, the problem lies, as Tim mentioned, in the fact that so many humans don't regard other animals as much more than a food or entertainment source. As Kari said, if only they knew.
I am lucky, in that I can walk out my door and see over 100 monkeys we rescued and my heart is at peace. I think all animal rights activists should have a sanctuary, even if it is a 'mini sanctuary', or foster companion animals, or at the very least, volunteer at a sanctuary or shelter, I promise it will do your heart good!
I regrettably don't think that all people are compassionate. I think a significant number are and it is up to us to work together to subject people by adverts and education to make the link they have been conditioned to ignore through capitalism,consumerism and culture between the animal and the meat on supermarket shelves and their plate .To encourage them to actually think and dwell on how it got there and the suffering felt by the sentient being and how wrong it all is.
ReplyDeleteYou may be right Shelly, here at the sanctuary I live in my own little 'Jungle Friends World' and the interns and volunteers I see day in and day out are truly the most compassionate, unselfish, caring people you will ever meet. So my outlook may be a bit skewed - I am also considered to be an eternal optimist. The good news is that to reach the 'tipping point' we only need 15% - 18%! I used to think the critical mass needed to be a majority, but have since learned that is not true. This really has me feeling hopeful about the future; I believe we will reach the 'tipping point'!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kari that we have reason to be hopeful, even though there are lots of people doing pretty horrible things to other animals and, of course, one another.
ReplyDeletehttp://human-nonhuman.blogspot.com/2011/05/numbers-game.html
Shelly, I think you're right, but also not exactly right. Where you're not exactly right is that most people are usually quite compassionate - to those about whom they are most concerned. For example, while there are exceptions, most mothers love and are compassionate towards their own children. But you are right in that it most people are, in part, a product of the society they live in, and most human societies don't value most other animals very highly at all - whether they are human animals or nonhuman animals. So, you are also right that our job is create a culture wherein most people see themselves as the kind of person who is compassionate towards everyone, not just the ones they are most close to.
ReplyDeleteI love Kari's positivity!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kari as well. I too feel that most people are compassionate and caring. I think, in regard to other animals, the problem lies, as Tim mentioned, in the fact that so many humans don't regard other animals as much more than a food or entertainment source. As Kari said, if only they knew.
ReplyDeleteI am lucky, in that I can walk out my door and see over 100 monkeys we rescued and my heart is at peace. I think all animal rights activists should have a sanctuary, even if it is a 'mini sanctuary', or foster companion animals, or at the very least, volunteer at a sanctuary or shelter, I promise it will do your heart good!
ReplyDelete