Yesterday I witnessed an assault against an Animal. It was not my first.
I spend almost everyday in areas where Wildlife live. As a native of San Francisco, I am lucky to be surrounded by Parks and Beaches, as well as a Zoo.
The stream of misbehavior towards Animals is constant. It can be as simple as a remark that carries venom to actual physical assault of varieing degrees.
I spend time with Nature because it feeds my Soul. I love Animals and can not imagine a life without the connections I have with them.
I like being outside and the calm its supposed to bring. Almost every outting my peace is interrupted by someone creating some kind of offence directed at an Animal. It's heartbreaking.
Animal Cruelty is all around us and there seems to be no escape from the horrific stories. Its in the news, its on our Facebook, Twitter and other Social Media sites. There seems to be more of it with each passing day.
Why are Humans so evil?
I have used the word evil before and have been told that I use it too casually, but honestly, I feel evil is the accurate word for what propels these actions.
I could list all the actions I've witnessed and/or heard about, but that would be at book length. We all have either seen it or read about it.
Yesterday I was visiting the local Swan Family. There was a continual gathering of people looking at them. I'd say half (which isn't a great percentage) were behaved. The other half, were getting too close, trying to touch them, heckling them, and then there was the guy who actually kicked the Papa Swan. Yes, KICKED! Foot to Swan body. It was awful.
I most definitely had words with this guy, and different from other times I have called people out on their actions, he appologized. I ended by telling him that his actions, "Hurt my Heart."
When I got home I started watching the afternoon television show, The Talk. Their opening topic was about a recent incident involving Bullying. They showed portions of this Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAgti_2uziA
Then discussed it.
http://www.cbs.com/shows/the_talk/video/2248646963/the-talk-woman-bullied-by-students-on-bus
The video and the words Aiysha Tyler spoke made me cry. I cried for that Woman and I cried for the Swan. Both victims of mean spirited Humans.
One of the quotes from the show was a call for, "Zero tolerance for bullying" in reference to against Humans. In my opinion, Zero tolerance for Bullying = Zero tolerance for disrespect of all Beings, Animals included. Bullying is the same as other forms of abuse, as it is an action of trying to over power another, whether verbally or physically.
The actions I witness against Animals are actions of Bullying. They may not be against a Human as Bullying is traditionally associated, but it was against a Being by a Human. Humans seem to forget that they are Beings on this Earth, just like Animals.
These are People who are Bullys, whether it against an Animal or a Human, they are Bullys in all areas of their life, so the act is the same. Bullys abuse Humans and Animals.
The reason Why? is often questioned and I feel too often compartmentalized, rather than bare boning it and calling it what it appears to be and that is bottom line evil. After witnessing or hearing such an act, I always ask myself "Who does/says something like that?"
People who know me, know I have always had a distaste for Humans in general. I have been sickened by their behavior for most of my life. As I have aged, I have tailored my life to only include what matters most to me, and that is primarily Animals. That said, I have also become increasingly hyper-sensitive to the actions perpetrated against them by Humans, therefore further increasing my distaste.
Within a three hour span I witnessed the assault on the Swan and then I saw this video of this poor woman being assaulted by these awful wastes of Human flesh. There aren't words really to explain the disheartening feeling of helplessness that is the subject of how Humanity can be saved. Human behavior towards all Beings is getting worse and worse.
How are we as a society going to stop Bullying?
In the isolated case of this one guy, my words made him think. Will they have a lasting effect and change his future behavior? Are words enough? Society rules have changed through history and what was acceptable in the days of the wild west, are no longer. Admittedly, I am a firm believer in an eye for an eye punishment (which so far only seems to happen in movies). Does that mean in the case of the School Monitor that verbal abuse would be the way to change the actions of these kids? Does that mean that kicking the shit out of people who physically abuse, will change their actions? Sure its harsh, but what is it going to take to stop these actions, because it doesn't seem like the current state of how society is working, is doing the job. Frankly, I'm sick of breathing the same air as people like this.
June 24-30, 2012 is Animal Abuse Awareness Week
join the crusade and show your color :)
https://www.facebook.com/PurpleforAnimals
This video was tweeted to me in response to one of my tweets on the subject.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTEApM6p-kA
this is also posted on my blog - stopthehurtagainstanimals.blogspot.com - you can read more posts on this topic there.
this is also posted on my blog - stopthehurtagainstanimals.blogspot.com - you can read more posts on this topic there.
