Cause I Care

It may shock some people to know this, but I am actually a very sensitive person. Well, it’s true that as the years go by, I have become tougher, more protective of my emotions than I use to be. These days I don’t sit in a different kitchen chair each night at dinner, for I am no longer worried that a particular chair might feel neglected or accuse me of playing favorites. I mean, I stopped doing that sort of stuff when I was just a kid and I figured out that chairs don’t really have any feelings (that realization alone made me cry!). Overall, though, I am still a sap. I can easily be brought to tears from a Hallmark commercial, and I once cried during the Judge’s thank-you-for-doing-your-civic-duty speech (I told the other jurors that I had a cold, because I was so mortified by my lack of emotional control). Let’s just say the slightest pull on my heartstrings turns me into a blubbering mess. This is the reason I had to participate when Her Bad Mother gave this assignment to write about a cause that you are passionate about. And, whenever I think about a cause that has always yanked at my heartstrings, it is animal rights. It’s not as if other causes like fighting cancer, the AIDS crisis in Africa or even human rights don’t affect me. But, I often feel overwhelmed by the amount of causes that are worthy and necessary. I cannot possible be an effective advocate for them all, or afford to donate to them all. So, to stay sane, I had made the decision (a tough one) in my life to focus my efforts, money and energy towards animal rights, anti-vivisection in particular. I suppose in someway this decision comes from my empathy for the underdogs. Even though there are too many diseases, infractions, and injustices that humans suffer from, I feel they have their own voices, they have other people’s voices, they have moms and dads, aunts and uncles, they have laws and constitutions working for them, donating to them and protecting them. The innocent animals are unable to talk, to organize themselves, to band together, to fight back or protest in their own names. And, I also believe, that I will only know the depth and purity of a good deed when I do it for no real outer reward. No rabbits are going to send me flowers, no rats are going to write a blog entry praising me, and no rhesus monkeys are going to remember me each year on my birthday. As Mahatma Gandhi once famously said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” I feel the same way about my personal moral progress.

There are many animal causes out there. I try to keep up with a lot of them, contribute when I can afford to and speak for them when they need a voice. But, my focus has continued to be for anti-vivisection organizations. The people of these organizations believe, as do I, that we do not have the divine authority to place the lives of humans above animals for the sake of product testing, research or classroom education. While their goal is to abolish the use of animals in these arenas altogether, they also act as the watchdogs for these precious underdogs already forsaken. They put a lot of their efforts towards making sure they are being treated humanely, they have acceptable living environments and are disposed of with proper respect (sniff, sniff). I commend them and join them in their efforts. Mostly, because I absolutely believe that I have no right to benefit from any drug, cosmetic or knowledge that was gained by the suffering of another creature on this earth. If you feel the same way I do, please visit the links below.

These days when I watch my daughter interact with Oreo and Thai (our cats), I see her treat them with the exact same regard she has for me or my husband or her sisters or other people. To her, they are just two more incredible living beings in her life. She gives them kisses, waves them goodbye, shares her cookies with them and yes, even though she knows its wrong, she lashes out at them when she is mad. She treats them just the same as she does us humans, sometimes even better. I know there will come a time when she will make the sharp distinction in her head between the humans and the animals in her life. But, I hope and I prey and I will teach her that, although there is a distinction, the love you have for them and the respect you give them should be no different. They are of this earth, they too are worthy. My child is this country’s future and I want her to help make our country great by Mahatma Gandhi’s standards.

You can find more information here:

National Anti-Vivisection Society

American Anti-vivisection Society

New England Anti-Vivisection Society

Eternal Treblinka  (This book reveals the connections between the mentality behind the Holocaust and animal exploitation in the US.)

And finally, The Humane Society of the United States.  They too are advocates in educating compassion and respect for our furry friends!

Comments

[slackermommy]

Thank you for highlighting this very important cause.

[jenny]

Wow. Great post.

Although I have to disagree a little simply because my daughters life was saved because of a drug made from pigs. But animal testing on make-up, etc? I'm totally against.

Thanks for giving me something to think about.

[Momish]

Jenny, I understand your position whole heartily. There is much research done on animals that is benificial and vital to saving human's lives. When you think of the benifits, it is a tough call. But, I often wonder, if it was unthinkable to test and "practice" on animals, would we have invented superior ways to improving drugs, operations, etc.? Sort of like what is happening now. If we weren't concerned over the oil crisis or global warming, no one would have been pushed to invent hybrids or alternative methods that are better. Thanks for your input, you bring up a an important perspective to this ongoing debate and struggle.