A Brief History....

[poliphilo]

We are very new.

I find this a comforting thought.

When I consider the seediness, depravity, cruelty and greed of humankind, I reflect that we are only beginners. We are still practicing; we haven't worked it out yet; we have time to improve. We have been around in our present form for a few million years- nothing in evolutionary terms- and civilization- the attempt to live in a civil society- is a very recent development.

We have only had writing for about three thousand years.

The written history of my own country goes back (and then only patchily) for two thousand years. If we want to know what happened before that we have to get out our spades and trowels and dig.

Two thousand, three thousand, four thousand years- these are ridiculously brief stretches of time. We have emerged from the forests, blinked and looked around a bit. That's all we have had time for. We are still little more than beasts.

Comments

Exactly the opposite

[arielstarshadow.livejournal.com]

I find it comforting, the knowledge that we are a part of the greater whole, not simply "dropped" here on the planet. Looking into the eyes of these marvelous creatures, one cannot help but see that we are kin.

Which of course makes me even sadder when I see the way many of us treat them. Frankly, the way we treat all animals is depraved, unjust, and just plain disgusting. Don't take me for someone who believes we should only consume plants, never wear animal products (although I have a problem with fur simply because the rest of the animal is often wasted), etc. That is not what I am espousing. What I am saying is that we, who are supposedly superior, should be able to treat the "lesser" creatures with respect, dignity, and kindness. We do not need to treat those animals we raise for food as we do, making their lives painful and terrifying.

Ack! That was a major tangent. My apologies.

Re: Exactly the opposite

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

That was a major tangent. My apologies.

Not at all. In fact, my visceral reaction: I got tears in my eyes.

Beautifully said.

(And I eat meat, and don't think about it. But I should. Thans for this.)

At the risk

[arielstarshadow.livejournal.com]

of further hijacking, I will say that I eat meat as well. But I make sure that the meat is, whenever possible, raised humanely. That the animals were given a good, gentle life, and a humane death.

My sister and I once got into a terrible argument. She became a vegetarian after watching some horrific videos and doing some reading - which I myself did at her age. The difference is that I recognized that there was no way in hell to convinve 6 billion people NOT to consume animals (which is exactly what she wants to have happen). Instead, I told her, focus on a goal that is possible....the better treatment of those animals we consume.

Re: At the risk

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

I like your thinking. There are ways to begin.

In fact, our tiny effort: we only buy eggs from free-range chickens. And I understand (and I hate hearing this! I turn away from hearing this, but now I know) that chickens are not only stuffed into cages but are de-beaked. Just typing that gives me chills. I only know this because, at a new organic grocery store in Knoxville, they advertise that all their chickens were raised with beaks intact.

When my daughter was 16, she became a vegetarian to protest caged animals and animal treatment. One day I was getting ready to bite into a piece of chicken and she began to cry, and asked me how I could be so cruel, and I, being irritated, swatted her away with a facile and shallow response: "Consider me a microcosm of the uncaring world."

She ran from the table sobbing, as well she should have.

In order to be clever, I wounded her deeply. More, I made light of something that was gravely important to her in order to swat away my own uneasy guilty feelings.

I've never forgotten that self-serving, ugly moment with my daughter. I'm still ashamed of my behavior toward that gentle, caring person sitting across from me.

How often in our lives do we really care about something? How terrible, to take the light out of someone's eyes in order to be clever.

Your response was much more mature than mine, and at a much younger age! You are correct: one must begin where it is possible, and take it step by step.

I have more than once told my daughter how much I admired her stand. She is no longer a vegetarian, but she loves animals very much and shops now at places like that organic store. It's a start for her, too.

Friending You!

[arielstarshadow.livejournal.com]

Can't believe it took me this long to discover you.

Re: Friending You!

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

I feel the same. Friending you back.

Re: Exactly the opposite

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I've with you much of way. I've been a vegetarian for many years- not because I'm the least bit sentimental about animals, but I because I reckon we owe it to them- and to ourselves- to treat them with respect.

Re: Exactly the opposite

[arielstarshadow.livejournal.com]

I certainly have no problem, nor meant any insult to, vegetarians with my statements (hope they didn't sound that way). I always feel people should do what their conscience tells them - just that we also have to not be too surprised when other people's consciences don't always mesh 100% with our own.

Re: Exactly the opposite

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I agree. And no offence taken. I'm not a proselytising vegetarian. I don't object to others eating meat. And my position isn't rigid. I sometimes eat fish and I wear leather (belt and shoes.) The thing I get most upset about is the callousness of the meat industry. If someone could convince me that the animal on my plate had been reared and killed with respect my qualms about eating it would largely disappear.