I hurt deeply when I read about the kinds of things the human race can do to fellow adults, children and animals. What fascinates me as well is how much this area around us is growing.
If you look around the news, internet or television you probably won't hear much about the human trafficking is growing tenfold, animal abuse towards those that become feed and those that are domesticated are being tortured and beaten and who knows what else, children as young as young as babies are being abused, tortured, held captive, raped, the elderly are murderd, neglected; in some countries slavery is still a modern day issue, women are still seen as a lesser being, etc, etc, etc. Why? Because people turn their heads, don't want to hear sad stuff, don't want to do anything about it.. it's easier to walk away and not hear it and ignore the issue at hand than stand out in a crowd and stand up and do something about it.
My gosh, what brought people to be this way? Not making this an issue of religion in any way shape or form, because regardless of race, sex, or religion - humanity is a core characteristic that all humans should have. I watched a video that sort of began my personal journey into seeing the awful awful things that people can do to others. The video link is called earthlings. Quoting directly from the page
I tell you what, it was hard to watch, but I made myself because not knowing and ingoring the truth puts me in a place I don't want to be. So, I watched it. I was sick to my stomach. It's been several years now since I've seen it and there are some images that still haunt me to this day. I felt so much pain, looking into some of these animals' eyes. There is a part of me that just cannot fathom how someone can do the things that I have seen.
Since watching this video, I've been exposed to many more and have become much more aware of what is going on in this world, and made an effort to further educate myself about the things you don't hear and you have to seek to find out the truth.
I can honestly say that I believe a good majority of what goes on in this world is driven by money, the rest from criminals who most likely have undiagnosed mental disorders.
I look around me and think, I have a great life. I have a home and good job, a great family and what am I doing other than educating myself about this topic. I do want to get more involved, I am struggling to figure out where to even start. There are so many issues at hand, where can I make the most difference.
I aslo wonder sometimes how I will handle helping. I thought first about contributing financially so an organization that truly truly dedicates their funds to abused, neglected, beaten, tortured - human or animal.
What is it that makes us so greedy that money trumps human and animal life? To laugh at animals being tortured, to smile and a woman getting raped, to agree to keep an elderly locked up in a closet to collect social security, to enslave a person for your own benefit, to skin an animal while alive down to its eyelashes just to keep the fur at its best, to burn an pig while alive with a torch to the point to where its skin is boiling "just because it's fun," using bait dogs for dogs that fight and tying them so they can't escape or taping their mouths shut so they can't defend themselves or better yet breaking their teeth to not fight back, or to shove a metal pipe up a womans private area for punishment. I mean I just don't even know what to think anymore.
I can't help but feel guilty for living a comfortable life, because every day - EVERY SINGLE DAY - there is so much around me that is bad and wrong. Daily I try to imagine how many thousands of animals are being hurt and abused, and how many humans are suffering. Realistically I know I can't change the world, but that doesn't mean I don't feel for the pain and I don't have the compassion to want to face the truth and do something about it. If there is anything I can do it's to educate, and so I've decided to make more people aware. Stop turning your head, WATCH the video and see what really happens, LOOK at the pictures that you normally turn away from, TALK about things that aren't right, BE the person that calls the police. Just don't say to yourself "oh, I'm sure someone else will do something about it" because really you could be the only hope for that animal or human being.
We as a nation, state, city, town and neighborhood have to start placing value in LIFE. I have made every effort to instill that concept in my son and tried to show him every day. I show him compassion, I talk to him about things that aren't right, I discuss why things are wrong, I talk about why people do what they do and why they shouldn't. It's time. It's time for this to change.
My change? I don't support buying leather, I've stopped eating a lot of meats - espeically if I don't know where they come from, I tell my friends never to sell their animals online as those typically get bought for lab experiments and become dog bait and more, I share the pictures no one else shares on facebook.. I make an effort. If every person takes a little bit of that enthusiasm, little changes will become big ones. Baby steps.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Are people aware of their "lack of actions" ....
You walk down a hallway and make eye contact to the person walking towards you, you give a friendly smile or maybe even dare to say hello. What does the other person do? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Possibly look at you in fear? Or, just stare at you and continue on their merry way. How about Facebook? Have you written a group email lately? Ever notice that it tells you who has read it and when? I did this just the other day. I invited a group of girls to come have a fun evening out, trying only to invite those who I think would be wonderful company. One person took the time to actually respond. This is not something I do often, it's quite rare actually. So, how hard would it have been to just say anything. Busy or not, just take the time to give the other person the respect that they deserve. "Hey, thanks for asking. Not interested, but thanks for thinking of me." I mean, what that took me about 40 seconds (at maximum) to type. Now, don't get me wrong, sometimes I've been on my phone and looked at something and then responded a day or two later (probably because I had to check with others to see if I can coordinate plans).
This just offends me. When you have taken the time to say, hey let me do something out of my way for someone else -saying hi, inviting them, going to their house versus staying home, doing for someone else and you get NO thanks. What is it in people that drives them to think that they are so thoughtless in their lack of response? Too busy? Too self involved? What does that do to my relationship with you as a friend. I mean strangers walking by and not saying hi, is just as bad - but you don't know them personally (well maybe you see them every day in passing, but don't know them.. which that's another whole story :OP). Is it in their own mind disconnecting with you because they aren't interested in hanging with you to begin with? If that's the case, jeesh, just move on! De-friend me.
I have a person in my life who I am currently torn between in deciding what exactly she is to me. Is she a friend, is she a coworker, is she a "par-time" friend? I am so confused when it comes to this girl.. One day she's all perky and in your face (doesn't understand that 3 feet of personal space AT ALL). Other days, she walks by and looks right at me and I say hi, and she says nothing. Hey, I get it, long day at work or crappy life, whatever it is.. but at some point it really doesn't kill to say hello. Maybe in a non-perky manner, at least then I know she's not in the best of moods. It's like in some ways I'm her friend of convenience, if it suits her to be nice to me "that day" then she makes an added effort, but at other times she's cold and a grump. Maybe I'm answering my own question in writing this! If I do something nice for her, she just accepts it - no thanks, no hey I appreciate the effort.. remind me why I did it again..?
I don't think people are aware of what not doing something can do for people around you, especially your friends and family. Ever had that friend who always wants you to come to their place, their events, but then if you invite they can't make it or are busy doing other things. Really? EVERY S-I-N-G-L-E time? Again, the lack of effort eventually is noted. Just sayin'.
It takes effort. Often, even if you don't want to, the extra effort is required to continue something that's going good. Whether it's a stranger that you're walking past, or a friend, or a partner, or a child, or an animal (yes, dagnabit, animals know that you don't pet them and give them attention too people, they have hearts :O).)
You're always taught on what you should do, should say, how you should be.. but I think it is also crucial to understand that a lack of action on your behalf is also a practice that needs to be considered.
This just offends me. When you have taken the time to say, hey let me do something out of my way for someone else -saying hi, inviting them, going to their house versus staying home, doing for someone else and you get NO thanks. What is it in people that drives them to think that they are so thoughtless in their lack of response? Too busy? Too self involved? What does that do to my relationship with you as a friend. I mean strangers walking by and not saying hi, is just as bad - but you don't know them personally (well maybe you see them every day in passing, but don't know them.. which that's another whole story :OP). Is it in their own mind disconnecting with you because they aren't interested in hanging with you to begin with? If that's the case, jeesh, just move on! De-friend me.
I have a person in my life who I am currently torn between in deciding what exactly she is to me. Is she a friend, is she a coworker, is she a "par-time" friend? I am so confused when it comes to this girl.. One day she's all perky and in your face (doesn't understand that 3 feet of personal space AT ALL). Other days, she walks by and looks right at me and I say hi, and she says nothing. Hey, I get it, long day at work or crappy life, whatever it is.. but at some point it really doesn't kill to say hello. Maybe in a non-perky manner, at least then I know she's not in the best of moods. It's like in some ways I'm her friend of convenience, if it suits her to be nice to me "that day" then she makes an added effort, but at other times she's cold and a grump. Maybe I'm answering my own question in writing this! If I do something nice for her, she just accepts it - no thanks, no hey I appreciate the effort.. remind me why I did it again..?
I don't think people are aware of what not doing something can do for people around you, especially your friends and family. Ever had that friend who always wants you to come to their place, their events, but then if you invite they can't make it or are busy doing other things. Really? EVERY S-I-N-G-L-E time? Again, the lack of effort eventually is noted. Just sayin'.
It takes effort. Often, even if you don't want to, the extra effort is required to continue something that's going good. Whether it's a stranger that you're walking past, or a friend, or a partner, or a child, or an animal (yes, dagnabit, animals know that you don't pet them and give them attention too people, they have hearts :O).)
You're always taught on what you should do, should say, how you should be.. but I think it is also crucial to understand that a lack of action on your behalf is also a practice that needs to be considered.
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