We in the animal activist cause will always be tormented in our
conscience at the exploitation of weaker forms of life than our own;
while the majority are but a product of the desensitisation process.
Yes, I've just come back from France where smartly dressed genteel
ladies and cultured, well-groomed men ~ with much courtesy and charm --
smiled over to me under a canopy of a sun-blest restaurant. The trees
were overshadowing us from above; there was a sense of tranquillity and
peace all around us; and as we partook of a vegetarian meal - veganism
was unobtainable! ~ others, complete with serviettes and exquisite
cutlery, were tucking in to the dead bodies of animals; and for all we
knew, possibly, pate defoie gras and veal. Not to mention mouth-watering
and sumptuous frogs legs and snails! Indeed, I was so grateful to The
Almighty that I have morally evolved from their level of 'dining out in
style'.
Admittedly, 'where ignorance is bliss it's folly to be wise'; but,
surely, there must be times when Christians realise that the strong are
put upon earth to protect the weak! If we haven't got that message
across after over two millennia of Christian teaching, just what have
our rival branches of Christendom been teaching? Actually, I sense they
have been very much soaking up to whatever ruling powers there have
been! It's a reminder of Pope Pius the Twelfths early sentiment towards
the Third Reich: 'You give concessions to us and our priests, and we'll
instruct our faithful to give full backing to you!
Politically speaking - apart from the Green Party - I sense the other
parties would not stretch to consider the fate of weaker forms of life
with whom we share this planet. But then I ask: how long are we going to
share our life with anyone? At my age of 74 I could say that every day
is a bonus. But then, is it not so for all of us? We go to sleep at
night and may never awaken to behold another day. Our heart might give
out at any time. The Bible aptly says: "There is but a step between me
and death". Dear Reader, would to God that the likes of a Tony Blair,
Patricia Hewitt, David Blunket, Lord Sainsbury and a Colin Blakemore
realized the above! What a different country this would then be! Yes,
and - as the good book says - 'after death the judgment, when we must
inevitably reap what we have sown. But again, people don't like to face
reaping what their life has sown so they are usually eager to find a
scapegoat kind of a Faith. And such a concept is very much found in glib
distortions of Christianity that, for selfish reasons, thrive: "Jesus
paid it all brother". "His Father will not demand the penalty from you;
Jesus took your place, and it covers sins past, present - yes, and
future as well!"
Yes, how very convenient! No wonder that such a fundamentalism with
its Calvinistic bias finds such an eager following these days; while
deeply thought provoking approaches - comparable to those found amongst
Unitarians and Quakers - appear to interest but a handful! I tell you:
I've lived to see it all, and the way the masses of so many 'bom again
believers' are hoodwinked – apologies to the masons! - is to my mind a
matter of grave concern. Let us never, ever, underestimate animals; and
not least because God has seen fit to create far more of them than of
us. So - who knows? - we could be one of them next time round! As
privileged humans we have a most awesome task to fulfil! Yes, to do what
they are unable to do: improve the state of the world as guardian
stewards of creation.
Go on to
Animals, Like Us, Are Far More Than
Robots!
Return to Summer 2004 Issue
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