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Discussion About the Article:
Violent Role Models:
George Bush Sr. and the United Methodist Church

In order to understand the bases of this discussion, our readers should first read the article upon which the comments are based.  To read it, please click on the link above.
- people - squirrels - cats - dogs -

Comments by Frank L. Hoffman
3 July 2001

Dear Roger and Others:

Please don't ever feel that because you disagree with me or with another person on this list that it should cause you to hesitate to post your comments.  This is what this forum is all about. It's a place where we should feel free to post our thoughts and learn from each other.

We seem to have drifted away from the main thrust of my original article which started this discussion and settled in on the behavior of cats and dogs.

It's obvious that we disagree on whether or not certain animal behavior patterns are learned or instinctive. That's all right, but if we humans have dominion over this world, could we be preventing some of this violence?

Using Roger's comments for an example, could he (we) prevent his (our) companion animals from hunting and killing other animals. I believe the answer has to be a resounding, "Yes!"  We could keep such animals confined so that they never get the opportunity to hunt and kill.  Is such a condition "fair" to our companions?  Probably not, but it is "fair" to the animals who we prevent from being killed by our companion animals.  In my opinion, it is here that we properly exercise our right of dominion.

It is also upon this decision to allow or prevent death, that I believe Past President Bush's action comes into question as a responsible human being.  He allowed Millie to hunt and kill.  He could have prevented it, but he chose not to do so.   Likewise the United Methodist Church, who published this story in a way that favored such violence, is, in my opinion, partly responsible for the never ending violence in our world.  If they said that such action was wrong; if they said that the squirrels had just as much right to enjoy life as Millie; if they said that we have a responsibility to exercise our dominion over violence in this world, then they would have taken a Biblically responsible position as a spiritual leader, but they chose not to do so.  Instead of discouraging violence, they actually encouraged it.

Instead of promoting the ultimate ideals of God, the type of knowledge that should cover the earth as the waters cover the sea, their (our) actions all too often seem to support the knowledge of Satan, and the corruption he brought upon the earth.  God has given us the power to make positive peaceful changes, and to eliminate pain and suffering, and even death in this world.  Isn't it time that we collectively do everything in our power to act like the sons and daughters of God for whom the whole of creation eagerly awaits to end its pain and suffering?  I believe it is!

In the Love of the Lord,
Frank

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