We who love animals often dedicate our lives to reshaping humanity’s view of the animal kingdom. We fight a very difficult battle. Not only must we constantly challenge the status quo, but often we grow weary of humanity’s inability to recognize animal cruelty, exploitation and suffering.
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It’s not uncommon for animal advocates and activists to suffer burnout. We have hearts. We feel very deeply and we’re frequently condemned as “bleeding hearts,” “tree-huggers,” “enviro wackos” and even worse. We’re cruelly admonished to “Get a life!” or called irrational and told we live in a Bambi world. In one of her works, Brigid Brophy, a famous English novelist, critic and biographer, once said, “Whenever people say, ‘We mustn’t be sentimental,’ you can take it they were about to do something cruel. And if they add, ‘We must be realistic,’ they mean they are going to make money out of it.” These slogans have a long history. After being used to justify slave traders, ruthless industrialists and contractors who had found that the most economically “realistic” method of cleaning a chimney was to force a small child to climb it, the slogans have been passed on. They are like an heirloom to the factory farms, which, for more palatability, are referred to by our own U. S. Department of Agriculture as CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations). Sounds so innocuous, doesn’t it? Visit one and report back as to how innocuous they are.
Hunting and trapping factions constantly tell us that if we didn’t hunt and trap animals, we would literally be overrun by them. A few countries defy the International Whaling Commission’s ban on whaling under the guise of conducting research. Of course they’re doing research! We see them with their “conducting research” signs on their giant floating slaughterhouses, attempting to hide their systematic dismembering of a once majestic sea creature, turning him into neatly packaged whale steaks.
Giant corporations that use and abuse animals justify their actions by saying it’s for the “betterment” of mankind. Organizations such as the Safari Club should cause us to question what resides in the hearts of those who proudly proclaim it an honor to be part of an inner circle that demands (and rewards!) the callous killing of majestic elephants, big cats, bears and rare and beautiful species of antelope, etc.
Nations that enjoy prestigious trading privileges treat animals as nothing but commodities. China in particular has a very poor record regarding human rights. It is the world’s largest producer of furs and fur-trimmed garments. It cages tigers and bears to satisfy the horrible tiger bone and bear bile markets. China’s treatment of animals is so horrid that one cannot dwell on the subject for very long — it is that disturbing. Yet, our nation seemingly pays little attention to this as we exchange goods and services. Where is our humanity, our courage to challenge China’s leaders to end their hideous cruelty and oppression of human rights?
Wild creatures all over our planet are teetering on the brink of disappearing forever. They are hunted mercilessly for their body parts to be used in Oriental medicine or to be flaunted as “fashion” because of their rare and beautiful skins or feathers. But it doesn’t stop there. We covet the very idea of “owning” them — our egos massaged to where we derive our own self-worth from owning a rare and dangerous animal. “Hey, ain’t my tiger a bad mutha,” quips a hip-hop star. We cage birds. It is one of the most nonsensical acts that man can carry out. We deny these unique creatures their most vital natural behavior: flight! Would we also muzzle the songbird? It makes absolutely no sense, and if we allow it, it would drive us clear out of our minds.
We choose to be strong. We choose the path of patience and perseverance. We work to educate, to find that crucial nerve that causes one to want and react to bring about change. It doesn’t happen quickly. One thing we’ve learned quickly is that we don’t change quickly. But we simply can’t remain static or resistant any longer. If we don’t embrace changing attitudes and ideals, we will be left behind.
We should look at all animals — wild creatures in particular — with a sense of wonderment and reverence, knowing in our hearts that they desire the same things we desire: to live without fear and domination, and be allowed to be and do all that creation evolved them to do.
Pretty simple. Why does man make it so complicated?
The staff members of Born Free USA are people just like you. We see so many wrongs and want to “right” them. We care passionately about wildlife and work very hard to educate people and help as many individual animals as possible. We don’t do this work because we find it fascinating. It’s a hard job. It eats at your very soul at times, but when you know in your heart that what you’re doing is right, you just persevere. I love Winston Churchill’s inspiring words he gave to a graduating class at Oxford University. He stood at the podium and said, “Never give up. Never give up. Never, never, never give up!”
And we won’t!
It’s been great to be a part of Born Free USA. I now bid you all … Farewell!
Susan