*Disclaimer* "We" is meant to represent a generalization of society, of humans. Please do not take this offensively or personally, as it is not specific, and should not be applied that way.
Humans...there is something strange about us. Something beyond the peculiar fabrics we tape to our skin, the absurd structures we build, our large, unruly brains that harbor a cornucopia of mysterious insight. And this I speak of is compassion, and love. Compassion that stretches past human to human but human to otherworldly creature, or so it may be at first. Our fellows and our peers, our friends, our family, the ones we name others. Humans, we quickly learn of morals and ethics. We learn to treat others kindly.
While we know these natural rules to well, we disobey. The slaughter. The torture. The abuse. The rape. The maltreatment. The mutilation. The slavery. The detainment. We look away and shield our eyes, but we continue to put it in our mouths. We press a button and the screen goes dark, but the reality continues.
There is compassion, there is love. But when I see a woman walking her dog down a street on a brightly patterned leash, I see no love save the corrupt love for pure control. When I see a man eating a warm hamburger resting in a soft, golden bun, I see no compassion save the selfish compassion for previous cravings, desires, and temptations.
I look past and wonder, how can we be so oblivious? Is that the word, do we not know what is going on? We must know. Priorities. Priorities, the gorilla is shot for the human’s mistakes. Priorities, it doesn’t matter, I like the taste. Priorities, the bee is scary, or annoying, so it must die. Even if the bee makes the thick, sweet honey.
Even if nature is cruel, nature has supplied us with compassion and love. Is the idea of right and wrong a figment of human imagination? The concept of empathy and fondness a made-up world, too dulcet to be real, like Candy Land? I do not know. But to me there is right and wrong. Sources of guilt and pride.
Animals are others. Organisms with consciousness, are our family. Most Americans consider a dog a sacred part of a family, but support the murder of 150 million pigs each year. And, we worry about another world war. World War || involved the murder of 60 million innocent humans over 6 years. But each 6 years, 336 billion innocent animals (not including humans) are murdered. That does not even account for sea animals…which are measured in pounds instead of lives. What kind of insane World War is this?
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Well said!