It would seem inconceivable
and totally bewildering if it wasn't sadly true. A very close
friend recently conducted a poll. The poll asked those taking
the poll what charitable cause they would more likely support.
The end finding completely horrified both myself, Dragonfly,
our friends and especially, our close friend who published the
poll.
Would you believe, that
sick children with cancer, children starving and destitute,
women suffering domestic violence, world peace and countless
other humanitarian causes missed out dismally to Animal Rights?
The result of the poll had a massive 68 % for Animal Welfare.
It would seem that people
who state that they follow an Earth-based religion are more
concern with the welfare of animals than with the well-being
of their fellow human-beings?
Are
YOU shocked Yet?
Now, I bet you
thought or rather wished that I ran out of steam after writing
my rather lengthy article: "Has
Paganism Become Exclusive?" and after reading my Dragonfly's
also, rather extensive tome "Seeking Identity" ...
No! No! No! Dear Reader ... our soap-boxes are full of OMO and
I at least guarantee a good washing of the dirty laundry. Oh,
damn ... I am obfuscating again ... airing dirty laundry in
a "Public" domain. Perhaps, I should call it "private"
and play hide and seek the event ...oops ...I mean hide the
editorial and let you all try and find it?
Enough of this
twiddle-twattle ... At the risk of raising hackles and causing
fur to fly ... at the risk of earning the wrath of the community
I am going to speak my peace. After all the old adage: "From
the mouth of a Madman often comes wisdom", and as I have
been 'labeled' by many of my detractors as MAD, I feel the "Voice
of Reason" needs to be heard.
I don't know
about you but I get rather peeved to see in some Pagan Yahoo
and Ning groups "PLEASE SIGN this petition. Animal Cruelty"
or to have such a petition landing in my email box. Don't get
me wrong, I am a Conservationist; I belong to the Australian
Conservationist Foundation, I also support and am a financial
Member N.A.N (Native Animal Network) and I am all for the preservation
and protection of Animals, Whales, Forests and Jungles (their
Natural Habitat) BUT not at the detriment of Children. I will
not take the attitude that poor, starving, destitute children
especially those suffering from a terminal illness can go hang.
Recently, here
in Australia, a comedy show known as "Chasers War On Everything"
earn the anger of the majority of viewers if not the entire
population of Australia for a skit which lampooned "The
Make-A-Wish Foundation" and children with terminal illnesses.
People were appalled and the show's ratings plummeted. The show
was banned from television for two weeks.
I am fully supportive
of PETA and am outraged by Animal Cruelty, but to discover that
most people in the "Pagan" Community (and I don't
mean the vast number of Solitaries who actually out-weigh those
involved with the organisations who pertain to represent us
and circulate their clap-trap in many on-line forums), donate
more money and support "Animal Right" causes at the
detriment of children in poverty, sick and dying children, orphaned
children, human suffering .... well I am appalled.
A week ago I
watched and taped a show on televison (Four Corners - ABC1)
titled: "Saving Africa's Witch Children":
"In some of the poorest parts of Nigeria,
where evangelical religious fervour is combined with a belief
in sorcery and black magic, many thousands of children are being
blamed for catastrophes, death and famine: and branded witches.
Denounced as Satan made flesh by powerful pastors and prophetesses,
these children are abandoned, tortured, starved and murdered:
all in the name of Jesus Christ.
This Dispatches special follows the work of one Englishman,
Gary Foxcroft, who has devoted his life to helping these desperate
and vulnerable children. Gary's charity, Stepping Stones Nigeria,
raises funds to help Sam Itauma who, five years ago, rescued
four children accused of witchcraft. He now struggles to care
for over 150 in a makeshift shelter and school called CRARN
(Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network)."
A friend of mine said to me later in conversation:
"That she was so moved by the show" ... "and
how she wished she could financially help" ... "but
being 'Pagan' and the charity is 'Christian' she would n't be
allowed" ..."and even if she was allowed to
financial help, it would be detrimental to their welfare."
WHAT THE ... ?????
Now mind you this is the same person who is
very much into "Animal Rights" and donates regularly
to a Pagan organisation who equally regularly run a campaign
collecting money, blankets and food for an Animal Welfare Organisation
up North of Adelaide. I asked her once why did she supported
this "charitable" cause over others? Her response
was: "They are ONLY Dumb Animals. It's not their fault
they are homeless"
Granted and good point, However, is anyone
aware how many homeless young people who equally need food and
blankets there are on the street (and not just here in the cities
of Australia)? Is anyone aware how many of those homeless young
people (some as young as 12) will be placed at risk? Is anyone
aware of how many of those young homeless people will actually
die (especially in Winter)? Is anyone aware how many of those
deaths will occur for want of a blanket which has been given
to a "disowned" and "disregarded" pet?
What price human life?
I am Shamanic. A worshipper of the Mother Gaia,
but let's put this into perspective. I don't care if you proclaim
to be an Earth-based religion or not and although I am a great
support of Animal Rights, I will not and never support a cause
at the detriment of Children, Children Rights and Human Rights.
Believe it or Not, Animals of one type, form
or another will survive long after Humankind ceases to exist.
Humans do more Cruel things to other Humans;
Man's Inhumanity to Man is constantly in your face on News programs
but when you discover that Pagan organisations which pretain
to represent the WHOLE of the Pagan Community in your area,
city or state, get more donations for Animal Welfare organisations
in their own areas (whether it be food, blankets or money) than
is raised for other more "charitable" causes and the
usual excuse is that the "Christians" have it covered
... well ... these organisations DO NOT represent me
If you want
to change the world my friends change your thinking first.
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