“Be Kind To Animals” Week – May 3-9, 2015

Baby birds in the nest on top of Carl’s front porch light

Right now, this week (May 3 – 9), is the 100^th anniversary of “Be Kind To Animals Week,” the oldest commemorative week in U.S. History.  As hard as we humans might resist, there are steps in our evolution that are inevitable.  One by one, day after day, people everywhere are opening their eyes to the reality of animal suffering around the world.  Some things that only activists knew ten years ago are now common knowledge to growing numbers of the masses, with more and more of them unable to close their eyes or turn away.  Exposing animal cruelty and neglect, with the power of social media and modern surveillance tools, is becoming easier.  As well, the mainstream is hearing, over and over, the positive effect of compassionate eating on one’s health and the environment; the air, the water.  The more we learn about how smart dolphins are the less likely we are to ever go to a horrific place like Seaworld again.  Enlightened circuses are releasing their animals right and left.  The mountains of shame being heaped on supporters of canned hunts and safaris just might be making a few trigger-happy campers reconsider their vacations.  Since only seriously insecure people are involved in such antics, the growing hate being tossed at them might start to make a difference.  No one likes to be singled out and embarrassed; to be told that you’re a dumb-ass.  And insecure people who need to kill defenseless creatures in order to feel important, despite the bravado and gun waving, just might have the thinnest skin of all.  Who knows? – Carl Finch