8 Comments

1. 

   acilius

    /  February 25, 2009

   His line in the news story, “a place where cats aren’t treated like animals”- I know what he means, but it makes me sad. I wish I didn’t know what he meant. I wish it weren’t obvious to everyone in our society that the phrase “treated like an animal” means “treated like garbage.” I wish it didn’t seem natural that it should mean that.

   We insist on treating living things as if they were dead, and dead things as if they meant nothing to life. How long can we behave that way and survive as a species?

2. 

   cymast

    /  February 25, 2009

   A few months ago I scrolled through the slideshow photos of the Animal Liberation Front website and cried. Thousands of monkeys, rabbits, cats, and dogs. Not much fazes me anymore regarding the state of the world, but photos of animals being slowly tortured to death to “test” cosmetics, detergent, and industrial chemicals profoundly affects me. The pictures were so horrifying- worse than the worst horror movie I could imagine- that my mind kept flashing back to those get-wrenching images days later. And I’d feel hot and panicky all over again. PTSD from viewing photos.

3. 

   acilius

    /  February 25, 2009

   That’s terrible. I sympathize with you.

4. 

   cymast

    /  February 25, 2009

   Thanks. I’ve come to realize there’s a fine line of disconnection the humane must cultivate in order to remain humane.

5. 

   acilius

    /  February 25, 2009

   You’ve reminded me of one of my favorite quotes. Francois Mitterand was asked what the hardest thing was for him to achieve as president of France. He answered, “Indifference.”

   Apparently there would be times when Mitterand knew he could help, say, 100 people. Yet 1000 were in need of help. How could he pride himself in helping 100 and letting 900 suffer?

6. 

   believer1

    /  February 25, 2009

   like the pic. you make me want a cat but our apt is full.

7. 

   cymast

    /  February 25, 2009

   I guess one cound focus on the fact that 100 were helped instead of 0.

   So how many residents live at the Acilius Manor now? Lucky 7?

8. 

   acilius

    /  February 25, 2009

   That focus was what he had trouble achieving.

   Let’s see, Mr & Mrs Acilius, Phoenix the assistance dog, Bingo the hindrance dog, Patty Lu the aquatic turtle, Wilbur the goldfish- 6 in all. Our original idea was that Patty Lu would eat Wilbur as she’d eaten his predecessors, but she decided she’d rather keep him as a pet.