::::::::
I was among the very happy to see you become president. I thought: here is a man of integrity and compassion. I also believed that you are sincere and truthful. How can anyone with these virtues go wrong?Well, maybe some of these virtues are interpreted differently by all of us. I now wonder why I thought you were a man of compassion. In my opinion, you have made some missteps re this virtue. Slowly, but surely, I began to see the kinks in your compassionate "armor."
I really didn't fault you all that much when you adopted a rescued pure bred Portuguese Water Dog. I told my friend who was beside herself with anger after you had promised to adopt a shelter dog, that the fault really should be laid at the First Lady's feet. I understand that she was the one who was leaning in this direction. I told my friend - after all it was a "rescued" dog. My friend said that I should just watch the repercussions of this decision, and she was right. Now everyone and his uncle wants a Portuguese Water Dog. I couldn't believe how sadly unthinking these people are - when there are so many
homeless dogs in shelters needing homes.
And then a couple of your cabinet appointees. I was saddened and disappointed that your Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar is following a Bush-era regulation that limits protection of the polar bear from global warming. He said that he will not rescind the Bush rule, although Congress gave him authority to do so. What other surprises will this appointee have for us re those of us who respect the need to treat the animal world with kindness and compassion?
I was shocked when I heard you appointed Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius Sec. of Health and Human Services. Maybe after reading her bio, I should have been pleased to learn that she is a former Ohioan and daughter of former Governor of Ohio John J. Gilligan. Well I'm not. I read that she is among the political women who go hunting to court the outdoorsmen and women of their electorate.
The article mentioned that statistics show that the nation's 80 million hunters, anglers, and wildlife watchers have contributed more than $108 billion to the US economy -70 billion alone generated from hunting and fishing. Sadly, as they say- money talks and compassion is thrown out the window. It would seem to me that these people are recreational hunters and fishermen - not in need to replenish their food stores as in pioneer days or even in the Depression time of the Roosevelt era.
And just recently the most disappointing thing about your presidency is your own lack of concern re the suffering of calves and geese. On CARE2 was an article stating that you and your family eat veal and foie gras. Surely, you must be aware of the terrible suffering these two foods cause to the animals.
I'll never forget reading in the 70's or 80's about how little boy calves are wrenched from their mothers at birth and put into crates which allow them absolutely no room to turn around. That alone should make anyone of compassion decide that veal will no longer be part of their meal. But there is more - the mothers feel the absence of their calves and I read that a farmer was once told by his neighbor that he heard the calf crying at night. No, said the farmer - it was the mother- crying for her calf. Why can't we feel for the animal condition? Look into their eyes and tell me you do not see their souls.
At this time I wrote a letter to a veal producer re this cruelty. I have a response from one of the owners which shook me to the core. Basically, he told me that if I was so concerned about the calves then I should send money to this company in their behalf. (Put my money where my mouth is.) Really, it does sound incredulous- doesn't it? I do have that letter some place. For me, it represents classic hard- heartedness of this farm corporation.
And then eating foie gras in France or even Chicago where one compassionate legislator was able to get passed a ban on it in the restaurants for a time. But I believe the uncaring Mayor was instrumental in having it rescinded.
I wish that your family would visit a foie gras farm where the geese have a tube (powered by electricity) inserted into their gullets 4 times a day with grain. Talk about being full - this is no happy meal-taking for them.
I have been loathe to criticize you before because I believe that you were beset with so many problems and was working so hard to find solutions, but now I cannot remain silent in view of your seeming lack of compassion for animals. I felt that your Humane Scoreboard record put out by HSUS was commendable. I dared hope that you would be a president who had compassion for animals. Sadly, as someone once told me - there are no compassionate presidents. I hope he is wrong.
Even though I am no longer a PETA member because of some of their controversial stances - I do applaud them for whatever good they get accomplished for the animals. Yes, I felt that fly-swatting incident was ludicrous, but then realize none of us individually or in concert with others is perfect.
And so too, neither you as president nor I as a citizen are perfect. But I hope we will learn from our mistakes. I hope you will recognize that animals are part of God's creation and deserve to be treated humanely and compassionately. So far, I don't believe you are measuring up in this regard as I would have hoped.
However, I do believe that you are trying very hard to put the nation back on course and are very concerned with the needs of people who are suffering misfortune. One day I hope that I can say this of you re the animal condition too. I always pray for the president in office, so you can be assured that I will pray for you as well. God bless.
Bio:
I have been concerned about animal suffering ever since I received my first puppy Peaches in 1975. She made me take a good look at the animal kingdom and I was shocked to see how badly we treat so many animals. At 77, I've been a vegan for the past 30 years and I thank God every day that I am. I am most disturbed at how little the Catholic Church and Christian churches generally give to concern re animal suffering in their ministry. I wrote to 350 bishops in 2001 and only 10-13 responded. I feel that the very least they can do is to instruct that the priests give one sermon a year on compassion to animals. I am still waiting for that sermon. I also belong to Catholic Concern for Animals - founded in England in 1929. (They are on the internet) I recently sent a sample copy of their bi-monthly publication called the ARK to the 8 Catholic bishops of Ohio. Only ONE kindly responded. Somehow we have to reach the Christian teaching magisterium. There is next to nothing re animal concerns and compassion for them. They basically believe that animals are the lesser of God's creation and that gives us the right to do anything we want to them. Way wrong. We need to change their mindsets. The animals are God's first and He expects us to treat them compassionately.
