Mad Cows, Livid Lambs and Angry Elephants
I read this article from the Telegraph with much fascination.
Did you really think Fluffy the Pomeranian likes wearing those "Oh, but it's so cuuuuuute!"-type of doggy clothing? Singapore is already so hot, and they already got so much hair - must wear clothes meh?
But Fluffy never complains. Or does she? What really goes on behind their big, black, eyes? Do they think? Do they feel? I think they do.
"Oh, but you're committing the sin of anthropomorphism!"
Am I? Am I really? Who are we, as human beings to think that we are the only sentient beings on the planet? Who taught us that? Education? Religion?
What would happen if you saw - as a child - your family being massacred? And to add insult to the injury, your house is burnt down, and you are then forced to work for the very same murderers who killed your parents and burnt your home.
Well, that is exactly what happens to many baby elephants. If they are pissed, I sure ain't surprised.
Humans, in our hubris, have ignored our fellow creatures for too long. Yes, we may be intelligent, yes we may have technology and all that jazz. But when is too much considered too much?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not taking the moral high ground here. I do like my creature comforts as well - who doesn't? But I believe the key is Moderation and Consideration. Take only what we need, not take everything - just because.
Food for thought, eh?
It's about time we learnt some respect. The world doesn't revolve around us.
Go read the article if you haven't. It's definitely an interesting read, heh :)
Marauding elephants, aggressive sea lions, snap-happy crocodiles... As animal attacks on humans reach frightening levels, scientists are beginning to understand exactly what the beasts are thinking. And it's not good. [more...]
Did you really think Fluffy the Pomeranian likes wearing those "Oh, but it's so cuuuuuute!"-type of doggy clothing? Singapore is already so hot, and they already got so much hair - must wear clothes meh?
But Fluffy never complains. Or does she? What really goes on behind their big, black, eyes? Do they think? Do they feel? I think they do.
"Oh, but you're committing the sin of anthropomorphism!"
Am I? Am I really? Who are we, as human beings to think that we are the only sentient beings on the planet? Who taught us that? Education? Religion?
What would happen if you saw - as a child - your family being massacred? And to add insult to the injury, your house is burnt down, and you are then forced to work for the very same murderers who killed your parents and burnt your home.
Well, that is exactly what happens to many baby elephants. If they are pissed, I sure ain't surprised.
Humans, in our hubris, have ignored our fellow creatures for too long. Yes, we may be intelligent, yes we may have technology and all that jazz. But when is too much considered too much?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not taking the moral high ground here. I do like my creature comforts as well - who doesn't? But I believe the key is Moderation and Consideration. Take only what we need, not take everything - just because.
'Animals have the same capacity that we do, in terms of emotions and what we consider to be high-mindedness and moral integrity. In fact, I'd argue they have more, because they haven't done to us what we've done to them. That's a sobering thought. It's amazing that all the animals are as benign as they are. It's amazing their restraint. Why aren't they picking up guns?'
Food for thought, eh?
It's about time we learnt some respect. The world doesn't revolve around us.
Go read the article if you haven't. It's definitely an interesting read, heh :)
August 21st, 2008 at 12:37 pm Thanks for sharing Nat. Agree that we really need some serious self reflection at times!
August 21st, 2008 at 1:01 pm Hey Nat, thanks for sharing this great article! It's indeed a gd read... I hope the animals won't start escaping from Mandai Zoo, if not we're really in for it... Lolx!
August 21st, 2008 at 4:01 pm Hi! my very 1st tag here. Yes ii seriously very agree wif wat u had wrote. Maybe some human need to suffer wat e aminal had suffer den they will understand.=] u'r good. Lol.=]
anyway jiaoil in ur career.=D
August 21st, 2008 at 9:47 pm nice article...thx for postin all this. some of those individual cases mentioned are quite surprising to me. We need to love animals and treat them the way they should be treated.
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:03 am 看了你这一写获益不浅
我有看你所演的 Smell of Rain
很欣赏你所诠释的角色
很喜欢看你在回顾自我时所笔下的
有机会做笔友吗？
August 22nd, 2008 at 4:57 am Thanks for sharing the article, Nat.
Agree... respect for self and respect for other...the right to live, the right to pursue.
Live and let live...give and forgive.
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:21 am Thats a really meaningful post there. Somewhat reminds me of Magneto who witnessed his family being slaughtered. I also got another saying for this... "Treat everyone the same way you want to be treated"
Ah yes, I remember that someone's birthday is tomorrow!! Nat, you know that person very very well ;-)
August 23rd, 2008 at 12:03 am HAPPY 24TH BIRTHDAY NAT! :D
August 23rd, 2008 at 12:06 am Happy Birthday Nat!!
=))
August 23rd, 2008 at 12:06 am it's 23rd august! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, NAT!~(:
August 23rd, 2008 at 12:12 am Sheng Ri Kuai Le!!! 2308?? toto!!! haha
August 23rd, 2008 at 12:46 am Happy birthday Nat! :)
August 23rd, 2008 at 12:51 am great reads in this blog! never would have reconcilled ur on-screen persona with what u have written on this blog! haha. its all coming full circle. look at the state of Earth now. icecaps melting, food depleting, temperatures rising. same thing. ha all humans doing no?
August 23rd, 2008 at 4:42 pm Had some trouble with the contact form thing. Happy Bithday dude! Run confidently after your dreams and live the life you've imagined! see you around!
Ced
August 23rd, 2008 at 11:39 pm You are right, it definitely was an interesting read and quite thought-provoking as well.
Thanks for bringing this article to our attention. =)
August 25th, 2008 at 10:51 pm [...] It’s so much funnier when you listen to it first hand! Another thing, Nat wrote something very interesting on his blog. Have a read. Click! [...]
August 27th, 2008 at 5:50 pm Hey. I can't help but comment on the article you introduced. That was a blue-ribbon article that highlighted an issue most would not give a second thought to.
Regretably though, i believe many will continue to choose to ignore the problem at hand - if it is even an issue to them - perhaps not awakening to reality until it's far too late. We expect a plethora of things from the Animal Kingdom, yet have we given serious thought: What do they expect from us in return then?
October 13th, 2008 at 6:50 am [...] public links >> nat Mad Cows, Livid Lambs and Angry Elephants Saved by cybrbanana on Sat 11-10-2008 Never been this screwed!!! Saved by smellysocks85 on Wed [...]