The confluence of articles on the front page of the "Local and State" section of the Gainesville Sun October 11th, 2009 tells us much about humanity. The news portrayed how we care for and admire plants, bats , and dogs, and also our own species as we muddle through our health care reform attempts. Embedded on this page though were children chasing a pig, as intelligent and feeling as the dog, and a man cooking pigs and chickens, who feel, suffer, and have inherent worth and dignity comparable to the other species mentioned. We are a remarkable species in how much we can care for those unlike us, and our ability to form relationships and see beauty around us is an incredible resource to enrich our lives and other beings on this planet. It is a resource that is underused and undervalued. My dream for the beloved community of all species is that we might grow our inclinations of concern and compassion in a more consistent and thoughtful fashion. I mourn that we do not examine our speciesist views that assign more value to some species, and hence treat other species with less respect. I lament not just the immense suffering of other species, but of our own. When we treat others as objects and not as beautiful beings we live in denial that we make tragic choices in our lives that negatively and painfully impact other species, environments, and human communities. Because of this denial we perpetuate the misconceived notion that the desires of the powerful naturally trump the flourishing of the less powerful, and this hurts us all. For deep down, I believe that we all long for a beautiful world of peace and health for everyone, and if we can live according to these values, we would find greater joy and satisfaction.
(shortened version of this appeared as a letter to the editor
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