Let me just begin by stating that I have no doubt that I am about to offend some of you. BUT this is my blog, and you are free to comment in any way you’d like, so I think things are fair. On Saturday, I was driving in my town. We have a Pets Plus store on Broad Street, and outside were a group of puppy mill protestors with picket signs. It was a pretty cold morning, so I was tempted to admire their commitment.
But the more I thought about it, the more incredulous their fervor seemed. Now I like dogs too, but when I began to consider the children dying without vaccines and the women and children who are sold into sex slavery and the desperation of real poverty, I started to wonder why someone would spend a Saturday outside a pet store.
Then I considered what I was doing. Running errands, picking my son up from a sleepover, doing laundry – who was I to be outraged by the puppy mill people? They at least had chosen to stand up for something that day.
I have always struggled with real life vs. radical life. I clearly understand that writing a check is not enough, but sometimes injustices are so far away that they begin to seem unreal. Sharing in suffering is what fosters both compassion and passion – the kind that would stand in the cold to raise awareness.
As usual, I have no answers. Should we all be selling our possessions and moving to Africa to dig wells?
Maybe so.
7 comments:
Wendy,
In regard to “who was I to be outraged by the puppy mill people?” What your “are” is right. Our society has at least progressed to the point where people can feel compelled to come to the defense of animals that people in other countries much less fortunate, would feel compelled to eat. And as far as I can tell, all those H1B visa workers from India don’t seem to be storming Dietz & Watson. Here in the US, the sentiment I get from most people I meet concerning folks in need is; if they live in the US, then it is the folks in need fault, and if they live in other countries, it’s the that country’s government’s fault. For me, it’s always both the individual and the Governments fault. You can’t fix things in a society by addressing just one person. You can’t fix society without helping both individuals and fixing the government. We all know how hard that is. It took the US hundreds of years and countless lives given before their time, to get the imperfect country we have now. Ok, I’m gonna hop a flight to Hyde Parke, TTFN
Larry
"Should we all be selling our possessions and moving to Africa to dig wells?" - Couldn't hurt, could it?
Our church is really grappling with this too. One lady keeps defending her life style choice by insisting there are "other kinds of poverty than just material poverty" so its ok for her to serve the rich-poor.
I wonder if when Jesus talked about loosing your life to save it there is some sort of gradient. i.e. Can I choose to only loose some of my life and save the rest?
Everyone has their own passion. And just because it is not [your] passion doesn't make their passion wrong or any less important. I understand the puppy mill people--I have a passion for animals, for creatures that cannot stand up for or defend themselves against man.
I believe there are a lot of causes in this world to get behind. I don't find any fault with those who defend animals and i don't think those who want to change the situation in darfur are merely chasing windmills either.
I like the idea that an individual gets behind a cause - a real, good, just cause - and pursues it in a good, ethical manner. and i'm not talking about my other cause "Help Carey get the latest in the spring fashion shoes". I've got other causes, too.
Wendy,
I agree with you and I honor people who take the time to stand up for something. As a teenager, I was one of those "animal rights" people, standing outside grocery stores asking people to sign a petition to stop fur trapping or to save the seals.
I can't tell you HOW OFTEN people would say to me "why are you wasting your time doing this when (fill in with: "babies are dying", "people are starving", etc etc.) and you're trying to help a raccoon??"
Finally another animal rights mom I worked with gave me the best comeback of all. My reply would be "Yes, I am helping the raccoons, and all of those causes you mentioned are also SO worthy of our help, which one do YOU work for?" I can't think of one person who ever told me their "cause."
I support all persons willing to get off the couch and take a stand. There "cause" might not always be my first priority but thank God we live in a country where we can protest and make our voices heard. I am a believer that all of God's creatures need our help- human and animal.
I think it's a question of where you want to buy your "guilt". Our globally aware community has such an influx of "guilt opportunities". You can look at all the causes and say "I should be doing more of this and more of that" but in the end you need to sleep, to eat, to bathe, to be a mother and a wife.
I'm not saying the issues are any less important, only that generosity and compassion must meet practicality because scattered interests and nervous wrecks just don't make efficient bedfellows.
Bottom line: Fill the needs your conscience dictates and you feel you are able to and pray your God will send others able to work towards the additional issues. Knowing you gave the day 100% in whatever way alleviates guilt and leaves no time for temptation in judging another's activities either.
I agree with anonymous too - some days the biggest cause is "yourself".
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