A Christmas Prayer

[Guest guest]

A Christmas Prayer (forgive slight editing from 12/25/09. Please crosspost this

version as a few more thoughts occurred to my old brain)

 

 

As I listened to Pope Benedict's sermon on Christmas, I felt that it was

immaterial whether one is Catholic, Protestant, Jew, Muslim or atheist. His

sermon was moving as he spoke the absolute truth, which is as rare as the most

exquisite pearl. In summary, Benedict said that something else is almost always

going to seem easier or more important than doing the right thing.

 

As such and in the spirit of the season, I was personally reminded of these

bibical quotes.

 

" ... Let your light shine before people in such a way that they will see your

good works... " and ... " Blessed is he who has regard for the weak. "

 

Whether one is motivated by religious belief or personal morality is irrelevant.

From what ever source these adages arise, they are grounded in truth. Some even

believe that it is in our genetic construction to embrace and act upon these

tenants and when we do not, we act against ourselves and civilization itself.

 

Like most of us, I think about my belief system around the holidays. I usually

write something for myself and for others, who may care to read it, because it

is the tradition of the season to attune our hearts to the suffering of others

and to be more generous in meeting the needs of the weak.

 

My holiday season prayer is in the coming year (starting today) that when those

who are sympathetic to animals have the choice to sleep late, go to the movies,

gather for fun with friends/family (when one frequently does so already) OR

attend an animal-related event, that they elect to attend and support the animal

event. The animals have so few of us to speak for them in their suffering that

even one of us is sorely missed.

 

Too often we hear, " I can't come to the animal rights/welfare event,

demonstration, rally or vegetarian lunch, because I am (fill in the blank)

instead. "

 

Something else will always seem more important or more desirable than standing

up for animals (the weakest among us) if we let it. It is not too far of a

reach to say that this is one of the major reasons why animals are still being

persecuted, tortured and killed in factory farms, circuses, and research

laboratories. Would the Soviet Gulags, the German concentration camps, the

enforced starvation of the 19th century Irish, or the genocide in Cambodia have

been allowed to occur if people en masse had stood up against these atrocities?

Evil, never good, is aided by silence and inaction.

 

Also, to those who feel it is a waste of time to continue with an animal cause

that does not bring immediate results, such as Jenny the elephant's situation,

this is THE major reason the animal abusers win time after time.

 

The sin of omission is just as culpuble as the sin of commission.

 

I pray that each one of us (myself included) will look into our hearts for the

truth and make helping and speaking for animals part of daily life. Five

minutes of our time each day could ease the lifelong suffering of an innocent

dog, cat, cow, pig or chicken.

 

For those who still eat meat, I do not criticize you as we are all on our own

path and we come to our own conclusions in our own time (at least we have that

freedom). I suggest only that you may wish to ask what is the difference between

eating a pig versus a cat or dog? Scientific studies prove pigs are many times

more intelligent than either a cat or a dog. Cows bond with their babies just

the same as any other mammal, including humans. Do we not owe compassion to all

feeling creatures, including animals, the weakest amongst us? These animals

suffer on their way to the table.

 

For those who are vegetarian already, please resolve to frequent only vegetarian

restaurants where no meat is served. Veggie Garden vegan restaurant struggles

to stay open when so many meat-serving restaurants flourish, because it is just

a little bit easier for us to go to establishments that purvey in cruelty.

Please take thirty minutes to attend Vegetarian Network of Dallas' lunch at

Veggie Garden in Richardson, TX on Sunday, 12/27 from 11:25 AM to 12:45 PM and

if you are able, contribute to a vegetarian food drive for the poor. A single

can of peas is welcome to the hungry.

 

And, to those in animal advocacy leadership positions, we influence best when we

lead by example. I pray that leaders commit to take no part in AR/AW politics;

remove hubris from their hearts; and judge not nor speak ill of other honest

animal advocates. Please do the best that you can, and encourage others to do

the same.

 

For the good of the animals.

 

Thank you for your consideration of these thoughts. I welcome those who wish to

share their own thoughts to post on one or both of my two . Cross

Post Okay.

 

Margaret Morin

Founder, Concerned Citizens for Jenny and Vegetarian Network of Dallas