I’m in the burbs now too. I’m 70 and up to 3 years ago I lived in Philadelphia. Born and raised. For me there was never any wild animals in the city. Until around 2000. I began to see possums and Hawks. Our family wanted us out of the city because of the neighborhood, Kensington. 5 blocks from K&A and Fentanyl Highway. Kensington Avenue. The day I left in 2022 I saw a flock of 8 Hawks flying over my house.
Makes me wonder how life will change now that I am removed from the drugs and violence. Will it follow me. Will the wild animals return to the city? I’ll be watching.
Yes, I read your piece. It was very thoughtful. I dream of a world where we respect all life. Your article is a keeper. I’ve already printed it. Filed under Humanity.
Beautiful. Animals are precious and we, like the native Indians need to show respect to them. Gods creation and creatures who live and share earth with us.
Slaughter was also used politically, when 1000's of buffalo were killed to take the Native American's chief food source away. There's an unforgettable image of their skulls piled into a mountain.
I went through a phase, probably at 9 or 10, where I was fascinated with the power of a magnifying glass. Many was the ant that was incinerated. Luckily, it passed, and hunting was never part of my family, so it never appealed to me.
And the study of biology, lead by an amazing prof, was life changing and, along with horse exposure at the cusp to manhood, lead me to vet medicine, and finally to homeopathy.
Yes. The buffalo shots are hard to take. They almost exterminate the poor things. And then they had the nerve to pose with the heap of skulls. Can't unsee it. I'm also guilty of frying the ants, same age. :(
Thanks, Rene, some situations I refuse to back down from especially those concerning helpless animals. Somebody has to protect them and care about them after all, they feel pain just like we do.
Upon mowing the lawn one gets re minded of our own human history of ‘improving’ our surroundings. As the other lives present become scattered and fractured, if not decimated completely, some other ones bask in the newly felt light that can become present.
I met my husband in law school 35 years ago. He was from the Midwest, I was from NYC. He was raised to hunt, I was horrified. I made my peace with it a long time ago. People who are not vegans are incredibly insular as to how their animal products come to them. The truth is, that deer in the woods lived a much lovelier life than the cow, pig, chicken being raised on corporate farms. I still can’t wrap my head around firing a shot at a beautiful animal, but I have to be honest about the reality anround our food and clothing. I’ve made my peace with it.
It is weird. When you really start to think about it, if a carnivore, it's like we're 'grooming' animals. But then I think, we have canine teeth, we too Are animals. Eat or be eaten. I think Jack London did some great writing along these lines, René. Have you read much of his work, beyond the standards? He wrote serializations for Saturday Evening Post, back in the 1920s? maybe. And it's said he was rock star status--like a John Lennon. Amazing life, but sad. Great writer. Good post btw!
I understand your point, even though I don't agree with it. We have gone overboard with our addiction to meat, especially red meat. We might be part of the animal kingdom, but can stop being beasts. Besides, commercial read meat is the cause for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, high inflammation, diabetes and cancer. I checked and you could too. It's just not worth it. Not only that, but have you ever seen a cow mother in the fields when they take her baby away? It's soul crashing.
Beautifully written— and thank you for the reminder that kindness is king, always. ❤️
I’m just glad to live in the burbs where they don’t eat me.
Watch out for humans instead! ;)
I’m in the burbs now too. I’m 70 and up to 3 years ago I lived in Philadelphia. Born and raised. For me there was never any wild animals in the city. Until around 2000. I began to see possums and Hawks. Our family wanted us out of the city because of the neighborhood, Kensington. 5 blocks from K&A and Fentanyl Highway. Kensington Avenue. The day I left in 2022 I saw a flock of 8 Hawks flying over my house.
Makes me wonder how life will change now that I am removed from the drugs and violence. Will it follow me. Will the wild animals return to the city? I’ll be watching.
I hope you had a read at the piece, though. 😄
Yes, I read your piece. It was very thoughtful. I dream of a world where we respect all life. Your article is a keeper. I’ve already printed it. Filed under Humanity.
Oh, that's great, Michael. Thank you! 🙏
Beautiful. Animals are precious and we, like the native Indians need to show respect to them. Gods creation and creatures who live and share earth with us.
Without getting religious, I completely agree with you. There's so much we need to learn from mother nature, still.
Slaughter was also used politically, when 1000's of buffalo were killed to take the Native American's chief food source away. There's an unforgettable image of their skulls piled into a mountain.
I went through a phase, probably at 9 or 10, where I was fascinated with the power of a magnifying glass. Many was the ant that was incinerated. Luckily, it passed, and hunting was never part of my family, so it never appealed to me.
And the study of biology, lead by an amazing prof, was life changing and, along with horse exposure at the cusp to manhood, lead me to vet medicine, and finally to homeopathy.
Yes. The buffalo shots are hard to take. They almost exterminate the poor things. And then they had the nerve to pose with the heap of skulls. Can't unsee it. I'm also guilty of frying the ants, same age. :(
I just can't be around people that harm animals even insects.
We have gophers in our backyard for the first time. My husband wanted to put a trap out to catch them.
I dam near lost my mind and told him under no circumstances would that be happening in our yard.
Wow!! You just made my evening and the rest of the week! I'm so proud of you! 💯🌹
Thanks, Rene, some situations I refuse to back down from especially those concerning helpless animals. Somebody has to protect them and care about them after all, they feel pain just like we do.
Thank you again.
René and Kathleen, I am so grateful to have come across you after all the shocking news online. 😥 Thank goodness everyone hasn’t lost it.
Wonderful to read a piece like this. Beautifully written.
One just needs to watch how animals care for their young to realize we could learn a lot from them. A whole lot.
Oh, so true! I was mentioning that on a comment in my timeline.
Upon mowing the lawn one gets re minded of our own human history of ‘improving’ our surroundings. As the other lives present become scattered and fractured, if not decimated completely, some other ones bask in the newly felt light that can become present.
We are the disrupters of all that is good in nature, sadly.
I met my husband in law school 35 years ago. He was from the Midwest, I was from NYC. He was raised to hunt, I was horrified. I made my peace with it a long time ago. People who are not vegans are incredibly insular as to how their animal products come to them. The truth is, that deer in the woods lived a much lovelier life than the cow, pig, chicken being raised on corporate farms. I still can’t wrap my head around firing a shot at a beautiful animal, but I have to be honest about the reality anround our food and clothing. I’ve made my peace with it.
Nothing like making peace with it.
Thank you. The treatment of animals says a lot about who we are.
Indeed! Agreed 💯.
It is weird. When you really start to think about it, if a carnivore, it's like we're 'grooming' animals. But then I think, we have canine teeth, we too Are animals. Eat or be eaten. I think Jack London did some great writing along these lines, René. Have you read much of his work, beyond the standards? He wrote serializations for Saturday Evening Post, back in the 1920s? maybe. And it's said he was rock star status--like a John Lennon. Amazing life, but sad. Great writer. Good post btw!
I understand your point, even though I don't agree with it. We have gone overboard with our addiction to meat, especially red meat. We might be part of the animal kingdom, but can stop being beasts. Besides, commercial read meat is the cause for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, high inflammation, diabetes and cancer. I checked and you could too. It's just not worth it. Not only that, but have you ever seen a cow mother in the fields when they take her baby away? It's soul crashing.
Thank you, Iridium for such an uplifting comment. 🌹
I don’t usually confess this out loud, except to people of like mind, I much prefer the company of animals.
You read my heart that which I haven't been able to speak aloud so perfectly. Thank you.