I was conflicted about posting the video, although the joy shining all through Gracie is a sight to behold. My conflict had more to do with anything associated with war.
Gracie's rescuer (and recipient of her joy) appears to be an honorable human animal.....the video was quite popular on youtube and he donate all money made off of ads to the shelter from which he rescued Gracie. Good for him.
If you are not acquainted with General Smedley Butler (great first name, eh?), then you should be. From his wikipedia entry:
By the end of his career he had received 16 medals, five of which were for heroism. He is one of 19 people to twice receive the Medal of Honor, one of three to be awarded both the Marine Corps Brevet Medal and the Medal of Honor, and the only person to be awarded the Brevet Medal and two Medals of Honor, all for separate actions.General Butler, in his book, War is a Racket, said:
War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope.... [and] the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives.
A racket is best described as something that is not what it seems to the majority of the people. Only a small ‘inside’ group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes.After his retirement from the military he spent his time opposing war and militarism and the corporations and individuals that advocated and profited from such destruction.
War is destructive, for animals and for the planet. WW I resulted in the death of 8 million horses and an uncounted number of donkeys and mules. The number of the dead belonging to other kinds of animal people is unknown. Every other war has brought about the death of uncounted numbers of animal people that are too smart to engage in wars.....but that hasn't prevented them from being forced into being killed in wars.....wars that are the exclusive creation of human animals.
Engaging in self defense is one thing. Most wars have nothing to do with self defense, they have to do with greed and stupidity and viciousness. Thank you Smedley Butler for being an honest human animal.
And thank you Gracie, for being the dog animal person you are.
7 comments:
Thanks for posting the video, I'd never seen it before. I started to cry a little right at the part where the woman's voice is saying they're going to make her cry. ... I wish I could say it were surprising that so many humans don't even realize that our fellow creatures are often used as bombs, too. They are not only losing their lives by getting caught in the crossfire, they are treated like disposable garbage and turned into weapons - and not just on land. Navies strap bombs on dolphins, too. Kind of hard to wrap my brain around how anyone could do that to a living creature. It takes 'wrong' to another whole new level....just like all the other atrocities that are committed against natural animals by humankind. ... I had more to say, but I've erased it more than once. If I can figure out the best words, I'll add a bit to this later. Very complex and sad topic.
Thanks for commenting Krissa. Excellent phrase "takes 'wrong' to another whole new level." When thinking about animal peoples and all the unnecessary and undeserved misery sent their way....words seem so paltry and puny and inaccurate....
I'd seen the video before, but was glad to learn that the proceeds had been donated. And I've always been cynical about war, believing that it won't ever end because it's just too profitable, so it was refreshing to hear a member of the military being forthright about it. I guess too that the same conditions that make war possible is at the root of a lot of abuse (both of humans and other animals) as well -- exploitation for the sake of profit. So sad.
Thanks So I'm Thinking Of Going Vegan for commenting. I suspicion as long as the dollars and the testosterone flows and as long as old folks can con young folks into going out and getting killed....war will continue. Greed and believing that might makes right are notions that, should they disappear, would not be missed.
"...about war, believing that it won't ever end because it's just too profitable,..."
The above snip from SIToG's comment is pretty much the centerpiece of what I was trying to make a comment around, but never quite made one that I felt like I could send. Part of me wants to suggest that folks look into that, but part of me doesn't want to - because if anyone really cares and then really looks into it, well....the above statement is scary reality.
War makes pawns out of humans... It's always the impoverished that are sent in mass to fight the "enemy". I see these commercials on t.v. encouraging kids to "play army". But of course, when there are little to no alternatives due to bad economics, it always seems like a good "opportunity".
And the nonhumans they use to find a better way to kill is obscene.
I've had a standing joke in my house... Husband asks me every year "what do I want for Xmas". My answer always is: World Peace. (ha-ha). :(
Thanks for commenting Bea. That would be a fine xmas gift for us all.
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