Zombie Blood Addictions and Individuals Walking Alive

I have the misfortune of  living among many who are addicted to the entertainment of blood, violence and killing, such as fictional stories like the "Walking Dead" series. This juvenile, gore-fest of a show features pigs as food and/or sacrifice.. Then there is the carnage that happens as a matter of business-as-usual - Every Twelve Seconds. 

Through this holocaust, whether set in an apocalyptic, pretend-world or right there in a "friendly", neighborhood meat-case, it's healing to know that there's a real man who has different intentions for his contribution to the world. If you haven't read the transforming story of Bob Comis from pig harmer to life-lover, life-giver, you'll do yourself a favor if you do.

The way it once was:

"Humanely raising and slaughtering pigs seems perfectly normal. In order to see the truth, you have to have to look askance, just like a pig does when it knows you are up to no good. When you see out of the corner of your eye, in the blurry periphery of your vision, you see that meat is indeed murder." 

"Somehow we need to become the sort of beings who can see what we are doing when we look head on, the sort of beings who don't weave dark, damning shrouds to sustain, with acceptance and celebration, the grossly unethical. Deeper, much deeper, we have an obligation to eat otherwise."

And now it is that Mr. Comis has become the kind of person he aspired to be... 
I offer a respectful, public bow and my deepest gratitude.

Earth Mother's Love - Across the Species Divide

I stumbled on these videos by the artist Louise du Toit and found her songs worthy of sharing - Especially in recognition of Mother's Day and the nurturing qualities I know my readers embrace. 

I think you'll agree the messages that urge us to work for a better world are appropriate especially for a day that values healing kindness and love for our Earth Mother and all her children.


THE TIME HAS COME: "To do no harm, to help rebuild the lives that have been wrecked"


Earth Waltz 



As fellow earthlings sharing the same planet, may we always strive to obtain, enhance and nurture each of the following virtues:
Altruism
Benevolence
Compassion
Devotion
Empathy
Freedom
Goodwill
Harmony
Indulgence
Joy
Kindness
Love
Magnanimity
Nonviolence
Order
Peace
Quiet
Respect
Salvation
Tolerance
Unity
Veracity
Worth
Xenial
Yot
Zeal



If you enjoyed these I know you'll find more here that you'll like as well.

Happy Mother's Day to all who repair, renew and restore - Unconditionally. 

The Irony - Finding & Killing Your Favorite Cow

Two articles reached my mailbox almost simultaneously and I'm left scratching my confused head over the contradictions they expose.

There's this account that cow-rancher-turned-author-wanna-be Amanda Radke gives of reading her book Levi's Lost Calf to a group of school children. The book apparently includes all the expected characters and "drama" surrounding a barn... While Levi and his friends search for the missing calf they encounter a bunny, a raccoon and I imagine other wild critters that help further distinguish the role of the "domesticated" missing prize...

I belong to me- by B.Elliott

Of course the story will end happily as the calf is recovered and not quite "finished" yet. But there is the treat of a "kid friendly", "real cowboy cookout" recipe included in the final pages... 

I haven't read the book but I can guarantee ya --- There will be blood.

Oh but there's nothing that isn't age appropriate though... Ms Radke makes it clear that she's not "taking any bullet" to explain where/how baby calves come from... No... There's no talk of sperm straws or genetically selected bull semen in this meat on the hoof story... Just pure love in saving a stray (favorite) calf - (ugh!)

Click. Delete.

Next comes this from Drovers - The Cost of an old cow where ranchers are urged to evaluate the expense that sentiment might entail: 

"Every article about culling cows includes a bullet point that says “old cows,” but rarely are there reasons to get rid of the “trail boss cow," the last cow you bought from dad, or the favorite 4-H heifer listed. There is a favorite cow in every herd that gets kept every year, even if she calves a little later each spring and the calf weans a little lighter in the fall. Reasons to cull these animals could include the death potential of older cows and the increased feed costs required to keep them".   

So we can see where Levi's lost calf eventually winds up... Even after all the teachings of "family values", loyalty, love and "care" - If the bottom line says that even the "favorite" cow doesn't count unless he/she is "profitable"... Well everyone gets snuffed out of the financial story! But as Ms. Radke mentions in several of her posts... This is exactly how her gOd planned it for FFA members and all the spiritually guided cowboys. - (ugh!)

Click. Delete.

Now contrast this shrewd calculating of what an other's life is worth and mosey on over to this fabulous post at VINE Sanctuary where there's a joy-filled celebration talking place inspired by the rescue of 5 "old" cows...

So the next time Levi's missing a calf - Or Drover's addition fails - Let's hope they all wind up as valued as these guys: 
 


You don't need to kill them. You don't need to contribute to the blood spilling coffers. And you shouldn't lie to kids or yourself that you do. Vegan is Love - "saving" a calf to kill later isn't!

Click. Delete.

Extend Your Kindess to Those Who Need it Most - Go Vegan

Elaine Vigneault at Vegan Soapbox does some incredible vlogging for veganism on youtube... But this is my favorite video of all: I'm sure we all like to believe we are kind... But most of us never really question what kindness truly is... If kindness, compassion, generosity, peace or justice is to have any meaning at all... If it is to be genuine.... Surely it does not do so by excluding those who are most vulnerable. It does not do so by denying those most able to benefit from "kindness and compassion". Suppose there was a contest to help the most needy person in the world... This person who "won" would receive clean water, shelter, electricity, food, etc. Now, the only thing is, the person must register to be a contestant for this prize. Of course, this unfortunate person does not have food or bear essentials --- Let alone a telephone, internet or a postage stamp to fulfill the requirements to "qualify"... And any reasonable person hearing this would say the contest was a sham! Likewise, nonhumans who are most at the "mercy" of man's exploitations... Also cannot "register" or "enroll" in our "prize" of compassion. Indeed some people try to deny kindness to animals because they lack a "soul". Of course a soul isn't a tangible thing --- And the concept could have very well been invented by man in an effort to justify his using of animals to begin with... Are you with me? The crux of it is... Are you extending your compassion to those who truly need it? To those who suffer and are violated most? Or is your "gift" of kindness limited to only those within your pre-determined ((human) group? And more importantly, do you exclude some from the "prize" because you enjoy hunting them, wearing their skin, riding their backs, watching them perform; Or because you use them for experimentation, breed them for income, or kill them for the eating of their flesh? What kind of person are you? Do you limit your generostiy to those who benefit least, or to those who are the most missed? Come on! You know you're a good person! You know you want to align your actions with your values! By going vegan you can do just that!