Children or Animals?

Then the little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them; and the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

-- Matthew 19:13-14

"At-risk" populations are those who cannot fend for themselves or protect themselves. They are the lesser of society in danger of being abused; the elderly, the sick or dying, prisoners, children, and animals are on this list. Children and animals probably top this list simply because they are totally at the mercy of others when it comes to their safety, health, and welfare. So, ask yourself this question:  a child and an animal are both dying and only a donation of money from you can possibly save one of them, which one do you save? You can't simply put this off on someone else, you have to make the decision and live with it. You have to look into the eyes of the sick and dying and condemn them with your own words. Which one do you turn your back on? Which one do you choose to let die?

I have real moral issues which tear at my heart.  I love animals.  I also love children.  I hate to see animals abused and I think the abuser deserves a healthy dose of their own medicine.  I also hate to see children dying from a malady for which there is no cure, and I also hate to think of a parent who cannot possibly save their child from death.  If we're looking for real bi-partisan leadership in Congress, how about we throw some money at animal abuse and strengthen the penalties against the moronic idiots who think they have the right to abuse when they shouldn't even be allowed to have an animal.  Then, Congress can fully fund children's hospitals and pay for the "at risk" future of mankind.  If the country fully funds them then we all have accepted our responsibility to eradicate the issues through our freedom to vote.  Yeah, well, don't hold your breath.  Unfortunately, the responsibility for helping animals and children will remain, to some great extent, the purview of us, the morally upright common folk, who actually give a damn.

So, the question remains, which one do you want to let die?

“When people say that animal rescuers are crazy, what they really mean is that animal rescuers share a number of fundamental beliefs that makes them easy to marginalize. Among those is the belief that Rene Descartes was a jackass.”

-- Steven Kotler, author, journalist

I found this quote, above, from journalist Steven Kotler.  I don't want to critique Kotler on a quote of his which may be taken out of context; I don't know his mindset.  But, I'd just like to comment on what he seems to see as a fundamental belief of animal rescuers, "that René Descartes was a jackass."  My first blush was to think, it isn't that all animal rescuers are crazy, I applaud their efforts however ignorant of Descartes philosophy they might be.  For those who don't know, René Descartes quipped the saying, "cogito ergo sum" or, "I think, therefore I am."  I suppose my disagreement with Kotler is our new realization that many animals actually think, problem solve, and use tools.  Many animals are demonstrating this sense of self, and we have no indication of how many, or how far down the food chain this sense actually extends.  The moral issue arises from the argument that along with this sense of self might also follow the real possibility of a sense of God.  No, I'm not sure Descartes, though he might not have realized it at the time, hasn't hit the nail on the head.

Having said this, I think we give ourselves way too much credit to think that animals are the only "at-risk" population in society.  In the larger picture, when humans finally shuffle off this planet the animals will go back to doing what they did before we arrived.  It would be interesting to know if they will need pedicures, cancer treatments, special diets, and teeth cleaning after we leave.  Humans create their own issues and we feel free to visit these same issues on others, as well.

“Humanity's true moral test, its fundamental test…consists of its attitude towards those who are at its mercy: animals.”

-- Milan Kundera, novelist

Scripture tells us that children are a gift of God and grandchildren are the crown of old men, and yet, children are certainly another group at the mercy of our society.  We leave segments of children uneducated, unfed, without healthcare, and at the mercy of abortion clinics and broken, dysfunctional, families.  We also seem to rely on children's hospital charities to make up for our lack of responsibility for assisting those children dying from various maladies, and cancers in particular.  These hospitals rely on the charity of a society's concerned citizenship for their continued operation.  

This reliance on the concerned few is no surprise in a society which seems to hold a child's life in such little regard and views animal cruelty as a "slap on the hand" offense.  And, yet, we have other segments of our society who give much in donations to help sick children and alleviate cruelty to animals.  Our society, today, seems intent on redistributing the hard-earned wealth of others to those of little need who haven't earned it.  How about we redistribute this wealth as charitable contributions so each truly "at-risk" group receives contributions according to their deserved needs?  We might actually end cruelty, cancer, and other maladies in time to save precious lives.

“Just as it is impossible to explain childbirth to a woman who has never given birth, it is impossible to explain child loss to a person who has never lost a child.”

-- Lynda Cheldelin Fell , author, empowerment coach

My own family seems to find the situation for animals more important than that of children.  They love their animals like family and have lost many a cat and dog.  Perhaps their skewed priority lies in the fact that they have never lost a child, and neither have I.  I have, however, witnessed the plight of children in hospital who are fighting for their lives.  I have heard the emotional stories of these young warriors whose only thought is with the happiness of their fellow patients and not with the limited time they have left to enjoy life.  Perhaps this is because fighting for life is, for many of them, all they have ever known.

And, yet, the treatment of animals occupies the forefront of our thoughts?  How sad for us.

"Their laughter will make your heart melt, their strength will make a grown person cry. If you ever see a child fight cancer, it will change your life forever."

-- Anonymous

Many will probably argue there is no right or wrong in this discussion.  I would argue, as I always have, for the life of a child.  If we have no concern for our future, why do we deserve one?  Perhaps the answer would be more palatable if we were to prioritize donations to both worthy causes.  If you want to help end cruelty, give to both.  

Author and attorney Marie Sarantakis said, “If you don't like pictures of animal cruelty being posted on social media, you need to help stop the cruelty, not the pictures. You should be bothered that its happening, not that you saw it.”  While you're concerning yourself with these pictures, try to remember that late-term abortions still plague us and fetal tissue of aborted babies is being sold for top dollar; living children are fighting for their very survival in children's hospitals across our great nation.  Next time a child smiles at you with that innocent face, try not to conveniently forget your lack of caring, or concern, as you smile back, or turn away with repressed guilt as you selfishly pray for your own long and healthy life.  Don't forget to pet your dog.

As a person of faith, I would hate to be judged for helping an abused dog and letting a child die on my watch.  The fact that others are trying to handle the issue concerning children does not relieve the rest of us from our moral responsibility in this fight.  The immorality of senseless abortions, abortions performed for no real cause, needs to be addressed.  The immorality of government standing by while children die on their watch also needs to be addressed.  If you feel torn as to where your priority should be, this is a good thing, you should be torn.  "At-risk" populations are important issues for any society.  How we handle these populations speaks volumes about who we are and where we are going as a civilization. 

Just saying.

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as lead Chaplain and Chaplain Program Liaison, at the regional medical center.