by compassionategirl » Fri Jul 08, 2005 3:56 am
Although I have said elsewhere that I haven't the time to engage in detailed discussions and debates until August, I must, on this very solemn day, write to express my heartfelt condolensces to the British people, particularly those who have lost loved ones in this UTTERLY STUPID AND SENSELESS tragedy.
I must also say that I am disgusted and ashamed with my own people. Today, when they were interviewing members of the public on the lcoal news on City TV, and asking them whether they were afraid of riding the subways now in Toronto, some offered stupid responses with utterly inappropriate smiles. Responses included things like "NO, cuz that was London and this is Toronto." What is there to be smiling ear to ear about you fools?
I admit that this was only a few people, and young, immature adolescents, but I am still appalled that anybody's body language could, however inadvertently, produce the face to smile when being asked such a question on a tragic day like this. I know that for some people it is a nervous habit or something, and they don't mean to smile maybe, but I still found it very disconcerting. What the F%$CK is wrong with people? SOmetimes I just want to shake the crap out of people or smack them silly.
Anyway, I just want to apologize to all Brits for the few idiots that were on the news today. Most Canadians, indeed all decent people, are utterly appalled by this tragedy and have the British people in our thoughts and prayers.
There are two quotes that I love which I think are fitting here.
'True human goodness, in all its purity and freedom, can come to the fore only when its recipient has no power. Mankind's true moral test (which lies deeply buried from view) consists of its attitude toward those who are at its mercy: the animals. And in this respect, mankind has suffered a fundamental debacle, a debacle so fundamental that all others stem from it.'
"All beings tremble before violence. All fear death. All value their own lives. See youself in other living things. Then who can you hurt? What harm can you cause?"
I especially like this last one because it really contains the answer for I think all that ails the world. It invites us to realize the fundamental things that all peoples, of all colours, races and religions, and indeed all species of beings, HAVE in common, instead of focussing on superficial differences between races, religions and indeed species.
Peace to all beings.
"One cannot speak of peace with a mouthful of victims of violence."
"If the animal rights movement pushes too hard, too fast, it is because the excesses in the opposite direction are mammoth in comparison."