Sheep have no top teeth - so they can’t bite. Could this be why they have the reputation of just following along, going with the crowd, not making any fuss? They are hardly defenseless, however, as they can butt hard enough to flip each other over. It seems to me we all have our weaknesses and we all have our strong points. I guess it’s up to us what we do with each of those.
A Real Black Sheep
Cats Rule
Oh, how I wish they did - the world would be a much lovelier place with lots of naps and lying about in the sunshine - we’d all be braver and more independent. And the only war would be over who gets the best chair in the place….
The Black Star
When I was 11 or so, I read two books of a three book series. “The Black Star” was the first book I ever read that was about a “bad” guy. He was a thief and a manipulator and he had no modesty. I was enchanted. In the first book, he was captured and put in jail but in the second book, “The Black Star Returns”, he turns the city upside down, makes fools out of all those who try to catch him, AND he gets away. Since the third book of the series, “The Black Star’s Campaign”, was not available, I was forced to wonder and wonder what the outcome of that book was.
It took me years to find out who the author of the series was - turns out it was Johnston McCulley, prolific writer of many books and creator of Zorro!! It took me many more years - and the advent of internet search engines - to find that the three books about the Black Star were relatively rare and difficult to find.
But now, I have finally tracked them all down and reread the first two books. Then I got to finally, at long last, see what happened in book three to the Black Star. I am still enchanted.
Remembering Mr. Peas
One year later and you are still missed, Dear Cat….
The Return of the Dark Ages
It is no surprise that during the Dark Ages, both animals and women suffered the most from man’s inhumanity to man. When oppressed and frustrated, it appears the only way to cope is to torment those who are in any way weaker or less fortunate.
We now waterboard, torture, and imprison without qualms - we are protecting ourselves against “terrorism”, after all. We take from the poor and give to the rich. We do away with social services that would help people so that we will have the funds to make war. We cut down forests, devastate the land, and pollute the ocean all in the name of progress.
And those without the intelligence or heart to deal with what we are becoming take it out on their animals. Burning, mutilating, shooting - people can be so very creative when it comes to cruelty. One sick monster drilled holes in his dog’s head with his electric drill. Another microwaved his cat.
What is the purpose to such things? To feel in control? To get some small glimmer of power? Does it really make these people feel better if they abuse a small and helpless creature?
Animals are not less than we are - they merely see the world differently. THEY do not lose their connection with the spiritual. They could lead us back to our connection with spirit if we would only understand. The following quote is often attributed to Chief Seattle but is also claimed to have been written by Ted Perry -
What is man without the beasts? If all the beasts were gone, men would die from great loneliness of spirit, for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to man. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the children of the earth.
Whatever befalls the Earth - befalls the sons of the Earth. Man did not weave the web of life - he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.
Whichever man said it, they have the right idea. Without the animals, we will die. Not because of starvation or lack of “resources” - but because we will be dead in our hearts and hope will be gone. When hope is gone, there is nothing left but death.
Iraq for Sale
Hitler had only his SS soldiers - Bush has Blackwater, CACI, Titan, KBR and other for-profit-in-the- name-of-patriotism contractors. We now hire people to torture prisoners - we hire people to over charge the soldiers for meals, laundry, and unsafe drinking water. While making billions of dollars, contractors live in lush accomodations, drive brand new luxury vehicles, and eat well, while our own soldiers do without. There is no glory, no honor - nothing but greed and corruption and we not only know about it, we seem to condone it.
Watch “Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers”. If your heart is not sad, your name must be George Bush.
Blessings
Are You Blessed?
Author: Unknown
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness……….you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation…….you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.
If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep…you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace……. you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.
If your parents are still alive and still married……..you are very rare, even in the United States.
If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful…..you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.
If you prayed yesterday and today……..you are in the minority because you believe God does hear and answer prayers.
If you can read now, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.
