How to Convert a Universal Currency
Posted by Carter Dillard, ALDF's Director of Litigation on December 5th, 2012
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| (Photo by Yathin) |
When I told this story to a friend over dinner she said, in a completely matter-of-fact way, “there is something wrong with those people—the people that killed that bear.”
As an attorney, someone trained to see both sides, my reaction was that her way of seeing it could not be right. We can never say the other person is simply wrong. We have to understand that the other person just has another opinion, that they are seeing things differently, and we should try to see it from their perspective and understand that everyone is entitled to their point of view. If I were in the shoes of the Mountain Air landowners and management I would understand and appreciate the need to kill this disabled bear.
I think now, however, that I was wrong about that. Yes, appreciating others’ positions, others’ needs and desires, is the right way to go. We need to “walk a mile” in others’ shoes to truly understand, and function better in, the world around us. Those that don’t do it, criminals that fail to appreciate and respond correctly to their would-be victims’ suffering by not committing the crime, are taken away. And that is exactly why there is something wrong with the people that killed the bear. They didn’t do that. They failed to do that. They evidently did not place themselves in the position of a hungry, three-legged bear needing food from the wealthy owners of vacation homes just to survive, owners all too capable of easily relocating him to a place that would have been safe for everyone. And this wasn’t something novel or hard to feel, to appreciate and empathize with. It was hunger, something we can all, or should, appreciate and know. It’s a universal currency nobody wants—not even three legged bears.
I’ve come to understand that my friend was right—sometimes, there is something wrong with other people.
Sickening. The "upscale community" proved to acutaly be pretty base and miserable. They couldn't have re-located him? No, because they were to self-centered and selfish.
Why don't authorities capture the bears and sterilize them and make as community of bears to take care of them. There is in another state free hunting of bears! Are we going to keep killing animals because they are hungry?
Tragic and very sad story of this disabled bear. It’s truly disturbing to see such a lack of compassion and respect for other beings. How difficult would have been to capture and relocate this bear, possibly to a sanctuary? And yes, there is seriously something wrong with people; we are unfortunately witnessing this right now in my state of New Jersey who is allowing the state-sanctioned baiting and killing of our black bears this week. Such a despicable senseless trophy-hunt of these magnificent animals, and none are safe, they are killing babies to adults. It is sickening to see these dead bears thrown into the back of trucks and trailers, carted into the weigh stations, and hung by chains to be weighed; then they will be butchered, etc. all in the name of the state’s bogus “bear management plan.” And we, the protestors and animal advocates are called the “extremists.”
I would like to see some fundamental changes in Canada and the United States that would affect both humans and their pets because I believe that human(s) + pet(s) = family. I have noticed that all towns and cities do not have the same pet benefits and I think it's time to seize the moment with pet lovers being at the top of Canada and the United States. Both Canada and the United States have pets and pet lovers in their most prestigious temporary residences being known as: The White House and 24 Sussex Dr., in Ottawa, President Barack Obama and his family love their family dog "Bo" and other pets and Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his family includes 3 cats, one named after Canada's Stanley Cup, "Stanley", and they have fostered closed to 100 cats while in the Prime Minister's residence. I think they would like to leave a legacy to better themselves and their pets when they are in their 90's and also for their children, grandchildren etc. and their pets. The three areas I would like to see are: 1. Temporary (Emergency Shelters) and Permanent Housing (Apartments, Townhouses etc.)situation being "Pet Friendly". Since it works in the most prestigious residences in Canada and the United States, it should work in lesser residences too. see Canada's Province of Ontario Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 S.O. 2006, CHAPTER 17 “No pet” provisions void 14. A provision in a tenancy agreement prohibiting the presence of animals in or about the residential complex is void. 2006, c. 17, s. 14. 2. Transportation everywhere being "Pet Friendly" Toronto Transit Commission - bus, streetcar, subway Can I bring my dog, my pets, on the TTC? Leashed pets or pets secured in an enclosed container are welcome to travel on the TTC during weekday off-peak periods - that is before 6:30 am; 10:00 am to 3:30 pm; after 7:00 pm. A Service Animal may accompany a passenger at any time. See the TTC By-law, Section 3, for full details. Air Canada Pets in the cabin Our cabins are pet friendly! You can bring your cat or small dog in the cabin with you provided it is small enough to fit and stay comfortably in its carrier under the seat in front of you. 3. Please note, since pets can travel inside the cabin of Air Canada and other airlines and people eat and drink during flights (in "heaven"), it seems logical to me that people should be able to eat and drink with pets in their presence in Canadian and American (on "earth") restaurants, coffee houses and other places (like they do in British Pubs etc. and other countries). I further believe that since both Canada and the United States are known through out the world as "Free" Nations, the owners of businesses should have the Right to Exercise their Freedom of Choice and Choose whether they want to designate the location they run their business out of as "Pet Friendly" or not. If "Pet Friendly, a simple sign outside stating "Pets Welcome" should be sufficient to let the general public Exercise their Freedom of Choice and decide whether they want to perhaps be in the presence of pets or not. Sort of like do you want fast food tonight or a long leisurely elegant meal? Do you want French food, Italian or Mexican? Do you want to eat with your pet beside you or someone else's pet beside you or go somewhere else? Food and health laws may have to be modified to allow this but since our people travel to other countries, eat in the presence of pets in planes on the way, in foreign restaurants, coffee houses, pubs and shop in stores where pets can be with their humans and come back in planes and live - seems excessive to me to be denied the right to do this where we live. What do you think? Everyone wins! 4. Since science has recently proven what has been known for generations, that pets are good for people and people are good for pets, a whole new service has started called "pet therapy" where pets are taken to visit people. A "new wave" is happening now. More and more people see the benefits of taking pets to work with them. A good idea! Again, I think that every business should have the right to decide whether their employees can bring their pets to work with them. Unfortunately, these issues cannot be dealt with by one politician, like William Wilberforce, (see book by Eric Metaxas called Amazing Grace and and movie "Amazing Grace" how William Wilberforce successfully fought to abolish the slave trade in the entire British empire). The above issues are not to my understanding Federal issues but Provincial, Municipal and Private sectors. That means that WE THE PEOPLE of pet lovers, have to stand up as a nation within a nation, where we live, since, being "FREE" Countries, our governments should rest on the consent of the governed, and WE, AS PET LOVERS, NO LONGER CONSENT TO OUR RIGHTS BEING DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE HAVE PETS. We want to be able to live with our pets wherever, travel with our pets, wherever and by any method and we want The Right to be able to eat and drink and work with our pets present with us - don't we?