rolling over and playing dead...is not wise
EVERY DAY IS THE SAME FOR ANIMALS.....i envy them that, except that every day more of them than not...considerably more...are ignored and abandoned and killed...please care second by second...be aware and help brighten a life or two or three. thanks for pausing to think of another lonely heart and doing something about it! no matter what day that might be! ♥!!! bless you...
last night my good friend, the talented and kind edward levine noted via facebook about Suffolk County's new animal abuser registry, "And of course the ultimate goal of having to suffer a severe punishment, many of these psychos will think twice before acting....." this is important. i do not believe in capital punishment, i always thought, but as a deterrent to brutality and sadism, i am rethinking my gentler stance these days...and why?
innocents and beautiful souls should NEVER be harmed even psychologically not to mention physically. life is tough enough without the highest species behaving like devils. humans know better. so i am with edward...i believe that we evidently must put punishments in place to stop thuggish barbarism in its tracks. too bad education is not happening with the young who should grow up appreciating the rights of all and the freedoms of all to enjoy existence.
this all starts with the young...we must help parents and teachers to realize their responsibility to impart a reverence for all life, regardless of political motivations and religious creeds. sad but true...somewhere along the way we have started to revert to primitive power struggles and politicking with each other and to apply our stubborn biases on whatever moves or whoever passes by.
i am sickened and distressed by the arrogance of manKIND -- hopefully only momentarily. waiting patiently for thinking and reasoning to make a comeback and the gift of "caring" -- about more than ourselves -- to emerge.
cannot stress enough how empathy could solve so many misunderstandings...and how apathy is the bane of our existence. the true evil is apathy...one wouldn't think so, but it truly is.
as contentious as the environment has become, i myself find it easier not to give a damn. so i try for one more day to save some lives...one day at a time... watching and probably participating sometimes in the "vanity fair". meantime, animals are suffering and dying in monumental proportions. whatever works to sensitize the supposedly highest species. great advocacy from edward! proud to know him, my friend!
i agree that rolling over and playing dead rather than speaking up is not wise. many third world countries and dictatorships are not unlike our own nation at this moment. we are about to undergo a MORTAL STORM...the thunderclouds are gathering.
so speaking up loudly and often for goodness to prevail is wise rather than to wait until the manipulative power mongers take charge. reminds me of other periods in history when folks went on about their own personal lives and subversiveness rose up and took hold and strangled people and nations and the entire world.
this regard for suffering of animals may strike those who bother to notice as immaterial...it is not. as i wrote in my story such crassness of spirit and such thoughtlessness creeps up and grows day by day until it approaches our front doors and walks right in and hauls us off in cattle cars.
we must not ignore the thuggish behavior which is flaring up in our country nor the simple-minded biases which are being encouraged by power moguls...we are all being victimized and we must all get on the same page...and remember to stand up for what is correct and what is kind. so i truly agree that we must be loud and proactive.
i worry that the terrorists' crimes were also that of dividing our country quite simplistically into two camps making no sense whatsoever except that hate is festering among ourselves. we have stopped trying to understand the hearts of others and the needs of others...and i too veer from anger back to compassion and so forth and so it goes.
love and understanding and empathy should not be confusing...simply practiced even when it becomes more and more difficult. but believe me when i say that i too shall not put up with hate...i have done that long enough now. most of my life.
i now wish to speak up and i am. good for us...we are correct to do so.
________
CALL TO ACTION...
____________________
Read about movies and nostalgia, animal issues and sociopolitical concerns all discussed in my book Secrets of an Old Typewriter - print and ebook versions available. Also available in both formats at Amazon.com
Meet other like-minded souls at my facebook fan page
Visit my author website at www.susieduncansexton.com
Join a great group of animal advocates Squawk Back: Helping animals when others can't ... Or won't
last night my good friend, the talented and kind edward levine noted via facebook about Suffolk County's new animal abuser registry, "And of course the ultimate goal of having to suffer a severe punishment, many of these psychos will think twice before acting....." this is important. i do not believe in capital punishment, i always thought, but as a deterrent to brutality and sadism, i am rethinking my gentler stance these days...and why?
innocents and beautiful souls should NEVER be harmed even psychologically not to mention physically. life is tough enough without the highest species behaving like devils. humans know better. so i am with edward...i believe that we evidently must put punishments in place to stop thuggish barbarism in its tracks. too bad education is not happening with the young who should grow up appreciating the rights of all and the freedoms of all to enjoy existence.
this all starts with the young...we must help parents and teachers to realize their responsibility to impart a reverence for all life, regardless of political motivations and religious creeds. sad but true...somewhere along the way we have started to revert to primitive power struggles and politicking with each other and to apply our stubborn biases on whatever moves or whoever passes by.
i am sickened and distressed by the arrogance of manKIND -- hopefully only momentarily. waiting patiently for thinking and reasoning to make a comeback and the gift of "caring" -- about more than ourselves -- to emerge.
cannot stress enough how empathy could solve so many misunderstandings...and how apathy is the bane of our existence. the true evil is apathy...one wouldn't think so, but it truly is.
as contentious as the environment has become, i myself find it easier not to give a damn. so i try for one more day to save some lives...one day at a time... watching and probably participating sometimes in the "vanity fair". meantime, animals are suffering and dying in monumental proportions. whatever works to sensitize the supposedly highest species. great advocacy from edward! proud to know him, my friend!
i agree that rolling over and playing dead rather than speaking up is not wise. many third world countries and dictatorships are not unlike our own nation at this moment. we are about to undergo a MORTAL STORM...the thunderclouds are gathering.
so speaking up loudly and often for goodness to prevail is wise rather than to wait until the manipulative power mongers take charge. reminds me of other periods in history when folks went on about their own personal lives and subversiveness rose up and took hold and strangled people and nations and the entire world.
this regard for suffering of animals may strike those who bother to notice as immaterial...it is not. as i wrote in my story such crassness of spirit and such thoughtlessness creeps up and grows day by day until it approaches our front doors and walks right in and hauls us off in cattle cars.
we must not ignore the thuggish behavior which is flaring up in our country nor the simple-minded biases which are being encouraged by power moguls...we are all being victimized and we must all get on the same page...and remember to stand up for what is correct and what is kind. so i truly agree that we must be loud and proactive.
i worry that the terrorists' crimes were also that of dividing our country quite simplistically into two camps making no sense whatsoever except that hate is festering among ourselves. we have stopped trying to understand the hearts of others and the needs of others...and i too veer from anger back to compassion and so forth and so it goes.
love and understanding and empathy should not be confusing...simply practiced even when it becomes more and more difficult. but believe me when i say that i too shall not put up with hate...i have done that long enough now. most of my life.
i now wish to speak up and i am. good for us...we are correct to do so.
________
CALL TO ACTION...
____________________
Read about movies and nostalgia, animal issues and sociopolitical concerns all discussed in my book Secrets of an Old Typewriter - print and ebook versions available. Also available in both formats at Amazon.com
Meet other like-minded souls at my facebook fan page
Visit my author website at www.susieduncansexton.com
Join a great group of animal advocates Squawk Back: Helping animals when others can't ... Or won't
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oh, then you are automatically one of my favorite human beings! NOKILL is my goal in LIFE...i already love you forever,doc! <3 you should post your speech! all that is required of us advocates is action...that..and never shutting up! ;D
Pound Puppy & Cat Gala
21 April 2012
Best Western Abbey Inn, St George, UT
Homelessness has always been a problem in the United States. Every major city has a homeless problem. Men, women and children from all socio-economic backgrounds have felt this pinch. Now, it has spread to man’s best friend, the dog as well as the dog’s chief foe, the cat. These animals are lovable, sweet, big & small. Some were wandering the streets while others were either lost or left behind after families moved elsewhere. Our hearts must go out to these pets & it’s incumbent upon each of us, to find suitable homes for each of them. Just like us, some of them were found alone, starving, sick & sad. The pain that these animals experience is not too different than the pain we feel. As a Security Police in the United States Air Force 1982-1993, I had many opportunities to work directly with dogs & dog handlers. In 1985, I became the Day shift Security Flight Chief & was responsible for two dog teams per shift. One K-9 team was a regular patrol dogs while the other was a bomb detection patrol. We also had drug dogs available when needed.
The program that deals with the Department of Defense Military working dog program is the United States Air Force. Air Force Dog handlers work with their canines to train & detect explosives, or find drugs in a number of different situations. There are over 1300 working Dog handler teams worldwide, & the working dogs from the other services; Army, Navy, & Marine Corps have been through the Air Force Dog Handler Team program. The 341st Squadron is responsible for training Dog Handler Teams, & it is located at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
Now, let’s segue into relationships. We all know that every married couple has a story about the first time they met. Mike & Jamie Mangan are no different except that they met on the battlefield in Iraq. Jamie was severely wounded and Mike almost let her die. Jamie, then an Air Force K-9 handler with the 21st Security Forces Squadron, was patrolling Baghdad on June 25, 2005, with her working dog, Rex. They were searching for improvised explosive devices. On the drive back to base in her Humvee, she drove over one.
The explosion flung her onto the street, where she lay unconscious. Mike, an Army SFC with the 1159th Medical Company, was the first medic to reach her. Jamie’s lungs had collapsed, her pelvis was shattered & three vertebrae in her spine were fractured. Mike later discovered she also was bleeding internally & her spleen had ruptured. He had to make a snap decision: should he spend time trying to save her or — due to the seriousness of her injuries — move on to help others who might have a better chance of surviving? As fate would have it, several factors allowed him to focus on her.
The helicopter that took him & other soldiers to the scene was ready to depart immediately, so he got there quicker than usual. In addition, he had a new medic working with him, so he could afford to spend time with Jamie. “If I hadn’t had the extra medic that day & we had been five minutes later, she would have been someone I had to leave behind,” he said. When Mike finally left Jamie’s side, he had no reason to think he would see her again. And he wouldn’t have — except for Rex.
The German shepherd survived the IED attack with only a singed nose & was found walking near the blast site. Jamie, rehabbing at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., thought the dog had been killed, but once she found out he survived, she wanted to adopt him. Rex was nowhere near retirement age, however, & under Title 10, U.S. Code 2583, the Air Force couldn’t release Rex if he was still young & healthy enough to work. Jamie chose to fight that law, going public with her plea. Many newspapers & TV news stations carried stories on her plight. Soon, members of Congress & former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley took notice & backed her request.
On Dec. 30, 2005, President Bush signed into law a bill to allow working dogs to be adopted by their handlers after a traumatic event. So Jamie was able to take Rex home. Together, they attended the 2006 State of the Union speech as guests of first lady Laura Bush in the House gallery. “The entire process was a neat deal,” said Jamie’s dad, Randy Himes. “Rex is now part of the family. We have not one but two Air Force members now.”
When we adopt one of these animals, they too become an integral part of our family. We add them to the list of those who must be fed, cleaned, groomed, and loved. Like our own children, their departure due to being lost, stolen or dying, is a traumatic experience that some don’t overcome. When we look into these shelters, we see the needy & our hearts pound as we see their solemn situation. My heart does, what about yours?
Now I will change gears & bring this a little closer to home. As an Airman First Class at my first base in Spangdahlem AB, Germany, I knew such a hero. Another Airman First Class & K-9 handler named Michael Wilcox was on duty in Beirut, Lebanon when the terrorist attack occurred. Michael’s quick reaction saved his supervisor TSgt Holder’s life. His dog also named Rex, was instrumental in helping retrieve TSgt Holder when shots were fired & bombs were exploding. Michael was awarded a medal for heroism & promoted for his bravery. He attributed much of his success in the incident to his K-9 companion.
As we look at the shelter in Ivins, if we look long enough & hard enough, we too will see the potential of these animals to work their heroism in the hearts & minds of a family who will need mended hearts. A dog or a cat from this shelter can definitely fill the empty space that a family needs to have filled. Don’t dare give up on these pets! They need you! They need your support financially. They need your loving support! They need your house or yard for their permanent residence.
I am pleased to see so many of you here to support this worthwhile cause. The Ivins Animal Shelter has taken such great care of them and they are ready for a home. Please enjoy the rest of your night here & continue support this wonderful endeavor.
21 April 2012
Best Western Abbey Inn, St George, UT
Homelessness has always been a problem in the United States. Every major city has a homeless problem. Men, women and children from all socio-economic backgrounds have felt this pinch. Now, it has spread to man’s best friend, the dog as well as the dog’s chief foe, the cat. These animals are lovable, sweet, big & small. Some were wandering the streets while others were either lost or left behind after families moved elsewhere. Our hearts must go out to these pets & it’s incumbent upon each of us, to find suitable homes for each of them. Just like us, some of them were found alone, starving, sick & sad. The pain that these animals experience is not too different than the pain we feel. As a Security Police in the United States Air Force 1982-1993, I had many opportunities to work directly with dogs & dog handlers. In 1985, I became the Day shift Security Flight Chief & was responsible for two dog teams per shift. One K-9 team was a regular patrol dogs while the other was a bomb detection patrol. We also had drug dogs available when needed.
The program that deals with the Department of Defense Military working dog program is the United States Air Force. Air Force Dog handlers work with their canines to train & detect explosives, or find drugs in a number of different situations. There are over 1300 working Dog handler teams worldwide, & the working dogs from the other services; Army, Navy, & Marine Corps have been through the Air Force Dog Handler Team program. The 341st Squadron is responsible for training Dog Handler Teams, & it is located at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
Now, let’s segue into relationships. We all know that every married couple has a story about the first time they met. Mike & Jamie Mangan are no different except that they met on the battlefield in Iraq. Jamie was severely wounded and Mike almost let her die. Jamie, then an Air Force K-9 handler with the 21st Security Forces Squadron, was patrolling Baghdad on June 25, 2005, with her working dog, Rex. They were searching for improvised explosive devices. On the drive back to base in her Humvee, she drove over one.
The explosion flung her onto the street, where she lay unconscious. Mike, an Army SFC with the 1159th Medical Company, was the first medic to reach her. Jamie’s lungs had collapsed, her pelvis was shattered & three vertebrae in her spine were fractured. Mike later discovered she also was bleeding internally & her spleen had ruptured. He had to make a snap decision: should he spend time trying to save her or — due to the seriousness of her injuries — move on to help others who might have a better chance of surviving? As fate would have it, several factors allowed him to focus on her.
The helicopter that took him & other soldiers to the scene was ready to depart immediately, so he got there quicker than usual. In addition, he had a new medic working with him, so he could afford to spend time with Jamie. “If I hadn’t had the extra medic that day & we had been five minutes later, she would have been someone I had to leave behind,” he said. When Mike finally left Jamie’s side, he had no reason to think he would see her again. And he wouldn’t have — except for Rex.
The German shepherd survived the IED attack with only a singed nose & was found walking near the blast site. Jamie, rehabbing at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., thought the dog had been killed, but once she found out he survived, she wanted to adopt him. Rex was nowhere near retirement age, however, & under Title 10, U.S. Code 2583, the Air Force couldn’t release Rex if he was still young & healthy enough to work. Jamie chose to fight that law, going public with her plea. Many newspapers & TV news stations carried stories on her plight. Soon, members of Congress & former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley took notice & backed her request.
On Dec. 30, 2005, President Bush signed into law a bill to allow working dogs to be adopted by their handlers after a traumatic event. So Jamie was able to take Rex home. Together, they attended the 2006 State of the Union speech as guests of first lady Laura Bush in the House gallery. “The entire process was a neat deal,” said Jamie’s dad, Randy Himes. “Rex is now part of the family. We have not one but two Air Force members now.”
When we adopt one of these animals, they too become an integral part of our family. We add them to the list of those who must be fed, cleaned, groomed, and loved. Like our own children, their departure due to being lost, stolen or dying, is a traumatic experience that some don’t overcome. When we look into these shelters, we see the needy & our hearts pound as we see their solemn situation. My heart does, what about yours?
Now I will change gears & bring this a little closer to home. As an Airman First Class at my first base in Spangdahlem AB, Germany, I knew such a hero. Another Airman First Class & K-9 handler named Michael Wilcox was on duty in Beirut, Lebanon when the terrorist attack occurred. Michael’s quick reaction saved his supervisor TSgt Holder’s life. His dog also named Rex, was instrumental in helping retrieve TSgt Holder when shots were fired & bombs were exploding. Michael was awarded a medal for heroism & promoted for his bravery. He attributed much of his success in the incident to his K-9 companion.
As we look at the shelter in Ivins, if we look long enough & hard enough, we too will see the potential of these animals to work their heroism in the hearts & minds of a family who will need mended hearts. A dog or a cat from this shelter can definitely fill the empty space that a family needs to have filled. Don’t dare give up on these pets! They need you! They need your support financially. They need your loving support! They need your house or yard for their permanent residence.
I am pleased to see so many of you here to support this worthwhile cause. The Ivins Animal Shelter has taken such great care of them and they are ready for a home. Please enjoy the rest of your night here & continue support this wonderful endeavor.
DOC! what an amazing, heartfelt, informative plea for animals who love us enough to serve in combat or simply enjoy the peacefulness of a backyard permanent home...whatever we ask of them, they deliver! you established the people/animal kingdom quintessential bond in this speech. thank you so very much for sharing here! a masterpiece. proud to know you, Doc! magnificent!
I was the keynote speaker for the Puppy Pound and Cat Gala a couple of week ago for one of the "no kill" shelters. Ours is the only one in the area, Ivins, UT. I have been asked to be the keynote speaker again next year.