This is just a test to see if I can put up a picture or not. I hope it works.
If it doesn't work, you can always go here and look at the picture.
Look at it and tell me that we don't have a common ancestor. Or that we're not related to any of these other creatures in any way.
one would have to really work to look at that and say we're not related. That being said, why do we treat our cousins (other life forms) so poorly?
Because Uni we feel the need to dominate over our environment. Don't forget you and I swat flies? eat fish? (in your case not shell fish), some eat turtle, we eat chicken and if you haven't shot a rabbit well done.
Humans are nasty animals
Uni: I think a part of the reason why we treat our cousins so shabbily has to do with the fallen earth perspective. That "we" have dominion over the "beasts" (a sentiment that I don't share, nor agree with). Funny thing is, I can walk past two people fighting each other or one heaping scorn on another (with some distaste in my mouth, but I tend to mind my own business), but if I see someone mistreating an animal, my blood will boil.
lucy: We indeed are nasty creatures. Capable of so much both good and bad. Well... You know what they say. The brighter the light, the darker the shadow it casts. I shudder at the thought of the darkness of the human soul sometimes, but I am oftentimes equally blinded by the light, the sheer brilliance of civilization. It's an apt metaphor in a sense that I can't see in either extremes. :)
Lets not forget how shitty humans can be to humans. Why not our earthly cousins?
hehehe....I walked away from computer commented then saw after commenting that grape had answered it so much betterer than I had worded it. I really should go to work now.
Grape - Yes being aware of that light and darkness makes us I think better human beings, or better animals depends on which way you look at it.
I am the same when animals are mistreated.....
One of the cultures that I admire when it comes to their treatment of animals were the native american indians. They also ate meat, but they killed only to live and there were prayers of gratitude said over the slain animals thanking them for their sacrifice. They also tended to treat the service animals as peers.
superb: In that narrow sense (of my own view), people at PETA(People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) kinda piss me off. What about ethical treatment of people, huh? :)
lucy: Well I do try to be a beacon of sorts and shed a little light on the dim. It's a struggle, I'll admit. :D
Though to confess, I'm not nearly as enlightened as I like to think myself. :P
uni: Yep. And they used every part of the animal, too. Tallow, hide, bones, all of it. Nothing went to waste. I used to see my cats (back when I had them) as my peers. They were little ornery old ladies that I doted on. :)
They say that dogs have masters and cats have staff. I was most definitely that. At their disposal.
Yes!!! The picture worked!!! MUHAHAHAHAHA!