[UUPoly-L] UU values and killing

[Desmond Ravenstone <desmondravenstone@yahoo.com>]

A wise individual once noted: "There are times when killing may be a duty, but it should never become a pleasure."

You may complain that certain individuals would have no compunction about harming or killing others.  But when you embrace the same mindset towards them, then you have lowered yourself to their level.

The metaphor of a rabid dog was used, and I find that interesting I knew a man who was an animal control officer, and on more than one occasion had to put down rabid or otherwise dangerous animals.  He told me he did so with a tragic understanding that this animal had gotten to this position through no fault of its own (disease, abusive treatment) and did his best not to add to the suffering it had already experienced.  And noted that others in his profession didn't care as much, and were sloppy as a result.

I applaud that he could take that view, and I can only imagine how much he treasures other people.  It's far too easy to dismiss the "other" to the point of discounting their humanity -- and how that humanity was wounded.  Let's hope we all strive to do so.

Desmond Ravenstone

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http://www.myspace.com/desmond_ravenstone


--- On Sun, 11/23/08, A. M. <3goddesses@gmail.com> wrote:

> Wow.  Not too many steps to dehumanizing a person with intent to harm you.
>  Yes, there is intent to harm, but to ride that slippery slope to rabid
> animal is kind of like the thinking that equates homosexual
> marriage to marrying one's dog.  Not logical.  I have known men and
> women who have hurt others purposefully, and they are not animals.  They are people who have done bad things, and I retain hope that loving them as
> humans is a better way to facilitate empathy in them than hating them as
> animals.  People do bad things, they are still people.
> Peace.
> 
> A.M.