Posts for the Talk2theAnimals blog can be created through the most unusual of ways. For instance, this post. Last night as I was reading the New York Times online, I ran across an article on President Obama and the stimulus package. I clicked through to the article, and out of the corner of my eye I saw a dog leap at the throat of a chained bear. It was a video made by the WSPA on bear baiting. So much for President Obama and the stimulus package.
We All Do Better When All Creatures Do Better
To be exact, I have rewritten this post 3,246 times in my head since last night. Even with all those rewrites, the only thing I know for certain is:
We All Do Better When All Creatures Do Better
Bear baiting is when a bear is tethered and two dogs are allowed to attack it. In bear dancing, a bear is “dancing” to get away from the pain. A “dancing” bear is caught as a baby, his teeth and claws are ripped out, a burning poker is forced through his nose, and then a rope is pulled through the wound. Should the mother go to protect her baby ~ as all mothers tend to do ~ she is killed.
This video shows what happens in bear baiting and bear dancing. Here’s a write up from the WSPA on bear baiting and here’s another WSPA article on bear dancing.
Bear baiting and bear dancing exist in our world today. That’s a fact, it can not be denied. Now that this action to a fellow creature has been brought to my consciousness (via President Obama and the stimulus package), what am I called to do about it?
As each one of you reads this post, watches the video, reads the information from the WSPA, and perhaps even does further research into this practice, what are you called to do about it?
Wouldn’t it be lovely if this behavior was stopped simply because we wanted it stopped? Wouldn’t it be a marvelous Valentine’s Day present for bears and humans alike if this treatment stopped on 2/14/09?
Chances are that won’t happen; it’s too big, too ingrained, there are too many levels of complication to be solved in one week.
We are all connected, what affects one creature affects another creature. All creatures have the right to a good, harmonious life.
Now we reach the heart of the problem, at least for me. This issue is too big for me to think of it in terms of connection because I can’t conceive of doing this to another creature. For me to even begin to find my way through this labyrinth of thought, I need to go into dualistic thinking.
Dualistic thinking is either/or-, black/white-, good/evil-thinking. A component usually found in dualistic thinking is judgment. Yet while I may be temporarily using dualistic thinking, I am choosing not to use judgment. My experience has taught me there can be a fine line between observation and judgment.
We All Do Better When All Creatures Do Better
All creatures doing better extends to the people who are involved with the bear baiting and bear dancing, including those in the audiences.
From my perspective, I can neither judge nor condemn the people involved in these actions, because by judging and condemning them I move myself, my feelings, into a place of chaos, blame, shame and power-over. When I am invested in power-over, “I’m better than you because I don’t bear bait,” I add to the already existing pool of division, exclusion and chaos. That solves nothing, simply adds more chaos to an already chaotic situation.
I choose to act from a place of inclusion, not division; harmony, not judgment. Bear baiting and bear dancing exist in this world AND I can address it from a place of peace. That doesn’t mean I accept it, condone it or agree with it or can even stomach it. It means I select to act from a place of solution.
For me, what does it mean to address bear baiting and dancing from a place of solution? I have been told over and over again, by animals and humans, that my job is to speak for those who are not heard. So I am writing this post. I believe with all my heart and soul that there is a solution to this problem and there are people out there who can solve it and are already working toward an answer that benefits all, including the people involved with this. I may not be “doing” anything to solve the problem of bear baiting and dancing, but I am changing the energy that surrounds it.
On a simpler and more basic note, I have a gypsy jazz CD which has a picture of a bear “dancing” on the liner notes. I’m disposing of that picture.
I invite you to join me in bringing this treatment to our fellow creatures to an end. Please leave your comments and comments.
Harmony,
Janet Roper
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Janet,
I had never heard of “bear baiting” until reading your post….and I’m just appauled into speechlessness. I just can’t believe our fellow mankind can treat an animal this way. It’s a sickness in someone that would allow this to happen.
It bothers me so much that I could not stand to read your whole blog – but I commend you on bringing it to our attention. I for one could never be a part of anything so horrible
This is the most undignified behavior I’ve ever seen, both from humans and bears. The bears, of course, don’t have a choice. And what of the dogs used in bear-baiting? They are living an equally horrible existence, used for nothing except to attack.
Unfortunately most of this appears to be occuring in countries other than the US where often the importance of animals as a part of a balanced ecosystem and respectable creatures is overlooked. (Not that we’re perfect in the US either, obviously. But at least here there are some animal protection legislation and people can be prosecuted rather than rewarded with pay for unethical on-street and arena performances.)
The true action must be on an international level, and it’s not only the bears that need to be respected; there are so much wildlife killed and abused for various “acceptable” purposes. Who is to be engaged in this conversation? Who do we support in this fight?
Janet, every time I see something like this, the mix of emotions gets to such an unbearable level that I must walk away and take a deep breath. It’s horrible when you see activities like this being enjoyed by humans but yet again, what about the gladiators back in Roman times! I felt the same way when I saw the wold aerial hunters and the Canadian baby seals. You just get that sudden urge to e-mail your network and start something, don’t you?
But like you said, there needs to be a solution to this. Hopefully we’ll all find away to put a stop (or at least curb it to such a low level that makes it non-interesting anymore)- with people like you on our side, being able to communicate in such a special way, we already won half the battle. Thanks for your always amazing AND challenging posts!
The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. Albert Einstein
Thank you, all, for your comments. This subject has touched many people. We can help with small steps, spreading the word is a place to begin.
Harmony,
Janet
Hi Janet,
I’m spreading the word on Twitter about your post and the related topics, fingers crossed that starts to do some good. I’m a firm believer in the fact that a lot of people JUST DON’T KNOW and the more that do find out, the odds go up that someone will act like you have..
Nice work…
Nicole
Hi Nicole,
Thanks so much for spreading the word, we can make a difference, one Tweet at a time. We change the energy, the physical will follow.
Harmony,
Janet