Where Do We Draw The Line?

As any of you know, if you know me at all, I am one who will fight for the rights of all living creatures on this Earth. This means the rights of humans, animals, and all of nature. In addition, when it comes to animals in general, you know that my belief in the level of animal rights should be the same as those of us who walk on two feet.
I have seen too often the footage of animals that have been abused and neglected, these abuses including animal testing and fighting. One animal alone, as with any other living creature, is one too many being harmed. I have seen first hand the results of abuses that animals endure. That is why I feel as strongly about this subject as I do.
Therefore, with this, you know I support the organizations that help protect animals from abuse and those bringing some kind of relief to animals that have been mistreated. I am all for the ads, campaigns, and political activism that helps to promote the rights of animals and their protection. Yes, some of the commercials can be hard to watch, seeing the results of all this abuse and neglect. I do believe this knowledge can help to bring about better rights for animals. Nevertheless, where is it we draw the line?
Today, after returning home from work, I walked in to see my mother crying. Like my mother, the pain of any creature easily affects me. Therefore, of course, I asked what was wrong. At the moment, it was scenes from a heartfelt movie. As I was talking to her, I look over at our television to see that a commercial for animal rights was on. As usual, my mom reached for the remote to temporarily change the station until the commercial was over. These commercials cause her great distress. However, we do believe that people need to know what is happening to animals, we have just seen them many times before. We know what is happening to animals in our world. However, today, when she reached for the remote, it was not where she left it, so I saw more of the commercials than usual. As I always do, I watch them knowing what it typically coming.
The commercial was one that of course showed images of dog fighting, animal neglect, and horrific scenes of abuse. Of course, I was sickened, upset, and horrified by what I saw.
But, this commercial was more than the usual type seen during the rest of the year. It was a Christmas commercial. It is not the fact that it was a Christmas commercial that bothered me. It was the fact that it was portraying a very young child writing a letter to Santa, pleading for all the animal abuse to stop. Yes, animal abuse without a doubt needs to cease, but I feel a severe line was crossed when they had a child writing letters in these scenes and doing voice overtones of him thinking while writing his letter.
Where do we draw the line? I deeply feel that the group promoting animal rights by having a child “write” this letter to Santa is utterly wrong. I feel that by doing this, one wrong is committed to try to stop another wrong. As the well-known saying goes, two wrongs do not make a right. Even if this child had written a letter in his own life, pleading for the cessation of animal abuse, he should not have been subjected to doing so again. It breaks my heart to think of a child at all having to witness anything having to do with abuse, whether it is in his own life or for this situation.
I have run this through my head quite a few time already and still cannot find how it was right in anyway for this to have been done. Though I am not saying dogs and humans are the same (though I do not believe one is lower than the other is), let me make one quick comparison. To me, a child writing this letter about the horrific abuses to animals is like having a baby animal perform for the rights of children. It is wrong….period. If you know me, I love and care about every living creature. They all have a place in my heart. By harming one for the rights of another…well,…this is where the line has been severely crossed. A child should not be subjected to any horrific scene of any kind.
I know some people will say that the child was not wronged in any way, but in the deepest parts of my heart and mind, I cannot find one single reason to see this situation in that light. Even if the child can handle such a situation, I still will not see it as right. Moreover, to think if a child has seen these horrific scenes in the first place. On top of that, how is it going to affect one child to see another child writing such a letter? As I have seen too many times, people do not always realize what their children are watching.
My heart is absolutely broken by any type of abuse. I am angered by the wrongs that any person, animal, or any other living creature has to endure. To see a child put in such a situation is one that, though it may not be on the same level of wrongdoing, I am still utterly appalled and saddened by this situation.
I am all for children experiencing life and all that wonders that this world has. I want the same for all beings and animals. However, I am not or ever will be for a child being subjected to a situation that may have a negative impact on them in any way. What I cannot fathom is how this situation was thought of with any kind of consciousness at all.
Therefore, after it all, I will say, yes, continue to support causes that help and protect any part of nature. This type of support is definitely needed. That said, I hope that we as humans, can become more conscious of actions we are taking in this world. We already have too many negatives by the means of violence, hatred, and other things that lead us away from peace. We already have a hard enough time trying to bring our world to a peaceful place without adding other levels of pain and distress to it all.
By Chieko D. Ross on 12/5/2010 ©

ON TAKING NEGATIVE ACTIONS AGAINST OTHERS

I am utterly sickened, saddened and heartbroken over recent events involving Tyler Clementi. Clementi was a young student at the age of 18. From the little bit that I have seen, he was a young soul who was getting ready to step out in life and take his place in this world. And because of the actions of a couple others, Tyler decided to take his life. Because of their actions to humiliate him, for reasons that only they know, a young man’s life is now gone.
I will not go into any specifics on the happening around this story. However, I will say this, because of Tyler’s lifestyle, who he was, two people decided to take horrific and devastating actions against him, for their own benefit. It is wrong! There is no other way to say it.
And I am in no way trying to take away from the loss of Tyler’s life by saying what I am about to say. What is going on to so many is going on in our world in so many different forms. Another one of these examples of taking negative actions is with a church, who have taken it upon themselves to make examples of fallen soldiers. They have decided to protest at the funerals of these men who have lost their lives in war. They are causing pain to others because of their own beliefs. They are protesting while family and friends are grieving for the loss of a loved one. Because of this church, others are having to deal with so much more. They are having to go through extra pain because of these people. This is a severe form of disrespect. It is absolutely horrible what they are doing. To me, this ties in with the story of Tyler. I could go on and on with giving examples. They are out there. You can find this info. I encourage you to do so to know what is going on in our world.
I can not fathom what is takes for someone to take an action towards another that will in any way harm another person, animal or our world. I cannot understand why someone would want to do so in the first place. It sickens me to know that there are people in this world who CHOOSE to hurt another for their own purposes, whether those reasons be entertainment, cruelty, or to make a point in favor of their own beliefs. In the end, these are simply different levels of bullying. It is not anyone’s place to try to force others to view the world with their own eyes. If you have the right to openly believe in whatever it is that you do, so does everyone else. And while it is a blessing to have our rights, we also must know that with these rights, comes responsibilities. Especially, the responsibility of knowing when and how to use these rights. We must realize that we are only causing more pain, more sadness, and more negativity in this world when we harm others in any way. . We must realize that through our negative actions we are taking the world one step further away from peace.
There are too many negative actions going on in this world that are affecting others in pain, devestation, oppression, etc. It has got to stop! Period. If you are a person who is purposely hurting others for your own benefit, at the least, SHAME ON YOU!!! Think about what it is that you are doing to others. Put yourselves in their shoes. Think of how someone might try to hurt you and make an example of you simply because of who you are. And think about this. If you are able to do these horrible and tragic things to others, it can be done to you. I know you would not want anything bad to happen to you or anyone you care about and love. So don’t do it to another. You do not just affect one person when you take this action, you hurt so so many more. There are friends and family and many others who surround this person you are hurting. You are affecting them. And in the long run, you are also affecting yourself. Because what we do, as one person, also affects our entire world and all that dwell here. And if you are thinking about taking a negative action towards others, refocus your energies and choose a different path. Choose a path of compassion. One of peace. One of light. One of hope. One of love.
And to me, what is worse than anything else is the fact that so many just stand aside, watching, doing nothing, as people are being hurt. This is something that I cannot and will not do. I will not be silent. Yes, I am not out there protesting, but I am taking a stand against these forms of hate that are happening. Think about it people. If this is being allowed to happen and nothing is being done about it, it will just continue on. It will allow these cycles of hate, oppression, racism, cruelty and sadness to continue on. Stand up and break the cycle. I understand that this is a scary thing to do. But if we as a people do not stand up against what is being done to us and others, the end results are much worse than scary. I use to be afraid to speak up at this level myself. But in the process of learning to be more vocal about the rights of everyone and everything, I learned that I am also speaking up for my own rights in the process. In the end, we all benefit. We all will have at least that much more peace.
I wish to end this on a more positive note by way of showing support. For those who have been on the tragic end of the negative actions of others, know that you are not alone. Know that you have support out there. Know that you are beautiful as you are. Know that you have a right to be who you are. Do not let others actions bring you down. Don’t let them darken your doorstep or put out your light. Keep that light going and let it shine for all the world to see. If you do let others get the worst of you, you let them win. Stand up proudly, raise your head high, and say I am here and I am me and I am proud. Take your place in this world and know that you have a right to it. And in the end, if you are reading this, know that someone cares and that you are loved. Yes I said loved. By me. I may not know you. I may not ever meet you. But, because you are a part of this world, I have unconditional love for you. I am not ashamed to say so, as you should never be ashamed of being a wonderful person you are. Stay strong! Be you! Be proud. And share your light and beauty with others. It will only help bring about paths for peace and love. Through this sharing, you give hope and love to others. And you will receive this same hope and love.
I will leave it at this.
Peace always,
Chieko Ross

P.S. if you have a problem with anything that i say here, say it to me and no one else.
written by Chieko Ross 10/7/2010 ©

Untitled Poem---unofficially 2 now 1 dont really like that name

This was inspired by many things i have seen (such as weddings, friends going through things, hopes) and or have felt and gone through and is written in more of a dream perspective ... this is still in its rough form... but i was inspired to share... so here it is... as is no title... work in progress (such as the to life not denied line) ... hope it makes sense





Both in wonder
As alone they stride
One step closer
To life not denied

Two hearts mold
With beauty of love
That beauty is that
Of graceful dove

Two souls merge
To become one
Under sacred trees
Blessed by sun

Hands enfold in
Soft embrace
Never to part
Through time and space

When lips meet
With dewy bliss
Love is sealed
By a simple kiss

Peace fills entire
Body and soul
This love, this union
Is abounding, is whole

They look into eyes
As lips part
And see future
As one heart

Two hearts now
Know this is home
Never to part
Until rest under loam

I hope you can see
My humble home
Please oh please
Bring me home

written on 10/27/09 by Chieko Ross ©

On children and punishment

What kind of place have we come to in our world where we must beat and scream at our children to get them to listen. Too many times have I been walking somewhere I public and have seen people doing just this. And too many times have I been silent about it. I am not talking about a swat on the butt or a spanking. I am talking about literally taking a swing at your child’s head or hitting them so hard that it is going to leave a welt or bruise on their body. Shaking them so hard that their head and limbs are flying all over the place. Don’t you realized that this can leave permanent damage to their bodies?
I see people literally leaned over into their child’s face just screaming at the top of their lungs at them. Other times it is them telling them to stop their crying… especially when they were the ones who made them cry in the first place. Slapping their children across the face because they’ve said no. I’ve listened to mothers hitting the hell out of their children in public bathrooms. Father's dragging children out of bathrooms with tears streaming down their faces.(Yes, i know some kids just cry like this.)I’ve seen too many people threatening their children. Such as, if you don’t quit, I’ll beat the hell out of you. Do we really need to make our children fear us? Telling them to get out of our faces or to shut up. What good is that going to do? The worse part is seeing children repeating these actions with other children. Can you not find a more gentle way to get them to listen. Can you not take the time to help them redirect their energy? It’s too much and it needs to stop. My god people, these are our children, not objects to take our frustrations out on.
What ever happened to time outs or taking the time to sit down and talk about their actions. Listen to your children, there is usually a reason why they are acting out in the way they do. They have a voice that needs to be heard too. That’s all I’m saying people. Simply take a breath, take a second, count to ten, try to calm yourself before you yourself take any action.
In more recent times I have become more vocal when I see these things. There are times when I will say something like, “is that really necessary”. Yes, I myself will get a glare or be yelled at. But do I really care, no. And yes, I know I am not a mother myself, but I have worked with children before. I know there are other less violent ways to get children to take better actions. And I know if I ever get the chance in life to be blessed with children of my own, I will raise them with gentleness.
And maybe this will help to lessen the amount of violence in our world.

By Chieko Ross ©

Hate

Lack of love
Full of fright
Inhumane
Cold as night

Jealous rage
An ugly mark
Clear as day
But yet so dark

Single minded
A silent yell
Only to bring out
The worst of hell

By Chieko Ross ©

One Gain, One Pain

As I go through life
I wonder why
Push comes to shove
And people lie.

Some want to hunt
While peace they take
Pain is caused
For convenience sake.

Heart and soul
And compassion lost
The comfort of one
Is another’s cost.

Why the grief?
Why the pain?
Wreck of one
Another’s gain.
By Chieko Ross ©

Simple Innocence

I see a face
Small and round
Eyes so curious
To his world around

Searching for answers
To the questions why
The grass is green
And the blue of sky

His mind’s dancing
With imaginations art
Loving unconditionally
With only heart

So much to learn
This struggle grand
For the world’s future
Is in his tiny hand

Only truth and love
Exist in his heart
Not yet knowing
The world’s cold part

A perfect solution
For a world tense
Your can find the answer
In his simple innocence
by Chieko Ross ©