Someone asked recently, what would you like on your tombstone? In other words, what is your legacy? I immediately answered: She helped the animals of this world. Since I was a young child, I’ve loved all critters. My eyes would light with delight whenever we saw wildlife. My mom even describes my life in terms of animal phases. My bedroom was redecorated many times. I’ll never forget the giant frog she sewed to my bedspread. Then there was the giraffe stage. Dolphins and bears still remain at the top of the list for me. There is something so special about them.
As an adult, I’ve centered vacations around where I am most likely to see wildlife. It’s no wonder I ended up a wildlife photographer, then publisher of a nature magazine. But the older I get, the more concerned I am by the blatant disregard for animals in this world. Yesterday, I read an article about the average American’s perspective on slavery that was fascinating and appalling at the same time. The ignorance about it is mind-boggling. I kept thinking of the parallels with how most people view animals. The absolute need we all have to hold on to our beliefs, most times, in spite of evidence is staggering.
This in conjunction with another article I read (I can’t find it, sorry) about C.P. Ellis, an Exalted Cyclops of a Ku Klux Klan group turned civil rights activist after ten days of being part of a committee on civil rights. (You can read about him here.) A testament to the power of empathy.
My conclusion: all kids should have a pet. One adopted from a shelter. The return is immeasurable, but in terms of empathy, it expands from animals to people. How do we change the world? Give every kid a pet.
(There is some interesting irony in this post as I do NOT actually want a grave marker. In fact, I spent several years trying to establish a green cemetery.)
Image from the MorgueFile
