While abuse comes in many forms (abuse of authority or power, abuse of the world's natural resources and environment, racial abuse, abuse of elderly folk, spousal abuse, substance abuse .... and the list goes on), being a parent and, very recently, becoming a grandparent, as well as being an animal lover, it is the abuse of children and animals that I feel most strongly about. Very young children and animals are unable to voice their opinion and are powerless to fight back when being mistreated and abused, so somebody has to speak up for them..
In today's faced-paced world, maturing into a well-balanced adult is not easy. However, very young children and adolescents need love and care in order to develop into healthy, happy young adults.
It is a very sad fact of life though that some children are physically abused and/or neglected by adults and are often also abused by other children. Very young children may not be aware that what is happening to them is abuse.
Abuse of children usually takes place in the following manners :
It is a very sad fact of life though that some children are physically abused and/or neglected by adults and are often also abused by other children. Very young children may not be aware that what is happening to them is abuse.
Abuse of children usually takes place in the following manners :
Physical abuse
When children are physically hurt or injured by parents or other people which, in extreme cases, sometimes even leads to death.
Sexual abuse
When children are forced or persuaded into sexual acts or situations by others. Children might be encouraged to look at pornography, be harassed by sexual suggestions or comments, be touched sexually(molested) or forced to have sex. One reads, all too often, about children being raped, murdered, abducted by paedophiles or child porn syndicates and the like and what is very concerning is that these occurrences seem to be on the increase and is a global problem. It is an interesting statistic too, that the molesters of children are usually well known to the child and its family. Are government legislations around the world too lenient on the perpetrators of these crimes or is not enough being done to combat this evil?.
When children are physically hurt or injured by parents or other people which, in extreme cases, sometimes even leads to death.
Sexual abuse
When children are forced or persuaded into sexual acts or situations by others. Children might be encouraged to look at pornography, be harassed by sexual suggestions or comments, be touched sexually(molested) or forced to have sex. One reads, all too often, about children being raped, murdered, abducted by paedophiles or child porn syndicates and the like and what is very concerning is that these occurrences seem to be on the increase and is a global problem. It is an interesting statistic too, that the molesters of children are usually well known to the child and its family. Are government legislations around the world too lenient on the perpetrators of these crimes or is not enough being done to combat this evil?.
Emotional abuse
When children are not given the love, approval or acceptance that they deserve. They may be constantly criticised, blamed, sworn and shouted at, told that other people are better than they are and rejected by those whom they look to for affection.
Neglect
When children are not given the love, approval or acceptance that they deserve. They may be constantly criticised, blamed, sworn and shouted at, told that other people are better than they are and rejected by those whom they look to for affection.
Neglect
When parents or others looking after children do not provide them with proper food, warmth, shelter, clothing, care and protection.
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A excerpt from the poem "Auguries of Innocence" by William Blake reads ......
He who mocks the infant's faith
Shall be mock'd in age and death.
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Animal abuse is perpetrated in a number of ways :
a) The mindless hunting and slaughtering of animals (eg. the mass killing of dolphins in Japan, the poaching of elephants and rhinoceros in Africa for its tusks and horn respectively, mutilation of sharks for their fins, required for the making of shark fin soup).
b) Animals being caught worldwide for the pet trade - these are wild animals and as the name suggest, they should remain in the wild and live a natural existence (the same goes for circus animals). Although, most buyers of these animals for keeping them as pets, mean well, the animals are often neglected and kept in less than satisfactory conditions.
c) Using animals for entertainment and betting like "bear baiting" in Pakistan, dog fights and cock fights worldwide, canned lion hunting in Africa, bullfighting in Spain etc. These acts accentuates man's heartlessness and greed and are tantamount to barbarism.
d) The owners of domesticated animals like dogs or cats, who do not take proper care of them with regards to feeding, innoculations, allowing these animals to roam freely on the streets where they could be run over by a vehicle, not having them neutered to prevent unwanted pups or kittens and ill-treatment of these pets.
With all the aforementioned points on animal abuse in mind, I have a very healthy respect for people who work for organisations like the SPCA and Animal Welfare Society.
Once again, from "Auguries of Innocence" by William Blake :
A dog starv'd at his master's gate
Predicts the ruin of the state.
This poem, as well as others like "I sit and look out" by Walt Whitman, which alludes to abuse, may be found on http://finefoodandpoetry.blogspot.com .
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Final thought :
We, as human beings, consider ourselves as superior to other living beings on Earth, but we can certainly take a leaf out of the book of animal behaviour. Animals take great care of their young and will defend them to the death. Within certain species of animals, other members of the group will tend to and assist in raising the young when the parents are not available.
It is said that the only true guide to man is his conscience. If that be the case, then many of us are conveniently pretending to be brain-damaged and we do not deserve to be considered as the superior beings, rulers and custodians of planet Earth.
Bloggers Unite abuse child abuse animal abuse
1 comment:
I couldn't agree more. I am an extreme animal activist and I agree with everything that you say about them not being able to speak for themselves.
All of this abuse needs to stop. Animals need more rights.
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