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empathy and humaneness, II
Emma, from a healthy joyful puppyhood to living with illness for two years in her 10th and 11th years. Her body and mind still function and she is apparently pain free most of the time, but day by day she does weaken. What to do? A question we have asked ourselves again and again. Some would argue that she is old--eleven years and has multiple diseases: liver cancer, bladder cancer and diabetes--and yet she still eats with gusto, enjoys her treats, and walks, albeit withou the fervor she had some months ago. Nonetheless, though "legally" blind, possessing peripheral vision at best due to her diabetes, she still has a keen sense of smell and hearing. We have embarked on elder care for her until the time comes when she is clearly not able to function and exhibits pain as manifested by shivering and trembling. It is amazing to me that supposedly empathetic persons find this care uncalled for. Are they Cartesians, who regard a dog no more than a mechanism without "soul?' If so, animals are lesser creatures and man the noblest, who alone deserves humaneness. But we all know that ferocious killers, human that is, often begin their careers by torturing animals before subjecting humans to horrific defilement and death. Sir Thomas More and other humanists noted this as did Greek and Roman authors. And today? Too close to home I have encountered this disregard and fury directed at "that damned dog." Pity, empathy are learned. Perhaps in time it will be.
Emma, from a healthy joyful puppyhood to living with illness for two years in her 10th and 11th years. Her body and mind still function and she is apparently pain free most of the time, but day by day she does weaken. What to do? A question we have asked ourselves again and again. Some would argue that she is old--eleven years and has multiple diseases: liver cancer, bladder cancer and diabetes--and yet she still eats with gusto, enjoys her treats, and walks, albeit withou the fervor she had some months ago. Nonetheless, though "legally" blind, possessing peripheral vision at best due to her diabetes, she still has a keen sense of smell and hearing. We have embarked on elder care for her until the time comes when she is clearly not able to function and exhibits pain as manifested by shivering and trembling. It is amazing to me that supposedly empathetic persons find this care uncalled for. Are they Cartesians, who regard a dog no more than a mechanism without "soul?' If so, animals are lesser creatures and man the noblest, who alone deserves humaneness. But we all know that ferocious killers, human that is, often begin their careers by torturing animals before subjecting humans to horrific defilement and death. Sir Thomas More and other humanists noted this as did Greek and Roman authors. And today? Too close to home I have encountered this disregard and fury directed at "that damned dog." Pity, empathy are learned. Perhaps in time it will be.
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