Letter to lawmakers on mustangs and horse slaughter

I am writing to urge you to pass equine protection and welfare legislation.

I am asking you to vote yes on legislation that restores wild mustangs to the land set aside for them. It is ludicrous to use my tax dollars to hold them in government pens in direct violation of the current law when that same law expects them to be free.

Please do not grant the BLM more money to hold animals in pens that are supposed to be running free.

I also urge you to enact law that prevents the transport of American horses to slaughter outside the US. This does not benefit our economy on any level.

The blatant disregard for life evident in all facets of horse slaughter - from the auction house, through transport and finally during the slaughter process - reflects upon the nation and the law makers who allow it to continue.

These animals serve human needs their entire lives and to betray and brutalize them in such a manner is despicable. A process cannot be considered humane unless it is kind and compassionate. Horses feel the pain and often remain conscious through the process. This on top of the betrayal involved in doing what is asked by the human handler only to end up violently murdered.

Allowing the practice to continue promotes irresponsible behavior and reflects poorly on our nation as a whole. Please take a stand for an animal whose voice is only heard through the vote of your constituents. It is the only humane thing to do.

Hindsight

There is plenty that we are exposed to in the "information" age to let us know just how much horror goes on in the world everyday. In addition, the media manages to send people into panic mode over every new development that effects humans, their behavior, the environment and our perceived ability to survive. Here is where hindsight can come in handy.

I love reading biographies and true stories, watch documentaries and true stories. They cease to remind me of two things:
How destructive, careless, irresponsible and downright evil people can be, and
That by and large people overcome tremendous adversity and if you go back even 100 years, there is overwhelming evidence that we have improved in the four negative traits listed above.

For me, there is encouragement in knowing what people lived through during the Great Depression, World War I and II; that at one point it was acceptable to treat "second class" citizens (slaves and women) like animals and worse, yet today we have largely overcome such horrific behavior - at the very least it is not accepted by the vast majority.

Hindsight tells us that people have managed to prevail through some rather unspeakable acts and that more often than not, the collective attitude becomes less tolerant of what I will label evil for lack of a better term.

Hopefully hindsight will help us develop even less tolerance for behaviors that are disrespectful, hateful and irresponsible. It still needs to improve in all areas, in how we treat each other, how we treat the earth (that which provides us life) and animals that inhabit and contribute to the cycle that allows us to continue to thrive.

The Blind Eye

Most of us contribute to destructive behavior and practices through one (non) activity - turning a blind eye. Everyday I learn about more atrocities going on in the world, many of which are simply too far removed for me to have any influence on the circumstance but there are also many things going on very close to home (so to speak) that are quite appalling. It has forced me to recognize that when I learn about something that concerns me and I could have done something (anything, even indirectly) - choosing not to only allows the practice or behavior to grow and continue.

Some of the information I have come across recently is so disturbing, I simply can't keep myself from learning more and doing whatever I can. There are so many atrocities going on right here in our country that if left unchecked will cause it to become worse, not better. Time to lose our distractions, pick an area to make a difference and go for it. Time is a wastin' when we turn a blind eye.

The Problem

With so many problems, challenges and conflicts in our daily lives we are infinitely attempting to identify the problem. This one you can take to the bank - the problem is always in the people or the person. There is no such thing as an external problem. It always lies within. No other species on the planet takes without giving back in some way. We do, and we're oblivious to our effect on the balance. The only thing that can change this trend is to change our decisions to have more respect for each other, life, and recognizing that we have to find a way to give back to the cycle of life.

My prediction is that we won't change. Many think that human beings are the greatest thing to ever set foot on the earth. My thought is the opposite - we are the worst and will be the demise of not just our own kind, but virtually every living thing on the earth. Simply put - we don't think we are the problem, we don't understand our impact, and we are too arrogant in general to anticipate there may be consequences to thoughtlessness. If you can't be thankful for what you have, you lack a prerequisite to ensuring its continuation. We tend not to value that which we don't work for on our own in some way, and value prompts thankfulness.

We no longer work for our food, for our shelter, for heat, for clothing, for tools. All of it is mass produced by someone else for our benefit. And because we don't know what is being sacrified for our comfort and survival, we have no chance of contributing to a cycle that renews all of those resources. In a word, we are pretty much doomed. People are the only problem creating that end, and certainly they are the only species that can do something to change it.

Nothingness

Since I have no particular issue in mind today I decided that "nothingness" is an appropriate title. Nothingness in one form is merely a convoluted mixture of everything within one's grasp at any given point in time. Similar to not seeing forest for the trees. There are just too many things going on in the mind to focus on any one thing.

It is not such a bad condition to be in, as long as some kind of incubation process is going on while in such a state. Sometimes there is simply too much information being processed to take much of an action anything.

Anyway, that's where I am today. Been here for a week or so. Somehow, I think I have taken more action in between my states of nothingness during this week than I have in the last six months. The paradox never ends.

Synchronicity

Why do people try to force any other person or living being into thinking, behaving or saying what they want? I don't think I will ever understand it, nor do I want to. We see the worst of what people are capable of when they impose their will, rather than try to find sychronistic efforts.

Taking the time to gain information that indicates an opportunity to cooperate and gain a willing partner in any endeavor for too many people seems to take more energy. I think the opposite. Resistance, in my mind, either internal (through frustration and anger) or external (push-back from an unwilling party) takes away for more energy than does the process of gathering information. But that's just me.

So why don't more people actively look for cooperative situations? Because it takes more time, and they want results right now. Not to mention having to sort through the inevitable differences that always exist between two parties. There are always some differences, and the key is finding the path and goal that are similar, where both parties gain something. Which leads to another challenge, who cares what the other party gains? Unfortunately, in my opinion, this is the predominant attitude today.

I can only do my part and look for those places and spaces where I find mutual goals and benefits, synchronicity, if you will. Situations where the actions I do take help myself or provides some joy or comfort, and first and foremost causes no harm to any other being and at the same time provides some service, joy or comfort to them as well. We have to be looking (observing) to see these opportunities when they happen.

And it helps when you are not distracted trying to force your will on someone or something else.

It's The Other Bird

Well, I would have preferred a more storybook ending but when all is said and done - it's still a Bird. The "other" Bird, Summer Bird, takes the Belmont this year spoiling the fairy tale quest by Mine That Bird. Of course, this victory has its own story with Kent Desormeaux winning his first Belmont after last year's disappointing developments for Big Brown's bid for the Triple Crown with Kent aboard. In my opinion, Kent did the right thing by the horse when he pulled up Big Brown and he was redeemed this year with a great run by Summer Bird.

I was concerned when Calvin Borel guaranteed victory early in the week. I was concerned about the detention barn at the Belmont. I was concerned that Calvin did not run any races during the week or that day leading up to major race of the day. I was concerned when I saw Mine That Bird's temperament before the race, quite out of character for the horse who captured my heart by being so easy going, laid back and relaxed. Anxious to get the race started, when it finally started, I noticed that Mine That Bird's body language was very different early in the race. Then when he started to move up on the back stretch, I immediately thought the move was too soon. Easy for me to say, I wasn't the one trying to guide the amped up horse. Coming around the turn for the home stretch, I briefly believed the "original" Bird was going to take home the prize. Not so. Creaping up from behind and finding another gear, Summer Bird blew by both Mine That Bird and Dunkirk to win with a final push.

While happy for Kent, this year's Triple Crown got me thinking about the structure of the three races. Bottom line, Mine That Bird got beat by two fresh horses, and still outran the rest of the field which included only one other horse that ran in all three Triple Crown races. There are a couple of ideas floating around to either space the three races differently, resting the horses a bit more, or allowing only the same field of horses to compete in all three races. Think of it like allowing one or more teams in the Stanley Cup playoffs to bypass one or two rounds altogether. The physical condition of those teams would be vastly different to those that had to play every 7 game series. On paper it sets up a big disadvantage for the non-rested teams. So how can the Belmont really be the "test of a champion" when the majority of the horses in the field are not being tested under the same conditions? Just a thought.

I liked Summer Bird going into the race, and I think it is interesting that he is a half-brother to Mine That Bird, both sons of Birdstone, another Belmont winner. My sentiment, however, is still with the original Bird. Considering his fresh competition yesterday, this horse is still top dog for me.