A friend of mine has turned me on to a new show on Animal Planet called Escape to Chimp Eden. The show follows Eugene Cussons journey to rescue abused and mistreated chimpanzees. Cussons has dedicated his life to rescuing chimps because as he says, he was looking to become part of something bigger than himself. I’ve enjoyed watching this show, especially an episode in which Cussons taught a chimp named Cozi to climb a tree for the very first time. The chimp had always been caged and had never felt that freedom. It was quite a moving moment.
The more I think about this show the more I think about our attitude toward pets rather than kids. Don’t get me wrong, I love animals and believe that they are God’s creatures and should be protected. But I wonder if it’s easier for all of us to address the abuse of animals than it is to address and do something about the abuse and mistreatment of children around the world. As Americans we spent close to $40 billion on our pets in 2007. We love our pets and easily spend money to give them what they need. But when those commercials come on TV showing kids hurting and abused all over the world, we turn the channel and move on.
My support reminds a little boy in Peru that he is a priority and he does not have to live the way his parents and grandparents lived. That he is more important than any animal on this planet because he is a human being created with dignity and worth. That there is hope for the future and he is a valued member of society.
That’s a message every child in this world needs. Whether they live next door or on the other side of the world.
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compassiondave
Mar 24, 2008 @ 09:48:12
Vewy well said.
Here’s a sad story for you. We were over a friends house for Easter and every one there was a Christian. The talk turned to world poverty and one guy actualy said, “It would be better if all these kids just died and went to heaven.”
I didn’t respond.
Oh, not because I didn’t have something to say. It’s just that the Lord sealed my mouth shut so I wouldn’t say.
The incident remineded me why it is I do what I do as an advocate for these kids–at least in part it is to combat this type of ignorance within the American church.
“What if it were your kid?” Is what I should of said to him.
He would have likely responded, “What?” in a Vinnine Barbarino-eske tone.
“What if it were your kid dying and my response to you was, ‘Hey your child will be better off dead’, do you think that is something Jesus would have done (or wants His church to do?”
Where in the Bible does it say anything close to that. Wake up America. If you going to save a chimp, or a lab rat, you better be sponsoring at least one child living in poverty.
(*Do I still sound angry? – lol)
cd