Sometimes I think I have a different idea of political correctness and patriotism from the average person. Most days I think I have the same idea of both as those who’ve actually thought about it and aren’t trying to spin it for their own uses and ends.
Scholar J. Peter Euben writes that for the Greek philosopher Socrates, "patriotism does not require one to agree with everything that his country does and would actually promote analytical questioning in a quest to make the country the best it possibly can be." That’s my position too. I don’t have to agree and am sometimes obligated to disagree. The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land, even when I disagree with parts of it. The solution to that is to promote an amendment to it rather than simply ignore it.
What I find most offensive about the animal rights activists is that they promote simply ignoring the parts of the Constitution that they don’t like, promote passing unconstitutional laws which, once passed, are difficult to challenge – reasons for which are beyond my scope this day.
It follows pretty directly that my idea of being politically correct is to support and defend the Constitution, as written and until changed, while reserving the right to also disagree with portions of it and support amendments to it, but refuse to act as though my desired changes can become law without the amendments. I consider myself a Politically Correct Patriot.
Today I’d like to share some youtube videos that I like for their messages; all challenging the concept of those who support the illegal taking of your rights. While I enjoy the music choices in these videos, the messages are pretty clear just from the visuals.
http://www.youtube.com/user/TrueAnimalCaring#p/f/2/and1bH0O3d4
We the People (who believe in our animals):
http://www.youtube.com/user/spookee#p/u/6/Ap1XvRCZX9Y
HSUS raises funds for the Humane League of Philadelphia, a chapter of the violence promoting SHAC:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLn_T-4iAWY
The breed isn't to blame, the incompetent owner are. Punish the right party!
http://www.youtube.com/user/spookee#p/u/2/kZ1VWVwrtqQ
Would you Kill This Cat?
The majority of my cats have been black; over half my dogs have been medium to large and brown or black. I remember my relatives saying my grandfather would be spinning in his grave to know there was a black cat in his house but I guess I just don't get it. Must we judge everyone on looks alone, even the animals?
I took in a stray (big and solid black) about 8 months ago and she was too ill to be spayed. She will get spayed when the vet and I decide the time is right (probably in about 3 months as she's now healthier and just been through her second heat since being here). After discussions with my vet and having learned much these last few years, I will make the decision that is best for her and within this family. I will probably spay her as that is the best decision for her health and that's after considering both the pros and cons (and there are sure more of those than I had thought for many years) for us all.
I also adopted a dog from a shelter a little over 5 months ago. I signed an agreement to do certain things and have done all but one, spaying. At her first vet visit less than 48 hours after arriving, she checked out as healthy and the vet says she's probably spayed but can't feel the scar so isn't positive. He advised a wait and see; see if she goes into heat. He's known me for over 20 years and knows I won't be allowing anything that might cause puppies and have no male dogs in my house. It takes about a year to be reasonably sure and even then it is possible she could be one of those who just might have silent heats so there's is a minuscule risk. She's also about 8 years old so fewer years to watch and lower fertility likely. If she ever needed surgery, sure, I'd ask them to take a peek and find out while they were in there!
I got a call from the shelter this morning asking me to fax proof of the vaccinations and spay to them which they said was in the contract. I pulled the contract and there's no provision that required proof of the vaccinations but I faxed it to them anyway. I left a message for my vet about getting imaging to prove she's spayed instead of opening her up. He isn't in on Mondays so won't hear back until tomorrow. I did agree to spay but that was before having a discussion with my vet and finding out it wasn't quite so simple as all that since her status is indeterminate.
Medically, it isn't best to anesthetize this dog even for the imaging; let alone to open her up just to find she's already spayed. I'm a responsible owner and the risks for these procedures outweigh the benefits for for this dog. I wonder what they will do if I just ignore them? Or should I send them a formal letter telling them it isn't the best and to stuff it?
Think about it as you may be faced with something similar if you adopt from a shelter or rescue. What would you do?
PS: This would also be a small shelter that had no chip scanner (even though shelters can get those for free) so did a piss poor job of attempting to find this dog's owner and hold dogs only for the minimum times before killing; that's the shelter wanting to hold my feet to the fire!