The staff at the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley tell me that other parts of the country look at the South as virtually third world when it comes to how we treat animals. Unfortunately, there's too much truth in this view.

When it comes to uneducated poor people too often we blame them rather than trying the three-fold approach of intervention, crisis management and then education. We lament the problems caused by the poor, but too often we don't realize that they are also us. Our society is one whole, no matter how much we wish otherwise. To turn our backs on people who are ignorant is to turn our backs on ourselves.

Lately, I've noticed a creeping trend to simply judge people with problems then disenfranchise them. Those who are not keeping up with our partially affluent and educated society find little sympathy these days, and this is a big error on our part.

"What ye do unto the least of these...you do unto me." So many Christians have forgotten that warning. It is a strong message to remember that the body of humanity is interconnected. It is one. To turn away from solving problems, just because the people are deemed ignorant or causing the rest of us discomfort or expense, is foolish.

Dogs and cats, the ignorant and poor. They are us and we are them. We're all in the same life raft--planet Earth. The last thing we need is for rhose who are journeying with us in that big blue boat to go mad from any cause. Because in the end, they will rock the boat. They will rock the boat.

...other parts of the country look at the South as virtually third world when it comes to how we treat animals. Unfortunately, there's too much truth in this view.

As I've heard that the bluer states actually know how to spay and neuter their pets. Something to think about the next time you hear (mostly Republican) politicians brag about how they are "our" type of people--as we will soon hear from Fred Thompson.

Carole, you make an excellent argument, but in our day-to-day lives, there's little one can do. Right now, my neighborhood sounds like a war zone, from all the slack-jawed morons in the area exercising their patriotic freedoms, including the freedom to rob everyone else of their freedom to just live in peace. I'd be surprised if more than 50% of them know what July 4th commemorates. I called the sheriff about the same problem last Saturday night, when it was still June.

Approaching such people with outstretched arms is not an option. Most of us work passionately to change the political powers that have perpetuated the living conditions here since the Civil War. And we support local, non-political groups of various causes and organizations as best we can. What else should we be doing?

I came across this article and thought y'all might find it interesting.

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