"We Care"

The family of five Canada geese observed two nights ago at Harlem Meer have since moved on.

 

Though I fully expected the newcomers to quickly leave (as has been the pattern over the past three months), it was nevertheless disappointing to be back at square zero in terms of the number of geese discovered in Central Park.

 

Yesterday, I looked back on short videos posted on YouTube last year of geese staying at Harlem Meer this time of year.  There were from 30-40 geese moving in and out of the Meer, as well as a few geese at Turtle Pond and other areas of Central Park.

 

One year later, one can walk almost three miles in Central Park and not find even one goose.

 

When bringing up these matters last week to the gentleman from Audubon Society, I was told that, "Central Park has been hazing geese for years."

 

That is true of course. But, it doesn't explain how the number of geese at CP went from almost 50 geese in the autumn of one year to zero the next.

 

As Central Park officials have repeatedly said, the main goal of hazing (harassment) is to simply "move geese from one part of the park to another" as the Conservancy doesn't want geese congregating on lawns. 

 

I of course, have been critical of the hazing and harassment of CP geese, but I truly don't believe it to be the main reason there are few or no geese at all in Central Park over these past three months.

 

I believe rather, that the goose population has been decimated, not just in NYC, but around the state.

 

Admittedly, "proof" of that is difficult lacking a verifiable, current and reputable count -- which is the reason for calling Audubon in the first place.

 

But, Audubon Society (as well as politicians, state officials and of course, the USDA) is apparently under the impression that, "No one really cares about the geese."

 

And that really seems to be the gist of all of these animal cruelty issues, whether it be the "hazing" and slaughter of thousands of geese from city parks over the years, or the confinement, torture and deaths of billions of "battery chickens" and other domestic animals.

 

"No one cares about geese and no one cares about chickens."

 

Of course carrying that mentality to its extreme limits, we eventually find ourselves having to examine the question of whether anyone actually "cares about" children being raped by authority figures in churches, universities and other "reputable" institutions as news headlines have reminded us again over the past few weeks.

 

The assumption that "no one cares" or that silence can be bought through reward, promotion or cheap prices is a very troubling and cynical one as it seems to point to a kind of moral decay -- not just regarding our treatment of animals, but other vulnerable and powerless members of society, most notably, children.

 

Where does such cynicism, acceptance of wrongdoing and jadedness end?

 

Does it end with the actual extinction of species on our planet due exclusively to human corruption and killing?   Does it end with the development of antibiotic-resistant viruses and diseases as result of the cruel, unnatural, "maximum sustained yield" ways we raise, abuse and slaughter billions of animals?  Does it end with the destruction of innocence and trust in our own children?

 

Personally, I don't have answers to any of these immensely complex questions.

 

But, I truly don't believe that, "No one cares."

 

It is true that most Americans aren't marching on protest lines, writing letters or making the calls that perhaps they should to elected officials, agencies, organizations and other decision makers.

 

But, that should not be interpreted to mean that no one gives a damn about anything of an ethical or moral nature.

 

Yesterday, I was distressed that a major network, having presented an accurate and important report of the animal abuse conditions in a industrialized egg production plant, seemingly dismissed the exposure by advising viewers how to properly "cook" the product of said plant (eggs).

 

The network, (in my view) incorrectly assumed that most viewers weren't troubled at all about the moral implications (i.e. animal cruelty) of the report, but rather only concerned about protection of individual health and how to "cook" the product derived from said exploitation.

 

It seemed both yesterday and today that the network advice was therefore "cynical" in that it completely failed to acknowledge any ethical considerations the viewer might have, as well as it seemingly diluted the discoveries of its very own investigative report.

 

(There are of course, things people can "do" to not support such exploitative industry even apart from totally swearing off a particular product and becoming a vegetarian or vegan. Support of small, organic or free range farmers, for example and cutting back on consumption of the product in general.)

 

That the media, as well as governmental institutions and agencies only seem to assume the worst of average Americans (i.e. that we have no moral compass whatsoever and only makes decisions based upon personal gain or unwillingness of personal sacrifice) is, needless to say, troubling at the very least.

 

Although personally willing to admit that I am perhaps one of most skeptical or even "cynical" people on the planet, even I don't believe that the average American has totally lost his or her moral and ethical compass.

 

Rather, I believe that most thinking Americans are indeed disturbed ethically about many things currently happening, but probably feel uncertain and confused about the best ways to express those feelings or powerless to stop the various injustices and abuses.

 

I believe that is part of the reason many thousands of people have joined up with the "Occupy" movement.  --  As a way of "expressing" discontent with the status quos.

 

Expression is the opposite to depression.

 

Depression is currently like a national epidemic in our country.  Millions of people are on prescription "anti-depressants" and millions more attempt to avoid feelings of disquiet, discomfort or despair though compulsive exercises and/or obsessions with personal health or appearance or reliance upon alcohol or other recreational drug consumption.

 

I don't believe most people fully realize the power they actually do have to, not only make changes in their individual lives that directly impact the "status quo" (i.e. purchasing power and choices), but also, in how and who they express themselves to.

 

The "silent majority" (which actually represents most Americans) needs to learn how to express itself and simply say, "we care" -- not only as a matter of societal and environmental consciousness, but individual mental and emotional health as well.  

 

The price for not doing so is the assumption of complicity to wrongdoing and absence of cultural ethics codes.

 

That is a heavy price indeed, as it ultimately results in destruction of self, as well as the moral fibre of society itself.

 

In a little while, I will head to Central Park again in search of any Canada geese that might still survive or have recently arrived somewhere in the 874 acre property.

 

But, I will be thinking, "That only others can rise up and say, 'We care' before it is too late for both the geese and us."  -- PCA

 

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