The art of not killing each other

My latest article on the apparent move by the Addis Ababa City Administration to commit dogicide on homeless Ethiopian dogs somehow managed to attract attention of condemnation and praise. Some have slammed the article as untimely (maybe a millennium earlier) and inconsiderate of the African context. To my surprise, I was also accused by a few individuals of trying to divert attention from the real problems of Ethiopia-poverty, conflict, HIV/AIDS et al.

However, all these denunciation and accusation fails to recognize some of the principles of child mental development and the consequent effect on our conduct and modality of relating to one another. These detractors miserably fail to appreciate the fact that it is disrespect for life, of whatever type, and indifference to killing that ultimately leads individuals to participate in killing fellow human beings whether it is murder or at larger scale genocide. Do you think a person who was taught to care and cater for animals during childhood can kill another person as such easily? No I don’t think so. The point I am trying to convey here is that individuals who learn to respect and value life of all types, and especially domesticated animals, most probably would be morally incapacitated of killing fellow humans.

Dogs are the closest and possibly the oldest associates of the human species. If we can kill them with no difficulty and moral restraint, then the message is that we can kill each other with little difficulty and less moral restraint. That is the whole point being grasped by some from the dogicide campaign. I think it is because of this fact that in most of Hollywood movies, of some paranoid serial killers, there is a background story of how during childhood formative period the then innocent child was forced into dissecting the bodies of frogs ultimately to develop a lust for killing. Those stories have grains of truth.

What do our children learn from the barbaric act of the Addis Ababa City Administration? When little children see people killing dogs with such ease and peace of mind, what would enter in to their mind? Simple. Killing is easy.
Actually, the irony is that these kids may have dogs in their home, their dogs. And they are immune from dogicide. They ask why and think, rightly, it is because the dogs are their possession. At his point a “preserve mine and destroy others” philosophy will take hold in their mind. And this would serve as the beginning of the dangerous dichotomous thinking of “we Vs them.”
So, what this article is trying to show is that we don’t just value and respect the life of others. Rather, we learn it. And one of the best ways to learn this extremely important lesson is to care for and value the life of animals at best and stop slaughtering them at least. Concerned people are calling up on the Addis Ababa City Administration and the government of Ethiopia to do, at least, the least they can do to the homeless Ethiopian dogs. They never choose to be homeless. It just happens.

The bottom line, time and again, is that it is easy for any society that is at peace with nature to maintain peace amongst and the art of not killing each other is developing it through learning to love and care for animals, regardless of their ‘economic status’. If those people who were perpetrators in genocide and war crimes are to be meted out jusice it would certainly be sentencing them into caring and catering to pets; that way one would feel safe that they would not disrespect and devalue life.

Since all human beings are born with equal and inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms. They endowed with reasons and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood with responsibility. Furthermore, everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
If the above mentioned statements are true and accepted by all human beings, then let no one destroy any dog, let them live happy life. All human being should take responsibility in protecting and caring for dogs, as they have long been our domesticated associates, and have the right to live.
All, Christians, Muslims, pagans, it has been clearly stated, “You shall not kill” therefore, Do not kill any dog, instead tame more dogs, and seek for better modern management from Veterinary expertise.

(By Kassahun Addis)

September 7, 2007