Lessons in Language (Reply/Continued)

DianeMarie123 Writes: As I think I mentioned a few months ago, my son is adopted (16 years ago tomorrow, as a matter of fact). Had I called the agency and asked if they had any babies they wanted to get rid of, today I'd probably be a lot richer financially and a lot poorer emotionally.

Reply: Thank you for this beautiful post, which truly says it all in just a few short words. Your son sounds so fortunate that you were there to provide him with loving home and heart. Thank God, for the people like you willing and open to take on those children unable to be kept by biological parents. What a sorely sadder world it would be without you!

On the issue of words and phrases and how we use them to describe our relationship with animals, I was wondering what others might think of the terms, "Custodian" or "Steward" to better describe so-called, "ownership" of animals?

As for the all too common phrase, "Get rid of," it really needs to be challenged and corrected any time it is used (regardless of intent) to refer to living beings -- though others might take heed from my unfortunate experience with Kyra Sedgewick to find more "delicate" or "artful" ways of doing the correcting.

Society as a whole, has not caught up to the need to change some of our language and expressions regarding animals. --PCA

******

Written by mandy787 Blog about this entry

This entry has 4 comments: (Add your own)

#4 Comment from jmuhjacat
5/14/08 5:00 PM | Permalink

ADORABLE kitten, Patty. (As are ALL cats.)

Couldn't agree with you more -- and not only as regards the members of other species, but also in talking of and to each other. The unadulterated insults, slander, libel, malicious slang, and garbage that flow out of many people's mouths may be considered "COOL!!!!" by them; it is hurtful, ugly, vicious, and just plain ignorant to me, and when I hear people talking like this, I run as far and as fast as I can in the opposite direction. As a writer, a reader, and an appreciator of languages, I would much prefer to think that none of our ears are garbage cans, that all of us have at least a modicum of sensitivity even in these times, and that most of us genuinely wish to be well thought of in terms of our intelligence and our caring.

Yeah, I know. But I have a right to hope.
#3 Comment from skdean53
5/14/08 3:55 PM | Permalink

My current foster kitty is an assumed "throw-away". He came to the shelter an affectionate, loving, and personable cat; probably about a year old, but with a poorly healed hip injury (we are guessing from a hit-by-car accident). He is now neutered, and the hip has been surgically repaired; he will always have an unusual sitting position, but can walk and be handled without pain. He remains very loving and active--follows people around like a dog, very vocal, loves to be petted and plays actively but gently. He will be leaving me this weekend, to go to a group home for the developmentally delayed; his adopter has previously adopted from us, and the animals she has adopted previously seem well cared for, well-adjusted, and get a lot of love from the residents in the home. This particular adopter always adopts "special-needs" animals; it seems they fit in nicely with the special humans in her care, and all are thriving and benefit from the relationship.
#2 Comment from geomad22
5/14/08 11:07 AM | Permalink

About the throw aways:

I have taken many young cats from the shelter that are very affectionate and human oriented. I am certain they were held and cuddled when they were kittens, adored for all they were worth.

And now that they are no longer small and cute, they are discarded and terribly confused and unhappy. These are the so called strays that people think no one wants. They were pampered at one time. And they make wonderful pets since they seem to be GRATEFULL to be safe loved again. I would never have any other pet than one of these creatures.

Would that these cats, (and dogs) were just feral animals that we could easily dispose of without concern.
#1 Comment from rdautumnsage
5/14/08 9:09 AM | Permalink

In my work with the strays, I often hear the phrase "throw-aways"...it breaks my heart to hear this! These animals want nothing more than love and companionship, to say they are throw-aways is to say they have no more worth than trash thrown in the garbage. Yet in so many ways that phrase alone describes the exact feelings of the heartless people who toss them in the street or abandon them. (Hugs) Indigo
http://journals.aol.com/rdautumnsage/ravens-lament/

Tales & Tails of New York Public Journal
Back to Journal	Archives \| Alerts x Entry Alerts Comment Alerts \| Feeds

Tales & Tails of New York

Lessons in Language (Reply/Continued)