I’ve been thinking about nobility lately.
Horatio, First Viscount Nelson
See the association?
Bougarabou O. Hooligan, F.R.S.
Nobility’s up for me these days because I need the uplift.
A fellow blogger cries out, from time to time and with great passion, against cruelty.
Our subject here is of course “animals” — but I myself don’t differentiate between cruelty to animals, and just plain cruelty.
Cruelty scares me to death. It seems possible only if such people have become completely cut off from the world of feeling. Cut off from, unknowing of, any world wider than just their own petty devices and desires. Surely cruelty is cloaked in stupidity and indifference — surely as a dodge against the awful, potent cocktail of frustration and rage that must lurk underneath.
Bugs is concerned about this.
Spending time and company with people like you, who join me in caring for the miracle of life that is, in my case, the Very Strange Cat who shares life with me, is the healing antidote I need. Otherwise, I can’t endure the scars I bear, myself, from having suffered just this kind of stupid cruelty. Inflicted on me by another person who so suffered, and on and on it goes.
Bugs ponders.
He recalls this catchy quote, from Titus Andronicus:
“Sweet mercy is nobility’s true badge.”
Nice, huh?
Course, it’s said by a vanquished mother begging Titus to spare the life of her son, and does he? not, and then what happens to Titus after that – well, one of Shakespeare’s most gruesome cautionaries against the accumulation of bad karma. . . .
So for me, this is it:
Life shows up, in ways we would not choose if we had any say – and how do we cope, move, with grace and nobility?
Not easy. You, we, all sentient beings, need great care.
Caritas. The antidote to cruelty.
Photo of Nelson’s Column thanks to David Castor
catself 
A very moving post. I must read it again…
Your attention is a gift for which I’m most grateful, Anya.
A very excellent post, and one that I really needed to read! I too needed the uplift, and really appreciate it, AND I appreciate the link to my blog.
As I just mentioned in the comments on my own blog post, I’m saddened to hear that you too suffered at the hands of someone who was cruel, though am heartened and inspired to see that you haven’t let it destroy you.
And I too have found the company of fellow animal bloggers to be a healing antidote… it is just what I need, sometimes, to see that there are others with the same concerns and cares and priorities.
Now… off to nurture the lives that have been entrusted to me.
P.S. – Fantastic pictures of Bugs! I have no idea of how you got him to stand still for that long, because mine aren’t very good at obliging me with that lately.
Dear Melanie, your presence is so wonderful, here and at your place. Thank you so much for your encouragement. I am determined to prevail, and encouragement is exactly what I need. Suffering, unnoticed or downplayed (as I am appalled to read over @ yours) seems to me the utter worst thing. Really. Crazy-making. I mean that literally.
I love to think of you caring for the lives entrusted to you. What an elegant way to put it.
Bugs stand still? Well — not so much. I usually have three blurry pics for every one of him I manage to catch. . . . Let’s hear it for digital.
I tend to think Cats are much more noble than humans. At least they only kill to eat. They have pure motives. Having lived through a mentally cruel person, I’d like to add not all scars are external. Hurrah to you for moving past awfulness.
And to you, dear Nipper. Solid!
Oh my goodness!! I can’t believe Im reading this post today. What a small world we have. Just recently in the past week a Evil family member that abused me over 30years ago wormed her way back into my goodness…by telling me she was dieing of Cancer and telling me her kitty Oreo was sick too. You guys she almost had me back in her life. Then I find out…now remember its only been 6 days since I started talking to her…she is not dieing of cancer and she lied about her cat being sick just so she could try and worm her way back into my life. She also turned on me when I invited her to church. This woman is really sick. I just wish I could take that kitty away from her…someone like her does not deserve the company of any Precious Feline. So tonite when I go to bed I will say a prayer for Oreo. I so hope he does not go through any abuse.
Please kitty angel up there…protect this precious feline Oreo.
Great Post!
Whew, Melody. I hear a lot of shared compassion in what you say here and I love you for that. Poor Oreo. Purr-rayers for that little guy. May he soften her heart (or head, or whatEVER it may take for kindness to enter this picture).
A wonderful photo comparison there. Bugs and Nelson, Nelson and Bugs. I, too, had the misfortune to get involved with a cruel person. I think at many times it was only the love and comanionship I shared with my cats that kept me sane. They are remarkable creatures. I’d love to see a huge Nelson-esque statue dedicated to all cats past and present. We’ll just send that photo of Bugs on his pedestal to the stonesmith.
Oh wouldn’t that just be completely totally fantastic. I am SO smiling at this.
Wonderful post. I also hate cruelty (in real life,because I can still accept it in movies).
Love that comparison pictures. What is that? the one BUgs is sitting on?
It is a gi-normous scratching post. And can you believe it, it’s not gi-normous enough. Here’s how the sequence goes:
1. Walk up to the post. Plant rear feet, I don’t know, maybe 6″ away from its base.
2. Reach up with left paw, dig in left paw. Lean hard on left paw.
3. Then reach higher with right paw, spreading right foot out like a baseball glove.
4. Hit top of scratch post, which isn’t scratch post but slippery top-thing.
Result: Right paw-claws don’t get The Treatment.
Strategy for Future: Obtain a higher-still scratch-post, from the source I wrote about once. Let me post this comment and see where that was, and then come back with the answer (i.e., how much it’ll cost me).
[Later]: Oh-kaaay! We have $139.95, plus 30 pounds of shipping & handling, from Purrfect Post, the Mondo.
How I would love this thing! The one I currently have (pictured) is 32″. The Mondo is 39″ and those extra 6″ would make all the difference. Well, sigh, in another lifetime. . . .
Here’s the link for the Mondo: http://www.purrfectpost.com/mondo.html
And here’s a link where I make some fun, repeated here just for the heck of it: https://catself.wordpress.com/2011/02/17/crampons-claws-which/
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