Humanity should respect animals.

[Shin'Ar]

There is no denying that, if one desires to express compassion to another form or being, regardless of the definitions, or the designations of what is aware or not, there is a difference between an act of compassion and an act of cruelty.

To take a pillow and tear it to pieces is not an act of compassion, regardless of the lack of awareness of a pillow.

And I think this is what Monica has always been trying to say.

She has a difficult time understanding why, if a human has the choice to act in a way more compassionate and considerate through a choice of options, they would continue to act in ways that continue to promote cruelty.

And there is no denying that those opportunities exist.

But the fact of the matter is that humans are not all compassionate in nature. In fact, the system in which we most of us participate, is designed and maintained by a very few elitists who have no regard for such things as compassion and self sacrifice.

And this what I have been struggling to help her understand. She has often stated a clear concern and frustration with people who seem to ignore what she believes to be clear and simple choices, promoting horrendous suffering when it is not even necessary.

But, in so doing, she is denying/forgetting the dual nature of creation, and the fact that choice is the very substance of creation. Not only will there be many who do not walk in light, love and compassion, but there will also be many who deliberately war against it.

And unfortunately, if we make our choices in ignorance of that, not wanting to understand that truth, and not wanting to discern the dynamics of that reality, than the choices we make, and any possible real benefit from them, becomes also limited by the degree of ignorance and denial with which we enter into them.

This is the definition of religion.

And such thinking and reaction becomes one's religion

Believing that there is only one way, one path and one understanding establishes a religious belief pattern, which will progressively nurture the denial and ignorance, rather then the truth of duality and choices. And this plays right into the hands of those which would deny you the mercy and compassion you expect from them.

To act on one's beliefs, in denial of the system of duality and the reality in which we also participate, regardless of how strongly one believes, or how one defines their belief, is still just an act of denial.

The spray paint on the fur coat only makes you feel better about what you believe in. It has not made the person wearing the coat feel better, nor did it have any actual affect on the millions of others who choose to wear fur or eat meat. All it did was deny the other the right to believe in what they choose.

Is the message beneficial? Yes.

Is the world better for having been made aware of the message and the choice? Yes.

My point is that there are more effective ways to address these issues than telling others that they should live their lives the way you would live yours, when the reality is that you are probably contributing to the system and its horrors in far more ways than you are supporting the one small potion you claim as your cause.

For example, simply by being an activist you promote activism, which has its extreme proportions, which can create wars.

Again, this is simply religion under another name.

When we can understand this, begin to actually consider the dynamics of the whole, we can more beneficially devise ways to address our concerns which may actually have far more potential and result.

Satisfying our own conscience only accomplishes further self satisfaction, which is no different than the self satisfaction of the ones which you are trying to tell are being selfish themselves.

Fighting fire with fire begets more fire.

Adding a fuel source to the fire makes the fire burn hotter.

Understanding the dynamics of fire, and how to interact with it, creates opportunities far greater than simply pointing at it and crying, 'That fire should not be there.'