To be honest, I have not been reading the daily updates from the newspapers nor have I been watching the news on TV for some months now. First of all, I really have too little time left for this activity, which, at one point in my life... was a 'luxury' and of which I could never do without. But that was a long time ago. When I noticed that there was really nothing much one would miss out in the news reports (if you know what I mean)... I decided not to while away precious time reading up on matters that don't concern me. I was wrong.... there are things that are happening out there we care about... and they are people out there who feel as strongly about issues as we do...
During the past week or so, reports on atrocities at the animal pound in Setapak had caused hackles to rise and animal lovers have come out loud and clear with their protests on the brutal killing of stray animals rounded up by DBKL. TV3 aired some really scary scenes yesterday night and anyone who had watched the program would be as moved as NOROZ KHAN who posted this letter with a heart-touching message from the Holy Koran.
Here's the letter as it appeared in the STAR (dated 11th Feb, 2009):
"What a shame that barbarism is secretly dwelling in the dark corners of our society. People now seem to enjoy taking the lives of dogs by breaking their skulls and necks and brutally beating them to death.
Constantly we hear the same old saying that we are forbidden to touch dogs and that this animal is filthy and indecent.
If so, why would God have planted such loyalty and love in this particular animal?
To all my fellow Muslims, I shall quote from Surah Al-Kahf in the Holy Quran verse number 18: “And you would have thought them awake, while they were asleep. And We turned them on their right and on their left sides, and their dog stretching forth his two forelegs at the entrance [of the Cave or in the space near to the entrance of the Cave (as a guard at the gate)]. Had you looked at them, you would certainly have turned back from them in flight, and would certainly have been filled with awe of them.”
If our very own Holy book shows us how loyal and protective these dogs were to those who did not do wrong, where did we learn to hate and despise this animal?"
NOROZ Khan,
Kuala Lumpur.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/2/11/focus/3241664&sec=focus
Thank you, Noroz... for your compassion and understanding that animals too, like man, deserve to live and die with dignity.
Perhaps, we would never understand why such things are happening and are allowed to happen....has man himself come to a crossroad where such actions are justified by his superiority over the defenceless and the weak? Would it be ethical to say that, in time, we will dispose off our own kind as we are doing now to these poor animals? I shudder to think of the possibility..... the hearts of men are so hardened as to forget how to feel and love anymore.....what a way to go!!!
Here are more news reports on the issue:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=268ZThWBoMA&feature=channel_page
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/2/9/central/3224186&sec=central
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/2/6/central/3204204&sec=central
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