For the past three weeks I have noted particularly that people are surrounded by what can only be termed madness. It is incomprehensible to me that justice and compassion can be so largely ignored; that true ignorance be allowed to reign supreme in the world and, indeed, in our very own province. The vast majority of people by which we are surrounded are concerned with one thing and one thing only, their own welfare. That, in it self, is not necessarily a negative proposition. What is negative is the fact that the vast majority do not consider that their own welfare is based upon the well being of the surround. That is to say, that, if other beings are suffering, they, too, will suffer: if other beings are content and happy they too will be happy and content. This situation cannot be appreciated, it seems, until one has experienced suffering. However, even then one cannot turn inward alone, but must see that he or she or it must look outward, as well, and recognize that suffering is suffering no matter where or how or by whom or by what it is being experienced. Until this occurs for the individual, reason and compassion are not possible.

Let the above serve as prolegomena to this which I offer as tribute to Mister. His situation may easily be ignored, at least more easily than many others. However, his is the ultimate, the most basic situation that occurs. Quietly and in obscurity he falls victim to the ignorance by which we are surrounded. He becomes expendable. He dies in a concrete prison, alone. In the past three weeks I have looked far and wide for an individual or group that actually seeks to change the ignorance by which we are surrounded. In British Columbia the paramount example that I find is the one on whose message board I now write. The principles upon which it broaches its task are, indeed, the very reason and compassion I have expostulated above. Its disagreement with the SPCA, is the disagreement in which all reasonable and compassionate two-legged animals must engage. Animals, other than human animals, are the most vulnerable beings on our planet. They are exploited, made to suffer and often murdered. That Judy Stone and AAS relentlessly pursue justice and compassion is the ultimate tribute to Mister.