Is there any substitute for freedom?
The past few months have been very emotional for most of us with the ongoing pandemic. With businesses and jobs impacted worldwide, those lucky enough to remain employed have a deeper sense of gratitude and appreciation for their job. But all of us have gone through mental and emotional challenges, including anxiety, depression, exhaustion, and helplessness as we navigate through the ‘new normal’.
Personally, the pandemic has been a significant learning experience. With the internet flooded with perspectives and strategies to deal with these challenges, I believe that we as a community, are more united in supporting each other.
On the same lines of sharing one's lessons, I want to bring up one issue that has been on my mind from past time and in my opinion, it is among the top striking lessons that this pandemic is trying to tell us. It is the value of freedom that each living species on this planet is entitled to it, not just the humans.
Ironically, as the biggest proponents of freedom, we humans have been taking away this basic right from animals.
The thought of visiting a zoo as a recreational activity seems like a paradox. Being locked in a confined space with limited access suddenly does not seem justifiable to us anymore. I am struggling to justify going to the zoo now, seeing how helpless all humans are when asked to stay home.
We look forward to the economy reopening soon with the hope of returning back to our old lifestyles. We are hopeful that one day we can be free. But animals are brought in from their natural habitats and caged in. Their pandemic experience seems to be permanent. There is no hope to escape and enjoy freedom if you are an animal.
Our mind even tries to draw certain arguments to justify our actions. But, stepping back and looking at the broader picture, we can respond with some counter-perspectives on them as well. We tend to justify our actions by stating that we are taking good care of animals in zoo by feeding them properly and taking care of their health and needs. Going by this analogy, those of us who are living in million-dollar houses should be totally unaffected by the ongoing pandemic. But are we?
My idea behind this post is to bring forth my perspective and invite all of you to pause and think that if freedom is indispensable to us, then can we really turn a blind eye and instead participate in the activities which prohibit the same for animals? I would encourage you to share this post if the message made you pause and reflect and if it resonates with you.
Comments