As a nation we can weep at the suffering of animals we keep as pets, but collectively it seems too many of us have hardened our hearts to the suffering of members of our own species, for whatever reason. We don't blame the dogs and cats who suffered such abuse for their misery, so why do so many of us blame the victims of abuse, violence and neglect merely because they happen belong to that sub species of hominids referred to as homo sapiens sapiens?

I had not really thought of it in that manner, but I think that that quote cuts to the heart of it all.

I also agree with what you say about the Christians who seem to miss the boat.  We were talking about that at Bible study last night at church.  We can lament the fact that the Fred Phelps' and others of his ilk get all of the press coverage, but as Christians we absolutely have to wrest the microphones from their hands to get the true message of Christianity out there.  After all the word gospel is from the Old English for good news.  

For example, it aggravates me to no end when a request is made of our very small church for assistance with a heating bill of some other help like getting someone's kids a new pair of shoes for school, that we get so much resistance within the church.  So far, though, I and others who agree with me, have been able to lead our church to do these acts of kindness.

Interestingly enough, the ASPCA is on my daughter's and my list of charities that we support each year with a small monetary donation.  But, so are The VFW, The Smile Train, Special Olympics, The Carter Center, The Innocence Project, and a few others.

I really enjoy your writings, Steven, though as a lurker, you might not realize it.  Thanks for writing about such thought provoking stuff (what I call 'mirror moments' when I teach Sunday School-- those times when the lesson makes you look into the mirror to see how it really applies to you, and not as an abstract conceptual lesson.)