"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
- Mahatma Gandhi
Yesterday there was a poll on this site about which kind of dog would be the best selection for the Obamas. I noticed that overwhelmingly people chose the rescue option. This was not surprising, I would expect this from readers and bloggers on the Daily Kos, but it is not a stretch to suggest that this may not be the average American response.
The discussion about the dog-elect to be, although not the most important topic on the list, is one that can send a message about an issue that has been lost in political discussion. Animal rights issues seem to be virtually relegated to online chat groups and petition email lists. It would be great to see a dog selection that could bring to light little known examples of animal abuse such as that of retired racing greyhounds. The terrible treatment of these beautiful animals after they have finished their racing careers is a symptom of a general disregard for the sanctity of other than human life that pervades our industrialized and mechanized world.
The adoption of a dog from a pound would be another good choice for many reasons as well.
This discussion of the presidential dog, one that so easily fits into the American public’s fascination with the daily lives of high profile people, lends itself to lighter conversation, as well as occassions for jokes and necessary tension release (see President-Elect Obama’s first press conference today). However, it goes beyond the possibility of highlighting problems with the treatment of potential pets, as it can easily be connected to the related issue of the food industry. We must begin to think about the state of agriculture and the basic American way of eating as a priority as it relates to discussions of the economy, environmental issues, not to mention moral and ethical issues. Although there has been a recent surge in interest in this area, making it more a mainstream issue, it was not even mentioned during the campaign, let alone the debates.
The well-being of America is not only measured in fiscal terms as we know, and the treatment of animals, whether as potential pets or potential food, must be included in a discussion of the spiritual, psychological and moral well-being of the nation.