Inhumanity To Women, Children, And Horses, Too
By Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy on August 13, 2009 at 5:45 PM in Abuse, Africa, Crime, Current Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Aid, Foreign Policy, Human Rights, Misogyny, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Women and Children
Secretary Clinton does it again. Stands up for women, that is. Here is a brief clip of her speaking in the Democratic Republic of Congo as she continues on her trip through Africa:
As she has done for so many years, Hillary Clinton speaks out for, and stands with, women and children, calling out those who have treated them with such brutality, with such inhumanity. She calls out for justice for these women and children, and for their torturers to receive their comeuppance.
Sadly, inhumanity is not limited to how people treat other people, but the inhumane ways we treat animals, as well. In this particular case, I am referring to horses. And you know I am nuts about horses, have been my entire life. I simply cannot begin to fathom how anyone could do this, and I am thankful that I cannot fathom it.
And that is your warning. The next video is very, very difficult to watch. If you have a weak stomach, you may think twice about watching it:
These two may not seem related, but I think they are. They both speak to how capable people are of despicable acts. In terms of the horses, it is about greed, plain and simple. In terms of the brutal rapes of women and children in DRC by people in the military, no less, it is to control and terrorize civilians, as well as for greed and power.
And in both cases, women and children, as well as the horses, are pawns in someone’s game, used and abused to suit someone’s needs other than their own, with no one to help them. Both the women and children, as well as the horses, are innocent victims of someone’s brutality, of their inhumanity.
Thank HEAVENS we have Secretary Clinton to speak up for women here and abroad, to work to end rape as a tool by those in power. How lucky we are to have someone like HER on our side, who is dedicated to eradicating violence against women. This is her lifelong quest thus far, and goddess knows, I pray she is successful.
As to the horses, I am not a violent person. I have never owned a gun in my life. Frankly, I am scared to death of them though I did have my brother teach me how to handle one properly simply because I think it is important to know how to handle one safely. You just never know when you might come across one these days.
ike I said, I am scared of them.
That being said, I certainly can relate to thinking of horses as beloved family members. Heck, I’d rather hang out with my horse any day than some members of my blood family (three of whom are certified Obots). And I can certainly understand wanting to take action to protect these creatures who cannot protect themselves. Think of it - these horses see people as their caregivers, so naturally, if a person is coming to them, they aren’t going to know the person bears ill intent toward them. How could they know? And that innocence, that trust, literally leads them to slaughter.
I’m sorry - hang on - talk amongst yourselves - okay. Whew.
I know this is nothing new, the manner by which people can treat other people, and animals (Michael Vick is certainly a case in point for the latter after his rampant dog abuse - and he is already out of prison, of course). But it doesn’t mean that I have to accept that this is just how it is. No, not at all.
I hope you won’t either. Thank Secretary Clinton for her work (heck, you can even text or Twitter her). Join an organization like People Helping Horses, which takes in abused and rescued horses, restoring them to health, then allowing them to be adopted by responsible horse owners. Speak up, speak out. We CAN make a difference. We have to make a difference…
(Release: November 13)
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RRRA,
Thank you for the video of Hillary. I always feel a little better when I see she is still working for all of us.
I had read a story about Hillary going to the camp tht described her as being visibly shaken by what she saw and heard. Somehow, I could not see O as being moved at all–sorry, I don’t think he has a heart. I still get angry that she is not our President, and I guess at my age I can count on being angry about that until I die.
I couldn’t watch the horse video because then I can’t get that kind of thing out of my mind for days. As someone whose favorite charities are animal charities, I sometimes just get overwhelmed with confusion and pain over the way people can treat animals as things without any feelings or value.
One of the first news releases I read today was about Hillary, but it wasn’t related to the news clip shown here. I think it was the ABC News website reporting that Hillary committed another gaffe in Nigeria, I think, by pointing out that the US has its own election problems such as the 2000 Presidential election which was won by giving the State of Florida to Bush whose brother happened to be the Governor of Florida. That’s a gaffe?…..No, that is the absolute, unvarnished truth. I wanted to send Hillary an email complimenting her on being so forthright. Too bad if the Republicans are offended by the truth. Way to go Hillary. Now, after reading this post I have an address to send her an email. Thanks.
Couldn’t watch the horse video.
I saw that!!
Everything she said was the truth.
The whole world saw what took place, and the US would look like hypocrites if we didn’t talk about our election problems while trying to criticize/check other countries.
If a Nigerian election came down to an area that was governed by the brother of a Presidential contender, with so many ballots left uncounted, we would have been the first ones saying that it was fraudulent.
I have no problems with what she said. I swear, there are certain aspects of American culture that still has a problem with a woman who “speaks out of place” or “doesn’t stay in her role.”
I saw that, too. WHO didn’t think that 2000 was an election debacle?? We ALL did! When the Supreme Court steps in to stop the counting, I think that qualifies as “a problem.”
Of course, if Obama had said it, everyone would be tittering (and twittering) away abt him acknowledging what all the rest of us knew, blah, blah, blah, and he would be hailed as a hero. But Clinton? Nope.
I agree, Lily. She had every right to point out that the 2000 election was a steal. The place where I was working at the time was composed mainly of Republicans and the chant was :
Get Over it.
And then, last year when we watched what happened during the primaries, my Democratic friends said:
Get Over It.
I think Hillary is doing a fabulous job. Instead of the press highlighting these moments when she stands up to the gross brutality of rape and champions the rights of women and children, what do we hear? She went into a snit over a rude question and how unbecoming her behavior was.
The press and her own fellow Dems take every opportunity to cut her to size. But she’s bigger than all of them and she keeps on keeping on.
Makes me proud [and those moments are hard to come by anymore].
I have always admired Hillary. It is unfortunate that she has allowed herself to be marginalized by the Obama admin being trusted to do foreign policy for a small country in Africa.
She deserves more than what she is getting. I hope she wakes up and declare that she can’t take it no more. She can always go back to her promise that she will fight for us. Now is the time to fight for the common people. This is the perfect time to break umbilical cord with the Democratic party and declare her support against big government.
But I guess party is more important than country.
We have witnessed tabloid magazines getting the accurate story long before the “mainstream media”… Well, according to the National Examiner, Meshelle is pushing Barry to try and get rid of Hillary around the beginning of next year.
I hope this doesn’t happen.
The first first-lady to have a Master’s degree, the first-first-lady to have her own office in the White House, she went from First Lady, to US Senator to getting the most votes in Dem primary history.
Hillary’s a bad sista (she’s my honorary sista, lol) and I hate to see the Obama’s try to ruin her.
Condi Rice was the right hand woman to the worst President in history and even she gets more respect than Hillary does. It’s insane.
I bet the news won’t say a word about this, instead they will make 24 hour news about her asserting her authority.
Imagine that…..being consistent with your stand on women’s rights over decades. And as we all witnessed organizations like NOW can’t even claim that fame. I hope this gives the women in Africa some comfort that people are trying to curb this violence and the money is used for that purpose.
As to the horse story, saw this report and immediately thought of you and your love sick horse. We don’t own guns or horses but completely understand the sentiment and would be camping out to protect them if we did.
We’ve been at the bad end of a neighbor intentionally killing an animal and a couple of other disgusting events. Like you said, I am grateful to not be able to fathom that kind of cruelty. But truly what we’ve experienced is quite small in comparison to these events. Walking out to such a scene and knowing the suffering the horse went through and why….sigh.
Words just don’t do any justice to events like these. Rape used to destroy lives and communities and murdering innocent loved ones for profit.
Thanks for reminding us of our humanity, R3Amy, and the fact that we must keep speaking up for it.
Hillary is a leader–she says things others fear to say, and she doesn’t back down. I hope that $17 Million actually makes it way to the victims of such grievous assault and those who protect and heal them.
Didn’t watch the horse videos–will pray for their peaceful transition on Earth or beyond.
Common courtesy is learned. Without it, bullying, vicious verbal attacks and extreme physical abuse grow unchecked. It takes work to raise respectful human beings and fight for our democracy. It’s all part of the big picture, which includes kindness to animals.
When women around the world unite and help each AS WOMEN, we will be safer.
That’s our Hill. She has championed for equal and fair treatment of women all her life, and is still at it.
History is going to be kind to this woman. She’s a warrior.
Well said. That’s our Hillary.
Thanks so much Rev. Amy for this story. it really breaks my heart how disrespectfully she is still treated by the media here. And the worse Obama is doing the nastier they will be to her. Bank on it.
Thanks, Ani, and I fear you are right. Like her getting testy about, with all of her focus being the plight of women, being asked what her HUSBAND thought (even though they then claimed the student was asking abt the president - because I am certain that “husband” and “president” are EXACTLY the same word in their language. Ahem.).
I sure don’t remember ANYONE in the MSM going after Obama when HE got/gets testy - no, they claim he is incredibly even-keeled, even when there are numerous examples to prove them wrong.
But after all the traveling, all of the difficult things she has seen on this trip, and the marginalization as the result of elevating Susan Rice, and the 24 gazilion czars who intrude in her territory, that she might BE a little testy. I would be, too.
I am also “nuts” about horses. Here in Colorado we have the Front Range Equine Rescue, Colorado Horse Rescue and a few others. These organiztions work mostly with abused and neglected domestic horses. I completely understand the woman that said she will shoot anyone that comes on her property intending to harm her horses. Statistics prove that people that abuse animals will evenually abuse other people, with the victims usually being women and children.
As far as the man at the end talking about how horse meat is in demand in the Miami area - horse meat is not safe for human consumption because of vaccinations and other medications given to domestic horses. Except for any innocent children, anyone that willing eats horse meat deserves to get sick, because they are sick in the head to begin with.
I am also a member of several wild horse advocacy groups. We are constantly dealing with people and government agencies (Cattle ranchers, BLM, Agriculture departments, etc.) that want to eradicate all wild horses and send any “excess” animals to slaughter. Not all members of the groups are against wild horses, but many are, and they seem to have a lot of political power and influence. What they conveniently forget, is that wild horses, and the federal lands they live on, belong to all the people of the US. They are a national treasure and a symbol of the true wild west.
If you would like to learn more about the wild horse issues, a few good sites are: http://www.wildhorsepreservation.com and http://www.wildhorsepl.org
I’m sorry, I don’t know how to create a link.
evenually = eventually
I just realized I created links! It is possible to teach an old dog new tricks.
carr50, thank you for the information, and the links. I get the notices from the BLM abt the horses/donkeys they have for auction, as well as the cost the gov’t is shouldering (i.e., we are shouldering) to feed and care for the surplus they have now. With the economy being the way it is, fewer people are adopting them.
That being said, you are right that they belong to us all, and are an important symbol. I have heard of some of the organizations you mentioned, too. Good for you for your involvement!
For those who couldn’t watch, the bottom line is that people are stealing these horses to get their meat, which sells for $40 a lb. It is all abt the money.
And yes, they and those who eat this meat, deserve everything they have coming…
“…cost the gov’t is shouldering (i.e., we are shouldering) to feed and care for the surplus they have now.” The sad part is that the surplus is manmade. There are fewer than 30,000 wild horses still in the wild in this country, with over half in Nevada. And the BLM states that is too many. However, there are over 2 million cattle on the same federal lands. Guess who has political clout and who doesn’t?
Thanks RRRA for giving Hillary Clinton the kind of attention she deserves but doesn’t often get.
I can’t bring myself to watch the horse video though.
Reverend Amy, I cannot and will not watch or read anything dealing with the misuse or abuse of animals. Learning to love animals and respect them as fellow identities, fellow travellers on this difficult journey, worthy of our respect and friendship, is the most important thing I’ve ever learned in life. We are animals, not much different than other mammals, except we may have bigger brains, which is our blessing and our curse.
I have 2 cats, and I literally would not sell either one for any amount of money, even though I am poor. And that makes me a rich man, a millionaire many times over. And if either cat dies before I do, I will replace it with another one of equal value–priceless. If I had the means to take care of all of them, I’d probably have a bunch more, and dogs, too. And horses, why not? Might even let them come in the house . . .
Patience and oowawa, I really do understand not wanting to watch it. It was horrifying, no doubt abt it. I don’t blame you one bit.
And oowawa, I completely understand, and yes, friend, you are a rich man indeed.
I had to smile when I read that your cats make you a millionaire. Recently, after I had groomed Jordan, I commented that he looked like a million bucks. I then turned to the woman who stables him, and asked her how much she thought a horse like Jordan would cost (I got him for free, btw - he was rescued from a crazy, abusive owner), and she said, “Well, I heard he cost a million bucks!”
Good for you for rescueing Jordan. I know you rescued other animals as well. Jordan is the lucky one, the previous abusive owner is the loser. Keep up the great work!
Must Read Column by Judith Warner in NYTimes….
August 12, 2009, 10:14 pm
Hillary Fights a Tide of Trivialization
by Judith Warner
http://warner.blogs.nytimes.com/
Must Read Column:
http://warner.blogs.nytimes.com/
Just be glad we didn’t live a hundred years ago when there was no witness via camera to genocide and horrific animal abuse.
I’m very thankful to all the dinosaurs that gave us energy to stop using beasts of burden.
Note to Hillary.
Coast. Stop taking long grueling trips and then being asked to comment on anything. Do what Romney is doing - sitting back and allowing Obama to self-destruct.
Hillary can walk into the 2012 nomination if she does the basic job - keep a low profile - and do little to associate with Obama. She does not need to “shine” and, in fact, it could backfire on her.
This country is rapidly building an enormous distrust of Obama who has been caught in too many lies and deceit. The more he talks the more accelerated is his self-destruction. Romney is smart to stay out of the way and allow it to happen. Hillary should do the same and not risk any more gaffes because of exhaustion and bad translators.
certified Obot
HC is the only one of the adm. that I will watch, no matter the clip, no matter from where.
Could not watch the second video. Animal rights must become law.
Ah yes, we all wring our hands over mis-treatment of women, children and animals! (and we should)
But what of mis-treatment of men? As usual, the sexist Clinton cares not one bit about that, as do none of you! Men are not immune to the evils of these regimes!!