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Mr. Ed

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Books
· My Dog Is My Hero

· Where The Redwing Sings

· Mystery of Madera Canyon

· Cemetery Island

· Gold River Canyon

· Curious Creatures - Wondrous Waifs, My Life with Animals


Short Stories
· Lullabies and Legends of The Loon

· Build It, And They Will Come

· The Dog On The Run

· The Cat Who Came For Christmas

· The 4th of July Kittens

· The Dog At The Drive-Thru Window

· Home For The Holidays

· Two Bonded Street Orphans, In From The Cold

· A Survivor's Tale

· Pigs, Turtles, and Bugs!


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· In Memory of My Little Flower

· The Joys of Relocating With Lots of Cats and Dogs

· The Month of June is 'Adopt A Cat Month'

· The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly In Today's Pet World

· The Easter Skunk

· February is Spay and Neuter Awareness Month

· Stand Up For Senior Pets

· Hurricane Katrina - My Journey Back In Time

· Very Sadly, Not Much Has Changed In The Last Ten Years

· I Am a Dog, Not a Thing


Poetry
· Yet Another 'Holiday of Terror' for Them

· Wildwood at Sunrise

· Ode To My Cat Woman

· They Always Listen To Their Hearts

· Me and My Shadow(s)

· It's 'Be Kind To Animals Week'

· Where The Redwing Sings

· Robin's Return

· All Kinds Of Dogs

· The Midnight Raid On Donuts

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· International Writing Award

· My Animal Book Wins an Award

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Our Apathy Now Grows

by Mr. Ed — Read all 1,530 poems by Mr. Ed

Wednesday, November 21, 2012


Poem Artwork
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“Apathy is a state of indifference,

Or the suppression of one’s emotions,

Such as concern, motivation, and passion.

An apathetic individual or an apathetic society

Has an absence of interest in, or concern about,

Emotional, social, spiritual, and/or physical life.”

 

Webster’s Dictionary

 

 

Music: God Help The Outcasts

 

 

 

It is very hard for me to celebrate Thanksgiving

When all around, I now see our apathy growing

We seem to have less and less concern for others

And less and less empathy for the suffering we bring

 

As our nation decimates the remaining habitats of wildlife

So many of us also ignore the many less fortunate among us

We have become a self-centered society, caring only for ‘Me’

And with our loyal pets, we’ve broken our ancient bond of trust

 

I received yet another heartbreaking call about an abandoned dog

That was living on the streets of a well-to-do suburban community

Ignored by most, as he sadly wandered alone, in search of kindness

Seeing him standing there so forlorn, brought immense sadness to me

 

Each and every night after desperately searching for some food all day

He would return to a man’s backyard, to sleep in a bed of dying leaves

I asked this man why he wasn’t attempting to help this homeless orphan

His reply: “It’s just a mangy old dog, and this one means nothing to me.”

 

I then asked so many of his neighbors, who actually owned dogs of their own

Why none of them were attempting to help this starving stray without a home

Most of them looked at me as if I were an alien from some very distant planet

“That damned dog is just a nuisance and a pest; so go away, and leave us alone.”

 

And now, despite their glares of anger, apathy, and indifference, I set up my trap

And soon, this starving, abandoned, ignored, and despised outcast, was inside of it

And soon, I whisked him away from this modern day community of apathetic humans

As the two of us drove off, I now so sadly wondered, why so much of mankind, has quit

 

And tomorrow, on Thanksgiving Day, many of these same people

Will be rooting for their favorite dogs on The National Dog Show

Oblivious to the fact, that this outcast, was suffering and starving

Right in their own neighborhood, right outside their own windows

 

It is very hard for me to celebrate Thanksgiving,

When all around, I now see our apathy growing;

We seem to have less and less concern for others,

And less and less empathy for the suffering we bring.

 

 

 

©Thanksgiving 2012, Mr. Ed

 

 

 

 
  


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Reviewed by Vivian Dawson
Reviewed on November 21, 2012
If living in a well-to-do
neighborhood means this
kind of indifference, then
I can appreciate my humble
dwelling, and continue to
sleep well at night *Mr Ed*

Lady Vivian

Reviewed by Rebecca McKeehan
Reviewed on November 21, 2012
So sad. I wish more had your insight and wisdom.

Rebecca

Reviewed by John Flanagan
Reviewed on November 21, 2012
i don't celebrate Thanksgiving but to those who do
Happy Thanksgiving and that's for you, too, Ed..
i give thanks for you and your incredible devotion
to justice and your extraordinary compassion that puts the
rest of us...i don't know where..but 'shame' comes to mind

john

Reviewed on November 21, 2012
"Blessed are the merciful"

Sincerely,

Regino

Reviewed on November 21, 2012
ED ... LILY 'NAILED IT' !

DON'T ALLOW OTHERS' APATHY TO DIMINISH YOUR EMPATHY!

TO THIS END, I OFFER MY SYMPATHY...

PEACE, BRO ... PEACE ...

Reviewed by Christine Tsen
Reviewed on November 21, 2012
Filled with very timely insights, Ed ~
Blessings,
Christine

Reviewed by Budd Nelson
Reviewed on November 21, 2012
i am sorry Mr Ed but i tend to agree with you
budd

Reviewed by Ronald Hull
Reviewed on November 21, 2012
I think it's just a passing mood. We are becoming more aware every day.

It's interesting how you refer to the dogs of autumn. We are still the same people that enjoy the circus at Rome, watching humans killing humans in the arena. There's a bit of that left while we watch the dogs and feast on meat and the destruction of the environment. Revealing the savages we still are. Indifferent to animals unless we own them.

Ron

Reviewed by D Johnson
Reviewed on November 21, 2012
Ed, I believe our apathy, as a society, is handed down from older generations. Our parents, grandparents and so on have planted the seed of apathy in our heads and in our hearts...until crisis takes place, then we are showered in a world of care and concern.

In other words apathy at any level is an attitude, plain and simple, change the attitude and apathy diminishes to a smattering of people.

If more people had your attitude, apathy would disappear over night.
Cheers,
Dan

Reviewed by m j hollingshead
Reviewed on November 21, 2012
timely, needed, poignant read

ghandi was right

m

Reviewed by Jansen Estrup
Reviewed on November 21, 2012
Touching, Mr. Ed ... Like so many injured men, you seem to find compassion for wounded animals easier than with people, and I sympathize. It is also telling that the comments on this work are extensive and heartfelt, unlike so many one liners. You've hit a real nerve with "Apathy" ... I wish you and your new companion a marvelous Thanksgiving. I am confident you will not be storming the gates of Big Box store on Black Friday. Hugs for both of you. Well done.

Reviewed on November 21, 2012
When people become to comfortable with themselves, and are too busy, and too engaged in shallow happiness, even just a clean driveway as Lisa said, or having their bellies full, spiritual happiness has no place to enter. Most people that are of the sharing and caring type like yourself, Lisa and others, have a spiritual truth, that is hardly accessed by whimsical greedy selfish gratification, but by a truth higher within themselves. I wonder if thanksgiving itself, is not one of those God awful feasts, where the thanks is misplaced a cheap thank you, for a full belly, instead for a full spiritual soul, no, you can't have both, tourture a turkey to death for a year, and feel good about it, if you can, you just gave thanks devaluing someone elses life, and so it is with all creatures, cats and dogs included. I remember that kind of thought process, for I was witness to that from early on, oh it's only a Jew, only a ....dog a. cat a wolf a tree... same thinking. Could we not be more thankful, for being more spiritually aware of being, and being one with all, we might treat all differently. Bless you Ed again, for making us aware, especially on this Holiday, to give us a chance to reflect more fully.

Reviewed on November 21, 2012
I am so very grateful to know grateful hearts
such as yours which turns some fur babies suffering
into the showers of pure lovingness

Love's Cornucopia
Vickie

Reviewed by P Wilson (Reader)
Reviewed on November 21, 2012
Hi Mr. Ed,

I understand exactly where you are coming from.

A couple of months ago a cat was seriously injured by a car coming in the opposite direction to mine. The driver drove away (didn't stop) and dozens of other driving just kept on going while the cat crawled into a neighbouring garden. I of course got out of my car and went in search of it. I knocked on several doors as it was hard to find and the looks I got made me feel that I was from another planet. The occupants just didn't care. Eventually I found the poor thing dying under a car, I got her to the vets but she sadly passed away. If not for me, it would have died all alone hiding under a parked car in a driveway and nobody would care. As I passed by the house where she was found, they were already washing the driveway off with a bucket of water. Having a clean driveway was more important than the animal. I was so angry and distressed and sometimes I wonder what makes human beings so cold. Some people are so callous it's frightening.

Anyway, I stand with you Mr Ed, your warmth of heart is inspiring and it's good to know there are people out there that care.

Warmest Regards,
LJR Worrall

Reviewed by John Domino
Reviewed on November 21, 2012
Dear Ed,

It's like that for homeless people as well. People are becoming numb to folks that are asking for handouts and beggars in the streets.
Some bad apples who are abusive drinkers and drug users spoil it for the whole bunch. Sure, dogs don't have those problems but the media can focus on mean Bull dogs and some groups want to ban the whole lot.

Most homeless folks are just trying to get by just like poor homeless cats and dogs. It seems like this problem that has been with us forever. We need to be compassionate and send dollars to groups that are compassionate to try to get help for homeless humans and pets.

Yes, I am an eternal optimist, my wife and I donate time and dollars to Love and Compassion Ministries (LCM) who in turn help the homeless and the incarcerated who are release from prisons to live decent lives. We calculated if all in our town would donate only one dollar a month to LCM we would be able solve the homeless problem in our city. I am sure goes the same for homeless pets. The question is WHY are the workers, shakers and doers in out community always amount to less than 1 percent? Yes, it's that bad - and I am an optimist!

Have a BLESSED Thanksgiving - for we are blessed to have 1 percent.

May peace, love, hope and happiness be with you and your family this Thanksgiving and always,

John Michael


Reviewed on November 21, 2012
It's apparent in society, but there are many
of us who do good works for the causes of others,
our four-legged, two legged, feathered and finned
angels who have been given to us to care for...

It pains us who care and love them... there are also
many humans who suffer, we must care and love for them
too...

Don't let this spoil your day, as we also have much to be
thankful for... take the time to celebrate this... our
loved ones, children, and extended family are also our
gift to us... Take time and remember this Mr. Ed...

For we are not meant to be Martyrs of the world denying
ourselves the gift of enjoyment for we too deserve to
have some happiness...

Just be thankful for what we have and continue to pursue
trying to change what we can, save what we can, care for
what we can...

I know it's difficult for us who care so deeply, but we
must for the sake of our loved ones too...

Love and Light
Lily


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