WAKING UP TO GRATITUDE

WHEN WE GO THROUGH A LOT IN LIFE, SAY ALL SORTS OF LET DOWNS AND FAILINGS, IS WHEN WE´RE FACED WITH TWO CHOICES: EITHER BE GRATEFUL FOR ALL THOSE AND SEE THEM AS PART OF THE LEARNING PROCESS OF BEING BETTER HUMAN BEINGS, OR BEING UNGRATEFUL, COMPLAINING ABOUT ALMOST ANYTHING AROUND US. FOR SURE, BEING GRATEFUL TO GOD, OUR PARENTS, OUR TEACHERS AND OUR GOOD FRIENDS IS WHAT IT IS EXPECTED FROM US, NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS. FROM THE VERY EARLY MORNING WHEN WE WEAK  UP  WE´RE SURROUNDED BY A MILLION WONDERFUL THINGS LIKE A COSY HOME WITH ITS THOUSAND BEAUTIFUL, CONFORTABLE ITEMS, WHICH MAKE OUR LIFE MUCH BETTER, THE SUN WITH THE GORGEOUS NATURE GOD CREATED FOR US TO DELIGHT OUR EYES, OUR SENSITIVITY AND EMOTIONS WITH THE SCENT OF AROMATIC PLANTS LIKE LAVENDER THYME, ROSEMARY, PASSE-PARTOUT, MINT, BAY LEAF AND OUR TREASOROUS TREES LIKE EUCALYPTUSES, LIME TREES, LEMON TREES…WITH THEIR BREATHTAKING SCENTS WHICH MAKE US TAKE SOME STEPS INTO OUR LONG-AWAITED HEAVEN. GOD GIFTED NATURE WITH HEAVENLY BEACHES AND SO IN SUMMER TIME BEACHES ARE HEAVENS ON EARTH TO BE GRATEFUL FOR EVERYDAY. THE FOOD WE EAT DURING BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER IS ONE MORE REASON AMONG THE THOUSAND LEFT ONES TO TALK ABOUT WE´RE TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR.

THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER LEARNT TO SAY “THANK YOU, I LOVE YOU, I APPRECIATE IT, IT IS VERY KIND OF YOU…”. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYONE IN THEIR FAMILY ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPACT OTHERS MADE IN THEM. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO PREFER GETTING THEIR HEAD WET ON A RAINY DAY TO PUTTING ON THEIR COAT´S HOOD, SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DON´T VALUE THEIR HEALTH ENOUGH. WHEN SOMEONE DOESN´T KNOW HIS HEALTH IS HIS WEALTH IS WHEN HE DOESN´T VALUE HIS COAT´S HOOD, FOR EXAMPLE. THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO, WHILE AT A WAITING ROOM SURROUNDED BY WOODEN CHAIRS, CAN´T HELP BUT THINK OF THE BEAUTIFUL TREES THOSE WOODEN CHAIRS MUST COME FROM, AND AT THE SAME TIME THEY LOOK AT THE WOODEN CHAIRS THEY THANK THOSE TREES FOR THE WOOD WHICH THEY ARE ENJOYING THOSE MINUTES WHILE THEY ARE SITTING ON THEM, AND LOOKING AT THEM. WITH THESE TWO SIMPLE EXAMPLES, OUT OF SO MANY WE COULD MENTION, WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE NECESSITY TO THINK OVER THE PRESENT BLESSINGS WE ALL HAVE, MOST OF US ABUNDANTLY, AND SO AFTER REFLECTING ON THOSE THE ONLY LEFT THING FOR US TO DO WOULD BE TO PRACTICE DAILY EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE. THE BEST WAY TO START OFF THE DAY IS BEFORE WE EVEN GET UP WHILE WE´RE STILL IN BED, TO THANK GOD FOR THE NICE SLEEP WE´VE JUST ENJOYED SAYING SOMETHING, LIKE   THIS:   “ THANK YOU, LORD, FOR THE GOOD SLEEP, MY HEALTH, MY FAMILY, AND FOR EVERYTHING I´VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IN LIFE”. WE COULD GO ON SAYING SOME PRAYERS LIKE “OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY AND GLORY”, AND THEN WE CAN GO AHEAD AND GET UP, ENJOYING EVERYTHING WE DO.

DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE MR. BERNIE SANDERS TWITTED THE FOLLOWING LINES FEBRUARY 6: “IT´S EASY TO APOLOGIZE FOR MAKING BAD DECISIONS. IT´S HARDER TO MAKE THE RIGHT ONES”. MR. SANDERS HAS BEEN IN POLITICS FOR ABOUT 35 YEARS AND HE HAS SEEN A GREAT DEAL OF GREED AND VESTED INTERESTS AS TO MOST U.S. POLITICIANS´ DECISIONS. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT MR. SANDERS WANTS TO FIGHT AGAINST, THAT IS, GREED, THEIRS, HIS, YOURS AND MINE. AND WHAT DOES HE DO TO FIGHT IT? MR. SANDERS SHOWS GENEROSITY GIVING THE BEST OF HIMSELF. HE ISN´T THERE FOR THE MONEY. HE´S SICK OF SEEING BILLIONAIRIES AND CORPORATIONS MANIPULATE OUR POLITICIANS LEADING THE U.S. TO UNDESIRABLE SITUATIONS LIKE THE ONES WE SEE WITH THE FOOD INDUSTRY, THE SLAUGHTERING HOUSES, ANIMAL FARMS, THE WILDLIFE, BEING TORN APART BY CYNICS WHO PRETEND TO PROTECT OUR ANIMALS, WHEREAS THEY DON´T MISS THE SLIGHTEST OPPORTUNITY TO KILL WOLVES, ELEPHANTS, BEARS, LIONS…OUT OF GREED TO GET EASY MONEY FOR THEIR HEEDS AND IVORY. MR. BERNIE SANDERS WANTS TO GET THE U.S. BACK ON TRACK, DOING WHAT´S  BEST FOR CITIZENS´ NEEDS, BETTING ON NATURAL FOOD AND PROTECTING OUR WILDLIFE. ONE CAN ONLY DISPLAY GENEROSITY IF THAT INDIVIDUAL IS GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING HE´S BEEN GRANTED IN LIFE, LIKE MR. SANDERS IS, TELLING IT LIKE IT IS AND PROVIDING US WITH FACTS AND DATA ON EVERY SINGLE SUBJECT.

THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES OF CELEBRITIES AND WELL-KNOWN PEOPLE LIKE DOCTORS WHO STARTED DOING A GOOD JOB, THANKING GOD FOR EVERYTHING THEY HAD ACCOMPLISHED, BUT SOMEHOW AT SOME POINT SOME UNSCRUPULOUS CYNICS GOT IN THEIR WAY TO MAKE THEM TAKE THE BAIT, AND SURE 99% OF THEM DID. MANY OF THESE CELEBRITIES AND DOCTORS ARE NO LONGER GRATEFUL FOR ANYTHING, NOR DO THEY DO ANY RESEARCH THOUGH THEY SAY THEY DO. WHY? BECAUSE THEY ARE HOOKED ON SEX. HOW COME? BECAUSE THE UNSCRUPULOUS CYNICS ARE SO GOOD AT WINNING PEOPLE OVER THAT THEY MAKE MANY GENUINE PEOPLE TAKE THE BAIT PUTTING SUBTLE PRESSURE ON THEM, LEADING THEM INTO WHOREHOUSES, AND FROM THERE THEIR LIVES ARE NEVER THE SAME. ONE OF THESE CELEBRITIES, MR. CHARLIE SHEEN, WAS ONE OF THE MANY WHO WAS TRICKED BY THEM. MR. CHARLIE SHEEN IS THE KIND OF PERSON WHO WALKS HIS WALK, SINCERE, FUNNY AND REALLY SMART TO RECOGNIZE SOMEONE WHO IS SMART AS WELL AS WISE. MOST CAN SEE ALL THAT IN MR. CHARLIE SHEEN, AND THE UNSCRUPULOUS CYNICS ARE REALLY QUICK FOR THIS KIND OF REALIZATION. THE CYNICS WERE WELL AWARE OF MR. CHARLIE SHEEN´S POTENTIAL TO DO GREAT THINGS IF HE EVER MET THE RIGHT PEOPLE. WHEN DID THE CYNICS START PLANNING THESE MANEUVERS IN THE DARK AS FOR MR. CHARLIE SHEEN? LET´S IMAGINE IT WAS MAY 2010, AND LET´S IMAGINE THEIR PLAN WAS TO TARGET HIM GIVING HIM THE WORST OF ADVICE, SUCH AS GOING TO WHOREHOUSES AND TAKE DRUGS, SO THAT HE WOULD FINALLY END UP SICK AND HOOKED ON THOSE. AND SO THEY DID. THEY DECEIVED MR. CHARLIE SHEEN MAKING HIM BELIEVE HAPPINESS WAS ABOUT SEX AND DRUGS. NOT ONLY DID THE CYNICS AROUND MR. CHARLIE SHEEN DARE GIVE HIM THE WORST OF ADVICE EVER BUT THEY INTRODUCED HIM TO “PARTICULAR WOMEN”, OR RATHER “SOME PARTICULAR WOMEN, WHO WERE ILL, GOT INTO HIS LIFE”, PRETENDING IT WAS A COINCIDENCE WHEN IT WASN´T, SINCE IT WAS ALL PERFECTLY PLANNED TO GET HIM SICK. THE GOOD PART OF THE STORY IS THAT SOME GOOD FRIEND OF MR. CHARLIE SHEEN MUST HAVE TOLD HIM ABOUT SOMEONE WHO COULD HELP HIM, AND IT´S RIGHT HERE WHEN MR. CHARLIE SHEEN STARTS TO BE GRATEFUL AGAIN FOR THAT AND FOR SO MANY THINGS HE WOULD HAVE NEVER IMAGINED BEFORE, NOT EVEN IN HIS WILDEST DREAMS. NOW MR. CHARLIE SHEEN, THANKS TO THIS DAILY THANKSGIVING, IS A MUCH HAPPIER HUMAN BEING THAN HE WAS EVER BEFORE.

WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER I USED TO HEAR PEOPLE SAY THE FOLLOWING: “IF JESUS CHRIST EVER CAME BACK HERE AGAIN PEOPLE WOULD CRUCIFY HIM AGAIN”. I DIDN´T GET TO UNDERSTAND IT THEN. IT´S NOW WHEN I DO, BEING AWARE OF THE LACK OF GRATITUDE MOST PEOPLE HAVE FOR MANY PEOPLE, FOR THINGS IN GENERAL, AND FOR JESUS CHRIST´S LOVE FOR ALL OF US, HAVING DONE ALL THE MIRACLES HE DID, HAVING BEEN CRUCIFIED, HAVING BEEN RESURRECTED ON THE THIRD DAY AND HAVING BEEN SEEN RESURRECTED BY ABOUT MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE. IGNORING JESUS CHRIST´S ASSIGNMENT FOR US TO CARRY OUT TO THIS VERY DAY, WHICH IS GOING TO MASS AND CELEBRATE IT IN HIS MEMORY, AMONG MANY OTHER THINGS.

IN THE MASTERPIECE THE REVENANT BY ALEJANDRO GONZÁLEZ IÑARRITU, BASED ON THE 2002 NOVEL BY MICHAEL PUNKE, WE FIND A LOT OF GEMS. ONE OF THEM IS THE FACT THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE HELP THEY RECEIVE, AND ON THE OTHER HAND THERE ARE OTHERS WHO AREN´T GRATEFUL, AND ARE USUALLY CRUEL TO THE ONES THAT HELPED THEM. IN THIS AWSOME MOVIE WE SEE HOW ONE OF HUGH GLASS´S HUNTING TEAM MEMBERS, JOHN FITZGERALD, DARES KILL GLASS´S SON – HAWK – AND ON TOP OF THAT HE ATTEMPTS TO KILL GLASS BURYING HIM ALIVE. IT IS ONE OF GLASS´S BEST FRIENDS – BRIDGER – WHO GETS FITZGERALD TO STOP BURYING GLASS ALIVE COMPLETELY. FITZGERALD IS THE EPITOME OF INGRATITUDE. WHY? BECAUSE HUGH GLASS – STARRING LEONARDO DICAPRIO – HELPED HIM TOGETHER WITH ALL THE OTHERS AS MUCH AS HE COULD AND HE DESERVED HAVING BEEN HELPED, NOT HAVING BEEN ALMOST BURIED ALIVE AND HAVING HIS SON KILLED AS WELL. INSTEAD, FITZGERALD, PASSED ON THE GRATITUDE HE SHOULD HAVE SHOWN TO HUGH GLASS. WHY WASN´T FITZGERALD GRATEFUL TO GLASS FOR ALL HE HAD DONE FOR HIM FOR SO LONG? BECAUSE FITZGERALD, LIKE MANY PEOPLE TODAY, DIDN´T HAVE ANY PRINCIPLES. FITZGERALD, HIMSELF, MENTIONS HIS PARENTS IN THE MOVIE, MAKING US UNDERSTAND THEY DIDN´T HAVE ANY MORAL EITHER AND SO HE WAS A VICTIM OF HIS PARENTS, LIKE IN 99% OF CASES HAPPEN. PEOPLE WITHOUT PRINCIPLES EVENTUALLY DECEIVE THE ONES AROUND AND CAN BE OFTEN VERY CRUEL TOO. IT´S IMPORTANT TO UNVEIL THE ONES WITHOUT PRINCIPLES AND TRY NOT TO GET AROUND THEM BECAUSE THEY WON´T MISS A CHANCE TO TRICK US ALL. THIS GREAT MOVIE IS PACKED WITH INGRATITUDE SIGNS. HERE´S A LIST:

1.TOUSSANT, THE FRENCH BOSS, IS ANOTHER EPITOME OF INGRATITUDE. HE DARES TELL ELK DOG – THE OLD NATIVE AMERICAN CHIEF – THESE LINES: “BRING ME THE GIRL! THOSE 5 HORSES WEREN´T FOR FREE” (TOUSSANT (CHARACTER) IMDb). AND ELK DOG´S WISE WORDS ARE THESE: “YOU ALL HAVE STOLEN EVERYTHING FROM US. EVERYTHING! THE LAND, THE ANIMALS” (ELK DOG (CHARACTER) IMDb). WE SEE HOW ELK DOG HUMBLY TELLS TOUSSANT HOW UNGRATEFUL HE IS TO HIM, SINCE NOT ONLY DID HE STEAL HIS ANIMALS AND LAND BUT HE ALSO WANTS HIS DAUGHTER TO SEXUALLY ABUSE HER. WE CAN´T IMAGINE ALL THE PAIN NATIVE AMERICANS WENT THROUGH SEEING HOW THEIR LAND, ANIMALS AND WOMEN WERE BEING STOLEN BY THE SETTLERS. THAT IS SOMETHING AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN´T BE PROUD OF AND MUST HUMBLY ADMIT ALL THE WRONG THAT WAS DONE. NO WONDER HOW SAD MOST NATIVE AMERICANS LEFT ARE NOWADAYS. IN 1995 I WENT TO A NAVAJO NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN ARIZONA TO SPEND SOME TIME THERE, AND I MUST SAY I SAW MANY SAD PEOPLE, SOME OF WHICH WERE VICTIMS OF ALCOHOLISM. THESE GOOD   PEOPLE´S SADNESS AND IN SOME CASES ALCOHOLISM ARE NOT COINCIDENCES. THOSE SYMPTOMS ARE THE ONES WHICH WISE HUMAN BEINGS ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE WHEN THEY  HAVE BEEN TREATED REALLY BADLY, DECEIVED AND DENIED WHAT WAS THEIRS: THEIR LAND AS THE FIRST U.S. INHABITANTS THAT THEY WERE. THE EUROPEAN COLONISTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRATEFUL TO THE NATIVE AMERICANS HAVING RESPECTED THEIR LANDS, ANIMALS, WOMEN, CUSTOMS AND EVERYTHING. ACTUALLY, THE FIRST THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION TOOK PLACE IN THE U.S. AS A GRATITUDE SIGN OF THE FIRST SETTLERS TO THE NATIVE AMERICANS WHO SHOWED THEM HOW TO GET THEIR FIRST HARVEST RIGHT. AS THEY REAPED GOOD FRUITS THEY WERE GRATEFUL ENOUGH TO THE NATIVE AMERICAN FOR HAVING SHARED THEIR WISFUL IDEAS AS TO HARVESTS, CELEBRATING IT WITH A THANKSGIVING DINNER. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? SURE ENOUGH, WARPED ONES GOT IN THE WAY AND SPOILT THE FIRST GOOD RELATIONSHIP WHICH GAVE WAY TO THE FIRST HISTORIC THANKSGIVING. THEREFORE MOST SETTLERS FAILED THE TEST OF GRATITUDE TO GOD SINCE THEY WERE UNGRATEFUL TO THE NATIVE AMERICANS STEALING THEIR LAND, ANIMALS AND RAPING THEIR WOMEN. AS MANY OF THE SETTLERS DIDN´T BELIEVE IN  GOD,  THEY  DIDN´T HAVE ANY PRINCIPLES AND SO THEY THOUGHT RAPING WOMEN WASN´T WRONG AND SO SEX ASSAULTS MADE NEW DISEASES SPREAD ACROSS THE COUNTRY LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

2.IN THE BEGINNING OF THE MOVIE HUGH GLASS KILLED AN INNOCENT BEAR MOTHER WHO WAS TAKING CARE OF HER TWO CUBS. BY THEN HE STILL DIDN´T KNOW WE´RE ALL TO RESPECT OUR NEIGHBOR MAMMALS UNLESS WE WANT NATURE, BEARS, ETC. TO GO AGAINST US. HUGH GLASS HAD UNFOUNDED FEARS, TWISTED IDEAS ABOUT BEARS AND ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS. IT TOOK GLASS SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE HE FINALLY GOT TO KILL THE COMPASSIONATE BEAR. GLASS INSISTED ON KILLING THE BEAR MOTHER EVEN THOUGH THE BEAR MOTHER SHOWED COMPASSION FOR GLASS LETTING HIM LIVE WHEN IT WAS EASY FOR HER TO HAVE KILLED HIM IN JUST A SEC. GLASS WAS NOT GRATEFUL TO THE BEAR FOR LETTING HIM GO, FOR HER COMPASSION TOWARDS HIM. GLASS SHOULD HAVE WALKED AWAY, EXPRESSING GRATITUDE TO GOD, AND TO THE BEAR MOTHER FOR BEING STILL ALIVE, BUT INSTEAD HE WENT FOR INGRATITUDE AND SO HE HAD TO FACE THE CONSEQUENCES. THIS IS KEY TO UNDERSTAND SO MANY THINGS GOING ON TODAY IN OUR WORLD. IT´S AN AMAZING SCENE WHEN THE GOOD BEAR MOTHER KISSES GLASS´S FACE AND CARESSES HIS FACE AFTER ACTING  IN  SELF-DEFENSE  HAVING  GLASS´S GUN POINTING AT HER. AT THAT POINT GLASS DID NOT UNDERSTAND ANYTHING, AND DECIDED TO LISTEN TO GOD´S COMPETENCE´S VOICE WHICH LED HIM INTO MISFORTUNE FOR SO LONG, BEFORE HE UNVEILED THE WHOLE TRUTH.

3.THE FRENCH WERE SO UNGRATEFUL TO ALL NATIVE AMERICANS THAT NOT ONLY DID THEY STEAL EVERYTHING FROM THEM BUT THEY ALSO HUNG MANY OF THEM LIKE WE SAW IN THE SCENE WHEN HIKUC – THE WISE NATIVE AMERICAN WHO HEALED GLASS PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY – WAS HUNG. THEY EVEN DARED LEAVE A SIGN WITH THESE LINES WRITTEN ON IT NEXT TO THE HUNG NATIVE AMERICAN, HIKUC: “WE ARE SAVAGES”.

THE BRIGHT SIDE OF THE MOVIE COMES WHEN  GRATITUDE SCENES COME TO MIND. HERE ARE SOME:

1.WHEN THE BEAR MOTHER LETS GLASS LIVE, NOT BEATING THE CRAP OUT OF HIM AND EATING HIM AFTERWARDS.

2.HIKUC WAS A WISE NATIVE AMERICAN WHO WAS EATING SOME BUFFALO MEAT AT NIGHT WHEN HE HEARD GLASS CRAWLING TO HIM AND DECIDED TO SHARE THE MEAT WITH GLASS, WHO WAS STARVING. HIKUC EXPRESSED GRATITUDE TO GOD AND TO NATURE SHARING THE MEAT WITH GLASS. HIKUC WAS GRATEFUL FOR HAVING SOMETHING TO EAT, KNEW ABOUT JESUS CHRIST´S LEGACY AND SO HE PRACTICED IT HELPING GLASS THE BEST WAY HE KNEW. THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SCENE OF ALL IS WHEN HIKUC STARTS BUILDING A SHACK FOR GLASS TO SPEND THE NIGHT, MAKES A FIRE AND PUTS SOME HERBS ON THE MANY WOUNDS GLASS HAD DUE TO THE BEAR´S SELF-DEFENSE ATTACK. THE FOLLOWING MORNING GLASS IS ALREADY A NEW MAN, PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING. DURING THAT NIGHT THERE HE HAD A DREAM WHERE HE SAW HIS WIFE ALIVE AND SMILING, WALKING AROUND A CHURCH IN RUINS AND IN THE BACK OF IT WE SAW JESUS CHRIST. ALL THIS COMES TO A GREAT DEAL OF SYMBOLS OF GRATITUDE TO JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD. HIKUC WAS SO GRATEFUL TO GOD AND TO NATURE THAT BESIDES BUILDING THAT SHACK AND MAKING FIRE HE WENT ALL THE WAY HEALING GLASS´S WOUNDS WITH THE HUMBLE HELP OF SOME GOOD HERBS HE KNEW. FOR SURE HIKUC IS THE EPITOME OF GRATITUDE.

3.BRIDGER WAS GRATEFUL TO GLASS FOR WHAT HE HAS HELPED HIM THROUGH, HAVING MADE UP HIS MIND TO STAY TAKING CARE OF GLASS UNTIL THE END, ALTHOUGH FITZGERALD FOOLED BRIDGER INTO BELIEVING SOME SIOUX WERE NEAR AND FINALLY WON BRIDGER OVER LEAVING GLASS ON HIS OWN.

4.BRIDGER WAS GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR ALL THE HELP GLASS PROVIDED HIM WITH HELPING AN OLD NATIVE AMERICAN WOMAN HIDDEN IN A SHACK, GIVING HER SOME BREAD AND NOT TELLING FITZGERALD ABOUT HER.

5.THAT MORNING WHEN GLASS´S WOUNDS WERE HEALED IS WHEN HE STARTED BEING AWARE WHO WERE THE REAL BAD GUYS IN THE U.S. THEN. FIRST, GLASS, FOUND HIKUC HUNG BY THE FRENCH, WITH A SIGN SAYING “WE ARE SAVAGES”. THEN HE WENT ON AND SAW THE FRENCH WERE RAPING NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN, AND IT IS WHEN HE DECIDED TO FREE ELK DOG´S DAUGHTER – WHO FINALLY FINISHED OFF THE JOB TELLING THE BAD FRENCH THIS: “I´LL CUT OFF YOUR BALLS”. GLASS EXPRESSED GRATITUDE TO GOD HELPING POWAQA AND LETTING HER TAKE PART IN KILLING THE SAVAGE.

WHAT TAKES THE CAKE, AFTER WATCHING SUCH FANTASTIC MOVIE, IS HEARING SOMEONE, WHEN GOING OUT OF THE MOVIE, TELL SOMEONE ON THE PHONE THE FOLLOWING: “WELL, IT WASN´T BAD, NOTHING SPECIAL. I CAN´T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS MOVIE WAS AWARDED SO MANY AWARDS. THE ONLY GOOD THING WAS WHEN HE KILLED THE BEAR”. YES, FOLKS, I JUST COULDN´T BELIEVE WHAT I WAS HEARING. FROM HIS SUPERFICIAL WORDS WE CAN CONCLUDE ALL THIS:

1.THIS PERSON IN HIS MID 20S DIDN´T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING WHATSOEVER ABOUT THE MOVIE ITSELF: NEITHER THE INTENTION, THE GREAT DEAL OF SUBTLE MESSAGES, THE IMMENSE WISDOM, THE BEAUTY OF NATIVE AMERICANS NOR THE HONESTY, RESPECT AND FAITH IN GOD.

2.HE LACKED ANY SENSE OF GRATITUDE FOR SUCH A GIFT FROM THE FILM INDUSTRY. I MYSELF WAS THANKING GOD AS I WAS WATCHING IT BECAUSE IT WAS A REAL PLEASURE TO SEE REAL LOVE, THE ONE SHOWN BY HIKUC TO GLASS, IN SOME REALLY OUTSTANDING SCENES. ONCE AGAIN, THE KEY POINT TO HIGHLIGHT HERE IS THIS PERSON´S ZERO SENSE OF WHAT GRATITUDE IS.

IT IS SAD AND DISAPPOINTING TO SEE PEOPLE WHO WE HELPED SOMETIME IN THE PAST AND WHO AREN´T GRATEFUL TO US. BEING UNGRATEFUL APPLIES TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. AGE ISN´T KEY HERE, BUT PRINCIPLES AND FAITH. WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE? IF THE PERSON IS FULL OF PRIDE, NOTHING MUCH CAN BE ACHIEVED AND WHAT ONE ENDS UP DOING IS DEDICATING HER TIME HELPING THE HUMBLE ONES, WHO ARE OPENED TO HAVE FAITH IN GOD AND ARE READY TO BE GRATEFUL TO GOD´S SERVANTS HERE, WHO ARE ONLY HELPING AS MANY AS THEY CAN WHILE THEIR TIME HERE ALLOWS. I´M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO VALUE PEOPLE AND THINGS A LOT. I VALUE SOME OBJECTS SO MUCH THAT EVEN WHEN MY MOTHER BUYS A JUNKET I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO THROW THE JUNKET POT AWAY SINCE I FIND IT TOO BEAUTIFUL TO GET RID OF IT. IT WOULD BE EASY IF I HAD SOMEONE TO GIVE IT TO. IT´S NOT THE CASE WHEN IT COMES TO DESTROYING NICE THINGS. WHEN SOMEONE HELPS ME IN ANY WAY I NEVER FORGET IT AND I ALWAYS THANK THE PERSON, MAKING IT UP FOR THAT PERSON SOMEHOW. HOWEVER, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE SO SHOR-SIGHTED THEY CAN´T SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES, AND SO NOT ONLY DO THEY UNDERRATE BEAUTIFUL OBJECTS BUT THEY ALSO IGNORE THEY´VE GOT TO THANK THE PERSON WHO HELPED THEM, OUT OF COMPASSION OR GENEROSITY, AND MAKE IT UP FOR THEM SOMEHOW, SOMETIME IN LIFE, BECAUSE AS THE SAYING SAYS: “GRATITUDE IS THE SIGN OF NOBLE SOULS”. IN SOME CASES ONE CAN EVEN SEE SOME OF THESE UNGRATEFUL BEINGS EXPRESSING NOTHING MUCH BUT EXCESSIVE PRIDE WHICH HIDES THEIR FEAR TO CREDIT THE MIRACLE OR THE GIFT THEY OR THEIR CHILDREN, RELATIVES…RECEIVED, SAY THANKS TO A PERSON´S SOLID PRAYERS. “THE SMALLEST THANKS IS ALWAYS WORTH MORE THAN THE EFFORT IT TAKES TO GIVE IT” – UNKNOWN.

HERE BELOW ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF CRUEL INGRATITUDE BY MANY PEOPLE, AND POLITICIANS ALLOWING THEM, TO GOD AND TO NATURE:

1.“MODERN WHALING INVOLVES THE USE OF HARPOONS FITTED WITH PENTHRITE GRENADES, WHICH ARE SUPPOSED TO PENETRATE TO ABOUT 12 INCHES AND THEN EXPLODE, RELEASING CLAW-LIKE PROTRUSIONS TO RIP INTO THE FLESH. DEATH CAN COME BY TRAUMA, LACERATION OR A DESTRUCTIVE SHOCK WAVE TO THE BRAIN” (DON´T BUY FROM ICELANDIC WHALERS.COM.ICELANDIC WHALING MYTHS AND FACTS). THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS TO SOME WHALES WHO DON´T DIE INSTANTLY AFTER HAVING BEEN SHOT AND ARE RESHOT WITH A PENTHRITE GRENADE HARPOON. SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE OF WHAT GRATITUDE TO GOD AND NATURE IS AND SO THEY THINK THAT THEY OWN EVERYTHING AND THAT CAN KILL ANY CETACEAN THEY SEE. THEIR LIVES REVOLVE AROUND MONEY, GREED AND PLEASURE. NOT ONLY DO THESE UNGRATEFUL PEOPLE FORCE THESE AMAZING CREATURES TO AGONIZE FOR 15 MINUTES AFTER HAVING BEING SHOT THE FIRST TIME BUT THEY ALSO MAKE OUR HEARTS BLEED. WE, WHO ARE GRATEFUL TO GOD AND TO NATURE FOR EVERY LITTLE THING, CAN ENJOY WATCHING LIKE WHALES, IN THIS CASE, FEEL A LOT OF PAIN AS WELL, KNOWING AND FEELING THEM AGONIZE. WHALES ARE GOD´S GIFTS FOR US TO ENJOY WATCHING NOT TO KILL , AND WORST OF ALL CAUSE THEM AN AGONIZING DEATH. SUCH BARBARIC ACTS DEPICT UNGRATEFULNESS TO GOD, TO NATURE AND TO ALL OF US.

2.“A BLONDE FEMALE ANNOUNCER DRESSED AS A SAILOR SPURS ON THE ANIMALS LIKE CHAMPION ATHLETES. “A REAL SPORTSMAN DOESN´T GIVE UP SO EASILY” SHE BOOMS AS A BELUGA NAMED DANDY LEAPS OUT OF THE WATER BUT FAILS TO WHACK A BALL HANGING ON A STRING WITH HIS BALL. BUT HE DOES NOT FLUFF UP HIS SECOND ATTEMPT. “AND HE´S GOT IT THIS TIME” THE PRESENTER SHOUTS AS THE CROWD ROARS IN APPROVAL OVER A SOUNDTRACK OF BLARING ROCK AND RUSSIAN POP BALLADS. BEFORE THE MOSCOW DOLPHIN CIRCUS ROLLED IN TOWN, 1,500 PEOPLE SIGNED AN ONLINE PETITION IMPLORING KYRGYZSTAN´S PRESIDENT ALMAZBEK ATAMBAYEV TO BAN IT” (DOLPHIN CIRCUS SPARKS ANIMAL CRUELTY DEBATE IN CENTRAL ASIA-BLOGS DE NATURE NEWS. JANUARY 21, 2016). DOLPHINS AND BELUGAS ARE GOD´S GIFTS FOR NATURE TO BE FREE, NOT BE TRAPPED IN A POOL, FORCED TO PERFORM SILLY ACTS. WHAT TAKES THE SUPER POUND CAKE IS THE AD “ADIESTRA A TU GATO A USAR EL WC”  (= “TRAIN YOUR CAT TO USE THE TOILET”) BELOW THIS ARTICLE, TRYING TO FOOL US ALL TO FORCE OUR BEAUTIFUL CATS TO USE THE TOILET, WHICH IS NOT MADE FOR THEM. SO NOW, WHAT WE DO NEXT IS TELL THE ONES BEHIND THIS FIASCO: “NO, THANK YOU. WE DON´T BUY IT. WE WANT YOU TO TRAIN YOUR BRAIN TO DO A BETTER ADVERTISEMENT NEXT TIME. CATS DESERVE TO BE RESPECTED AND RESPECTING THEM IMPLIES PROVIDING THEM WITH CAT LITTER, WHICH CAN REMIND THEM OF THE WILD OUT THERE AND ENJOY IT.”

3.“WE ARE HERE ON THE DANISH ISLAND OF FYN, COPENHAGEN. AFTER TALKING FOR A WHILE ABOUT THE LION´S COAT AND CLAWS, THE ZOO EDUCATOR BEGINS TO CUT. AT THIS POINT A HANDFUL OF CHILDREN WALK OUT. BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THE AUDIENCE STAYS PUT, COVERING THEIR NOSES AS THE SMELL BECOMES OVERWHELMING, BUT APPARENTLY RIVETED BY WHAT THEY´RE SEEING. CRITICS ARGUE THAT THESE DISPLAYS ARE DESENSITIZING AT BEST AND TRAUMATIZING AT WORST. THIS WAS THE ZOO´S SECOND PUBLIC DISSECTION OF A LION IN 4 MONTHS” (DANES SAY ZOO DISSECTIONS FIT WITH COUNTRY´S “VERY HONEST” PARENTING:NPR. JANUARY 22, 2016). LOOKING AT THE PHOTO OF THE LION, LAID OUT ON THE TABLE OF THE ODENSE ZOO IN DENMARK, WE SEE 4 PHOTOGRAPHERS AT LEAST. LET´S IMAGINE, THE 3 OF THEM WHOSE FACES WE CAN´T SEE ARE PART OF THE CYNICS, TOGETHER WITH THE ZOO´S EDUCATOR, A BIOLOGY STUDENT FROM THE LOCAL UNIVERSITY, AND LET´S IMAGINE THAT THE ONLY PHOTOGRAPHER WHOSE FACE WE CAN SEE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO ISN´T A CYNIC BUT AN HONEST ONE, WHO IS HORRIFIED AT THE HORROR OF HAVING KILLED A BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY LION.

4.“MORE THAN 100,000 ELEPHANTS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN AFRICA IN THE PAST 3 YEARS. KENYA LOST 96 ELEPHANTS AND 11 RHINOS TO POACHERS IN 2015”(LEONARDO DICAPRIO AND NICOLE KIDMAN TO ATTEND TORCHING OF LARGEST EVER IVORY STOCKPILE TO HELP PUT AN END TO POACHING. ECOWATCH. JANUARY 28, 2016). AFRICAN AUTHORITIES ARE UNGRATEFUL TO GOD FOR KILLING ELEPHANTS AND RHINOS OUT OF GREED, FOR THE HEEDS AND IVORY TRADE.

5.“FOR WILD ANIMALS, LIFE IN A TRAVELING SHOW AMOUNTS TO AN EXISTENCE FILLED WITH DEPRIVATION, LONG-TERM CONFINEMENT, AND UNENDING MISERY. THEIR TRAINING INVOLVES HEAVY DOSES OF PUNISHMENT. THEY ARE KEPT IN CAGES OR CHAINED IN TRAILERS AND BOXCARS, AND FORCED TO ENDURE MONTHS OF GRUELING TRAVEL, ALL SO THEY CAN PERFORM SILLY TRICKS” (BREAKING NEWS:RETIREMENT TO COME SOONER FOR RINGLING´S BELEAGUERED ELEPHANTS. A HUMANE NATION. JANUARY 11, 2016). WE DON´T WANT TO SEE ANY ANIMALS CONFINED IN CIRCUSES SHOWS PERFORMING SOMETHING ANIMALS DISLIKE SINCE THAT SOMETHING HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE FOR THEM ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DAY. WE WANT TO SEE ANIMALS FREE IN THE WILD, RESPECT THEM AND HELP THEM SPECIALLY DURING WINTERTIME, BECAUSE WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THEM, FOR THE JOY THEY BRING TO OUR LIVES, FOR THE PEACE THEY ALL MAKE US FEEL AND THE AMAZING FUN WE HAVE WHEN WE FEEL THEM OUT THERE, WHILE THEY ARE FREE AND THEY GET TO KNOW US AND RESPECT US AS WE DO WITH THEM.

6.“TIBETAN PRIME MINISTER-IN-EXILE, LOBSANG SANGAY HAS CONDEMNED THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT´S SPIRITUAL CATALOGUING SYSTEM, WHILE TERMING IT AN ATTEMPT TO CONTROL THE REINCARNATION SYSTEM OF MONKS IN TIBETAN BUDDHISM. HIGHLIGHTING CHINA´S TRACK RECORD OF DESTROYING 98% OF MONASTERIES AND NUNNERIES IN TIBET AS WELL AS DISROBING MONKS AND PUTTING THEM BEHIND BARS, SANGAY SAID THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT LACKS CREDIBILITY AND LEGITIMACY IN SPIRITUAL MATTERS. THE FIRST LIST OF 870 GOVERNMENT-CERTIFIED REINCARNATIONS IN MAINLAND CHINA WAS UNVEILED BY THE BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION OF CHINA. AS OF 2007, THERE WERE MORE THAN 100 LIVING BUDDHAS IN TIBET, ACCORDING TO THE OFFICIAL CHINA DAILY. HOWEVER, TIBETANS LIVING IN DHARAMSALA DECRIED THE MOVE CALLING IT INTERFERENCE BY CHINA IN THE INTRICACIES OF TIBETAN CULTURE AND RELIGION.MEMBERS OF STUDENTS FOR A FREE TIBET (SFT) STAGED A PROTEST AT A MARKET PLACE IN DHARAMSALA TOWN ON THURSDAY. SFT DIRECTOR, DORJEE TSETAN, SAID THEY DON´T ACCEPT THE LIST AS IT DOESN´T FEATURE THE NAME OF TIBETAN SPIRITUAL LEADER THE DALAI LAMA. A PETITION OPPOSING THE LIST WAS ALSO SIGNED DURING THE PROTEST WHICH WAS MAINLY SATIRICAL. THE DALAI LAMA FLED TO INDIA IN 1959 AFTER AN ABORTIVE UPRISING AGAINST CHINESE RULE. THE DALAI LAMA HAS DENIED CHINESE CHARGES HE WANTS TIBETAN INDEPENDENCE OR THAT HE PROMOTES VIOLENCE, SAYING HE ONLY WANTS GENUINE AUTONOMY FOR HIS HOMELAND” (CHINA HAS NO BUSINESS IN INTERFERING IN REINCARNATION SYSTEM, SAYS TIBETAN PM-IN-EXILE/BUSINESS STANDARD NEWS. JANUARY 23, 2016). THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IS NOT BEING GRATEFUL FOR GENUINE SPIRITUAL HUMAN BEINGS LIKE THE DALAI LAMA AND ALL HIS FOLLOWERS, SINCE THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT DOESN´T RESPECT TIBETANS´ DESIRE TO MAKE TIBET FREE AS AN AUTONOMOUS HOMELAND. GOD MADE US ALL FREE TO EXPRESS OURSELVES WITH RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND MADE US FREE TO CLAIM FREEDOM FROM OPPRESSION.

7.“SOUTH KOREA IS A UN COUNTRY. THE UN HELD THEIR CONFERENCE ABOUT #POST2015IN#SEOUL2015 TO DISCUSSS THE NEW MILLENIUM. MEANWHILE, TONS OF THOUSANDS OF CATS AND DOGS ARE COOKED ALIVE, FOR ANCIENT TONICS AND MEDICINES. THERE IS NO LAW IN SOUTH KOREA FOR DOGS AND CATS” (SOUTH KOREAN FOOD TORTURE CULTURE-DOGS AND CATS BOILED ALIVE FOR ANCIENT TONICS AND ELIXIRS. AVAAZ. ORG. COMMUNITY PETITIONS). IT´S TIME THAT THE UN REQUEST SOUTH KOREA TO ENACT A LAW WHICH PROTECTS DOGS AND CATS FROM BEING KILLED FOR ANCIENT TONICS AND MEDICINES. THE UN SHOULD TELL SOUTH KOREA THAT THE SAME AS THERE WERE FRONTLINE FIGHTS, WHICH WERE PART OF THE ROMAN TRADITION WHICH WERE ERADICATED BECAUSE THEY WERE BARBARIC, IT IS THE ONE OF KILLING DOGS AND CATS, PARTICULARLY COOKING THEM ALIVE. THE UN SHOULD TELL SOUTH KOREA TO BE MORE GRATEFUL FOR CATS AND DOGS ENJOYING THEM AROUND INSTEAD OF KILLING ONE-OFF LIVES, LIKE SOME PALEOLITHIC PEOPLE DID.

8.“DESPITE WORLDWIDE OUTCRY AND REPEATED EFFORTS BY ANIMAL ACTIVISTS TO PUT AN END TO THE YULIN DOG EATING FESTIVAL, A YEARLY TRADITION IN YULIN, GUANGXI ZHUANG AUTONOMOUS REGION OF CHINA, THE FESTIVAL DEEPLY ROOTED IN ANCIENT CHINESE TRADITION BEGINS JUNE 21. YULIN RESIDENTS CHERISH THE ANNUAL SUMMER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION, WHICH INVOLVES THE MASS TORTURE, SLAUGHTER, AND CONSUMPTION OF ABOUT 100,000 DOGS. ANIMAL RIGHT GROUPS SAY 10,000 DOGS ARE SLAUGHTERED DURING THE FESTIVAL EACH YEAR, AND THAT MANY ARE ELECTROCUTED, BURNED AND SKINNED ALIVE. THESE PICTURES SHOW FLAYED DOGS, DOGS HANGING FROM MEAT HOOKS, AND PILES OF DOG CORPSES ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD” (#STOPYOLIN2015: 10,000 DOGS TORTURED AS PART OF ANNUAL YULIN DOG – EATING FESTIVAL. JUNE 15, 2015). “THE YULIN FESTIVAL BEGAN IN 2009. EACH YEAR, VENDORS BRING DOGS AND CATS TO THE CITY OF YULIN FOR THEIR MEAT, BUTCHER THEM, AND THEN SERVE THE MEAT IN LOCAL STALLS AND RESTAURANTS. DR. PETER LI, A CHINA POLICY ADVISOR AND ACTIVIST WITH HUMANE SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL, SAID THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES WITH THE FESTIVAL IS THAT THE KILLING IS NOT DONE IN A HUMANE WAY. BECAUSE OF A LARGE NUMBER OF DOGS TO BE SLAUGHTERED, THE DOG MEAT TRADERS DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF TIME NOT TO TORTURE EACH ANIMAL IN THE COURSE OF SLAUGHTER, “DR. LI TOLD BUSINESS INSIDER.” HOWEVER, DOGS SUFFER NOT JUST BRUTAL PHYSICAL TRAUMA IN CHINA, THEY SUFFER MENTAL AGONY. THIS IS BECAUSE DOGS AND CATS ARE SLAUGHTERED IN PLAIN VIEW OF OTHER DOGS AND CATS WHO ARE TERRIFIED AND TREMBLING BEFORE THEIR TURN” (DOGS WERE SAVED THANKS TO TWITTER AT THE YULIN FESTIVAL – BUSINESS INSIDER. JUNE 2015). “ACCORDING TO HONG KONG-BASED CHARITY ANIMALS ASIA, THE MAJORITY OF DOG MEAT IN CHINA COMES FROM STOLEN PETS AND STRAYS. THE GROUP SAYS MANY OF THE DOGS ARE TREATED INHUMANELY, KEPT IN TINY CAGES AND POISONED OR BEATEN TO DEATH” (THIS WOMAN SAVED 100 DOGS FROM BEING EATEN AT YULIN FESTIVAL. JUNE 21, 2015). “THE DOG MEAT INDUSTRY HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF MANY UNDERHAND TACTICS INCLUDING THE ILLEGAL CAPTURE OF FAMILY PETS TO USE AS FOOD. A PRICE IS NEGOTIATED BEFORE THE DOG IS KILLED AND COOKED” (CHINA YULIN DOG MEAT FESTIVAL UNDER WAY DESPITE OUTRAGE BBC NEWS. 22 JUNE, 2015). “IN 2015 THE LCA TEAM FORCED THE CLOSURE OF 2 SLAUGHTER OPERATIONS AND WE´RE WORKING ON SHUTTING DOWN MORE OF THESE FACILITIES IN COORDINATION WITH CHINESE LAW THAT WOULD GIVE PROTECTION NOT ONLY TO DOGS AND CATS, BUT TO ALL ANIMALS IN CHINA” (LCA. LAST CHANCE FOR ANIMALS.CHRIS DEROSE. PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER). THOSE LAST LINES REFER TO THE MOST BARBARIC EPISODE SINCE THE JEWS GENOCIDE BY THE NAZIS IN THE WORLD HISTORY. WE´RE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS BREATHTAKING DOGS AND CATS GENOCIDE AND WE´RE ALL TO ERADICATE IT. LET´S IMAGINE THOSE DOG AND CAT MEAT TRADERS – MEN MOSTLY – ARE UNSCRUPULOUS PEOPLE WHO GO TO WHOREHOUSES AND SO THEY ARE READY TO DO ALMOST ANY BARBARIC ACT NO MATTER HOW MUCH SUFFERING THEY CAUSE AS LONG AS THEY GET THEY GET THE MONEY FOR THEIR DIRTY VICES. CHINA HAS MADE MILLIONS OF DOGS AND CATS GO THROUGH HELL ALREADY. CHINA HAS MADE OUR HEARTS BLEED TO SEE THOUSANDS OF THESE AWSOME CREATURES TERRIFIED AND TREMBLING BEFORE THEIR NO RETURN TURN. CHINA DOESN´T PLAY FAIR PLAY. CHINA ISN´T GRATEFUL FOR THESE WONDERFUL BEINGS NOR IS GRATEFUL TO ALL THE WORLD COUNTRIES, WHO HAVE HELPED THEM OUT SO MUCH STARTING THOUSANDS OF CHINESE BUSINESSES. WORLD COUNTRIES ARE AGAINST THOSE BARBARIC PRACTICES WHICH MAKE US GO THROUGH MISERY KNOWING OF THEM.

WHEN THE POLITICIANS OF A COUNTRY IGNORE GOD THEY TURN THEIR HEART TO MONEY AND THIS ONE BECOMES THEIR GOD. THESE POLITICIANS MAKE THE PEOPLE FROM THEIR OWN COUNTRIES BELIEVE LIFE IS ABOUT MONEY, AND FOOL THEM MAKING THEM BUY THE IDEA THEY OWN NATURE, ANIMALS AND ANYTHING THEY CAN REACH. THIS IS WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE EUPHEMISTICALLY CALLED YULIN “FESTIVAL”. HOW DO CHINESE DARE CALL SICK TORTURE OF DOGS AND CATS DISPLAY “FESTIVAL”,WHICH MAKES ANYONE VOMIT, JUST BY LOOKING AT HOW THESE BEAUTIFUL CREATURES ARE ALL PILED UP INSIDE A NET, SKINNED ALIVE AND BOILED ALIVE?. NEVER HAVE WE SEEN SUCH BARBARISM IN OUR LIVES, WHICH MAKES SHIVERS RUN DOWN OUR SPINES.

CHINA AND THE WHOLE WORLD NEEDS HEROINES LIKE THE ANIMAL LOVER AND RETIRED SCHOOL TEACHER FROM TIANJIN, YANG XIAOYUN – 65 YEARS OLD – WHO “REPORTEDLY PAID OVER $1,100 SATURDAY TO SAVE 100 DOGS FROM BEING KILLED AND EATEN AT YULIN” (THIS WOMAN SAVED 100 DOGS FROM BEING EATEN AT YULIN FESTIVAL. JUNE 21, 2015). MRS. YANG XIAOYUN HAS ALREADY LEFT A GOOD MARK IN HISTORY, A MARK OF GENEROSITY AND COMPASSION. WHAT ABOUT YOU, LEADERS AND POLITICIANS? IT´S ABOUT TIME THAT YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS UNPALATABLE TORTURE OUR BELOVED COMPANIONS HAVE GONE AND ARE STILL GOING THROUGH. WE´RE OVERRUN WITH GREED, LIES AND OMISSION BY MOST WORLD LEADERS AND POLITICIANS. PROTECTING ANIMALS LIVES ARE ABOVE DOG MEAT TRADERS GREED. WE´VE NEVER SEEN SUCH MONSTERS TORTURING DOGS AND CATS SO BARBARICALLY, MONSTERS SKINNING THEM ALIVE, THROWING THEM TO ROTATING MACHINERY AND THROWING BOILED WATER ON TOP OF THEM. STILL SOME DOGS DON´T END UP DYING AFTER ALL THAT INHUMANE TORTURE AND SO THESE TORTURERS GO ONE BEATING THEM UP.

WORLD LEADERS, THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY ABOUT PUTTING AN END TO THESE HEINOUS PRACTICES IN YULIN AND IN SOUTH KOREA, AND IT´S MAKING THE FOLLOWING 4 POINTS VERY CLEAR TO CHINA AND SOUTH KOREA:

1NONE OF US WANT TO DO BUSINESS WITH COUNTRIES WHO ALLOW INHUMANE TORTURE TO DOGS, CATS AND OTHER ANIMALS.

2. NONE OF US SUPPORT THE YULIN TRADITIONS. NONE OF US SHARE THEIR RETROGRADE STONEAGE TRADITION OF BEATING DOGS AND CATS TO DEATH, ELECTROCUTING, BURNING AND SKINNING THEM ALIVE. THE SAME AS THE ROMANS ERADICATED THE ANACHRONIC FRONTLINE FIGHTS WE WANT CHINA TO BAN IT TOO, BECAUSE WHAT THEY DO IS ANACHRONIC AND INHUMANE AND GOES AGAINST HUMAN BEINGS´ MORAL.

3. NONE OF US WANT TO HEAR SUCH THINGS AS “DOG MEAT HOTPOT, LYCHEES AND STRONG LIQUOR”, BECAUSE IT´S ALL CRIME FOOD.

4. NONE OF US BUYS THAT DOG MEAT IS SUITABLE TO TREAT MALADIES SUCH AS IMPOTENCE AND POOR CIRCULATION. LET´S IMAGINE THAT CHINESE DOCTORS WHO PRESCRIBE DOG MEAT TO TREAT MALADIES SUCH AS IMPOTENCE AND POOR CIRCULATION HAVE BEEN PAID OFF TO SAY SO, EVEN THOUGH IT´S ALL A BIG LIE, SIMPLY TO GET FREE FOOD AND DO BLOODY BUSINESS OUT OF INHUMANE TORTURE TO AMAZING CREATURES.

THE ISSUE OF FOOD TORTURE CULTURE HAS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE UN. IF WE HAVE A LOOK AT THE UN MEMBERS´ AGREEMENTS WE SEE SOME SUCH AS GOOD GOVERNANCE, CIVIL SOCIETY AND CULTURE OF PEACE AMONG MANY. THE UN SHOULD ADVOCATE FOR ENACTING LAWS PROTECTING DOGS, CATS AND ALL ANIMALS FROM INHUMANE TORTURE AND FROM BEING KILLED FOR FOOD SINCE THEY ARE SMART AND PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE HELPING SOCIETY IN MANY WAYS. ALL THESE MILLION CRIMES HAVE MADE A GREAT IMPACT ON US  BECAUSE  WE´VE GOT A HIGH DEGREE OF SENSITIVITY. THE IMPACT OF THESE ILEGITIMATE ACTS MAKE US WONDER ABOUT TODAY´S LEADERS AND POLITICIANS´ MORAL. WE MUST CHANGE ALL WRONGS HERE AND THERE AND WE MUST DO IT WITH ALL OUR MIGHT.WE PETITION WORLD GOVERNMENTS REQUIRE THAT EVERYONE CONVICTED OF ANIMAL CRUELTY UNDER THE CRIMINAL CODE OF ALL WORLD COUNTRIES BE OBLIGATED TO TARGET ANIMAL ABUSE. WE ALSO PETITION WORLD GOVERNMENTS TO REQUIRE THAT CHINA AND SOUTH KOREA SHUT DOWN ALL THOSE TORTURE FACILITIES IN COORDINATION WITH CHINESE AND KOREAN LAW. FINALLY WE URGE WORLD GOVERNMENTS TO REQUIRE JAPAN TO BAN WHALING SINCE ONLY 11% OF JAPANESE BELIEVE WHALING IS THEIR CULTURAL RIGHT AND BECAUSE IT´S NOT A MATTER OF BELIEVING OR NOT BUT OF KNOWING WHAT IS RIGHT FROM WHAT IS INHUMANE.

WE´VE GOT TO GET TOGETHER HELPING EACH OTHER OUT OF GENEROSITY, BECAUSE WE ARE OUR LORD´S CHILDREN AND SO WE´RE BROTHERS AND SO LIFE ISN´T ABOUT GREED AND ABOUT COMPETITION, BUT ABOUT BECOMING BETTER HUMAN BEINGS. YES, WE KNOW WE´VE ALL BEEN FOOLED BY WHAT SOME PEOPLE TOLD US FOR YEARS. BUT IT´S ABOUT TIME THAT WE ALL WAKE UP AND BE GRATEFUL FOR ALL WE HAVE, HELPING DOGS, CATS, ALL ANIMALS AND THE GOOD PEOPLE AROUND US. LIKE JACQUES MARITAIN SAID “GRATITUDE IS THE MOST EXQUISITE FORM OF COURTESY”. “LET US REMEMBER THAT, AS MUCH HAS BEEN GIVEN US, MUCH WILL BE EXPECTED FROM US, AND THAT TRUE HOMAGE COMES FROM THE HEART AS WELL AS FROM THE LIPS, AND SHOWS ITSELF IN DEEDS” – THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

THE SONG “GOD BLESS AMERICA” (1938) WRITTEN BY IRVING BERLIN WAS, ACCORDING TO HIS DAUGHTER, MARY ELLEN BERLIN-BARRETT, “INTENDED AS AN EXPRESSION OF HIS DEEP GRATITUDE TO THE NATION FOR MERELY “ALLOWING” HIM, A RUSSIAN IMMIGRANT RAISED IN POVERTY, TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL SONGWRITER. A FEW OF THESE LYRICS ARE THESE: “GOD BLESS AMERICA, LAND THAT I LOVE”. MR. IRVING SAID THE SONG WAS AN EXPRESSION OF HIS FEELING TOWARD THE COUNTRY TO WHICH HE OWED WHAT HE HAD AND WHAT HE WAS. ACCORDING TO HIS SISTER: “HE OFTEN SAID “I OWE ALL MY SUCCESS TO MY ADOPTED COUNTRY” AND ONCE REJECTED HIS LAWYERS´ ADVICE TO INVEST IN TAX SHELTERS, INSISTING, “I WANT TO PAY TAXES. I LOVE THIS COUNTRY”, NOT LIKE SOME PEOPLE WHO GO TO TAX HAVENS TO EVADE TAXES. MR. IRVING REALLY KNEW WHAT GRATITUDE IS ALL ABOUT.

FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF MR. IRVING BERLIN WE SHOULD ALL LOOK AT THE MANY GOOD THINGS OR THE FEW GOOD THINGS WE HAVE IN OUR LIVES AND THANK GOD FOR THOSE. EXPRESSING GRATITUDE TO GOD HAS TO BE DONE BOTH WITH OUR HEART AND WITH OUR ACTIONS. LET´S HAVE A LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO WITH WHATEVER WE HAVE IN ORDER TO PROTECT DOGS, CATS AND ANIMALS IN GENERAL FROM INHUMANE TORTURE IN CHINA, SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN. FOR A START WE SHOULD ALL BOYCOTT THESE 3 COUNTRIES NOT TRAVELLING TO THEIR COUNTRIES AS TOURISTS AND NOT BUYING THEIR CAR BRANDS OR PRODUCTS, NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE LIKE THEIR CARS OR PRICES. WE DON´T WANT ANY MORE SHORTCUTS BUT RECTITUDE WITH WHAT IS WRONG. GOD AND HIS APOSTLES ADVISED US NOT TO HANG AROUND PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO PRINCIPLES BECAUSE EVENTUALLY THEY WOULD BE CRUEL TO US TOO, AND WE´VE ALL EXPERIENCED THAT SOMEHOW DURING OUR LIVES. NOT BUYING THEIR CARS NOR THEIR PRODUCTS WE´LL BE SHOWING THEM THEIR BARBARISM IS WRONG, AND WE ALL MUST URGE ALL WORLD POLITICIANS TO TELL CHINA, SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN´S AUTHORITIES THAT ANIMAL WELFARE IS IN QUESTION, THAT THIS ANIMAL ABUSE MUST BE STOPPED AND THAT THEY MUST ENACT PROTECTION LAWS FOR DOGS, CATS AND ALL ANIMALS IF THEY REALLY WANT TO GO ON DOING BUSINESS WITH PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DO BUSINESS WITH JUST HUMANE HUMAN BEINGS, NOT WITH INHUMANE “POWERFUL” COUNTRIES.

SOMETIMES WE WANT TO GET THINGS WE DON´T REALLY WANT, SOMETIMES WE WANT TO BE TOP MODELS, REPUTABLE ACTRESSES AND POLITICIANS AND WE DON´T BECOME SUCH SIMPLY BECAUSE WE WOULDN´T WANT ANY OF THOSE FOR US. I MYSELF WANTED TO HAVE BECOME A TOP MODEL WHEN I WAS IN MY LATE 20S AND I DIDN´T. BACK THEN I THOUGHT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE CHANCE TO TRY IT. TODAY I AM GRATEFUL FOR NOT HAVING BECOME SUCH BECAUSE I WOULDN´T HAVE BEEN REALLY HAPPY,  JUST HAPPY  TEMPORARILY. I WOULDN´T HAVE GOT TO FEEL THE PERMANENT PEACE AND JOY I FEEL INSIDE MYSELF THANKS TO OUR LORD´S MERCIFUL LOVE FOR ME. AFTER WANTING TO BECOME A TOP MODEL, I WAS EAGER TO BE AN ACTRESS. I WAS GOOD AND I COULD HAVE MADE IT. I FELT EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WHEN IN CANTABRIA AFTER HAVING TAKING PART SUCCESSFULLY IN DRAMATIC ARTS WORKSHOPS AND HAVING APPLIED FOR DOING DRAMATIC ARTS STUDIES I WAS DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO START THOSE AND DO WHAT I WANTED BACK THEN. LET´S IMAGINE MY DRAMATIC ARTS TEACHER IN 1995 WAS A GIRL WHO WAS PAID OFF TO DEPRIVE ME OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO START THE DRAMATIC ARTS STUDIES, BECAUSE I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER WITH RECTITUDE  WHO DID FAIR PLAY IN CANTABRIA BACK THEN, AND THE CMTGS (CONTROLLING MENTALITY TYPE GUYS) DIDN´T LIKE THAT. YES, MY BROTHERS, LET´S IMAGINE THE CTMGS STARTED DOING THIS MONKEY BUSINESS MUCH BEFORE 2004, THAT IS ABOUT 1995. WHAT CAN I SAY AFTER ALL THESE MANEUVERS IN THE DARK? WELL, I´M SO GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR NOT HAVING BECOME AN ACTRESS SINCE I WOULDN´T HAVE WANTED IT FOR ME. IT WOULDN´T HAVE GIVEN ME THE GREATEST TREASURE OF ALL, OUR LORD´S MERCIFUL LOVE WHICH EMBRACES ME ALL THE WAY.

AFTER WANTING TO BECOME AN ACTRESS I WANTED TO BE A SINGER. I WROTE MY OWN SONGS, RECORDED THEM AND SANG LIVE IN A COUPLE OF PLACES. IN 2000 I CONTACTED SOME OF THE BEST RECORD LABELS AND THEY SAID THAT UNFORTUNATELY THEY EITHER WEREN´T INTERESTED OR FINANTIALLY POWERFUL TO GO AHEAD WITH MY WORK. ONLY ONE, CARLOS SAVAL FROM AZ DISTRIBUCIONES IN MATARÓ, BARCELONA TOOK THE TIME TO GIVE ME A CALL AFTER LISTENING TO MY 4 DEMOS TO TELL ME THAT MY SONGS WERE REALLY GOOD BUT THAT UNFORTUNATELY THEY DIDN´T HAVE THE MONEY TO FINANCE IT. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT  HE WOULD TRY TO PULL SOME STRINGS TO HELP ME. I WAS CERTAINLY VERY GRATEFUL TO CARLOS SAVAL FOR HAVING CALLED ME AND HAVING TOLD ME ALL THAT. NEVER AGAIN DID I HEAR FROM HIM NOR FROM ANYONE. I  TRIED THE INTERNET BUT THAT WAS THE LAST STRAW SINCE I WAS DECEIVED BY A SWEDEN RECORD LABEL WHO DIDN´T KEEP THEIR WORD. SURE ENOUGH, I WAS LET DOWN FOR HAVING BEEN TRICKED AND FOR NOT HAVING BECOME A FAMOUS SINGER. HOWEVER, NOW I AM GRATEFUL FOR NOT HAVING BECOME A SINGER SINCE I WOULDN´T HAVE WANTED IT. BEING A SINGER WOULDN´T HAVE MADE ME HAPPY. I KNOW HOW THE MUSIC WORLD WORKS AND IT´S NOT SPIRITUAL NOR HUMANE. IF THERE IS SOMETHING I LOVE ABOUT THIS LIFE IS BEING HUMANE AND IN FULL CONTACT WITH MY LORD, MY SPIRIT AND YOU SEE THIS GOES A TOTALLY DIFFERENT DIRECTION TO WHERE THE MUSIC INDUSTRY GOES WHOSE ULTIMATE DESTINATION IS MONEY AND LOOKS. DON´T TRY TO LOOK ANY FURTHER BECAUSE YOU WON´T FIND ANYTHING BUT THE RECORD STUDIO WALL OR THE STAGE WALL. IT´S ALL AN ILLUSION!

NEITHER OF US IS PROUD OF HAVING A MEDICINE WHICH IS A PROFIT DRIVEN FORCE. U.S. AUTHORITIES, WE DON´T WANT TO HEAR SUCH DISGUSTING THINGS  AS THE ONES TOLD BY THE HEAD OF THE LARGEST U.S. HMO COMPARING A HOSPITAL TO A WHOREHOUSE: “YOU DON´T MAKE MONEY UNLESS THE BEDS ARE FULL”. REALLY, WE DON´T WANT PEOPLE LIKE THAT ONE IN CHARGE OF HEALTH MATTERS NEITHER IN THE U.S. NOR ANYWHERE. WE´VE GOT TO MAKE EVERYONE UNDERSTAND MONEY MUST NOT BE THE DRIVEN FORCE BUT FAIRNESS AND PEOPLE´S HEALTH. OTHERWISE, IT WOULD BE WRONG AND WRONGS ARE TO BE TURNED INTO RIGHTS SO THAT WE CAN TRULY FEEL APPRECIATIVE OF MEDICINE.

I AM GRATEFUL FOR NOT HAVING MANY OF THE THINGS I WANTED 20-30 YEARS AGO, MAINLY BECAUSE I WOULDN´T BE WITH ALL OF YOU, DOING WHAT I AM PASSIONATELY DOING RIGHT NOW. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ENJOYING READING MY ARTICLES, FOR LOVING MY COMPANY, FOR EMPATHIZING WITH ME, FOR SHARING MY THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS AND FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I CAN´T THANK GOD ENOUGH FOR ALL OF YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING SOME OF YOU AND EMBRACING  YOU.  THERE´S NOTHING LIKE LOVE AND I FEEL LOVE WHENEVER I WRITE, I FEEL OUR LORD´S MERCIFUL LOVE  WON ME OVER IN THE PAST TO GO ON THIS SAME PATH WITH ALL OF YOU, MY BROTHERS. LET´S PLACE OUR BETS ON GOD AND WE´LL FEEL THE LOVE. ARE YOU UP FOR IT?, ARE YOU UP FOR GRATITUDE? YES YOU ARE, AND NOW EVERYTHING CLICKS, RIGHT?