Natural Compassion

So, of course animals are the component for the 7’th grade unit. At first, I wasn’t sure what the theme between all these pieces was, but I’d have to say it would be about compassion towards animals.  A number of the pieces really stood out to me though:

-          The Scarecrow

I was taken aback by the videos ending and its consequential reveal to be an advertisement for Chipotle.  While the video was heartbreakingly realistic and all too familiar, I don’t know whether the fact that Chipotle funded it is a good thing, or if it takes away from the video’s potential impact. I feel that the basic message of the video was to value organically grown crops without any steroids for size, as well as value the safety of animals and the proper growth and treatment of them.  It seemed to adhere to the vegetarians, vegans, and naturalist of society –with which I fully support- but I know that chipotle sells meat. I’m curious, though, if they’re meat and produce is locally grown and harvested naturally.  I mean, that is a big industry. To have the ability to compensate for such a demand, do they stay organic and natural? Do they not get they’re meat the same as most restaurant chains (as seen in the video).  At what point, the scarecrow peaks inside the broken plank of wood on the “All-Natural” building, only to see them inject the animal with growth hormones.  Similarly to the scarecrows discovery, am I really supposed to take Chipotle’s word that they are safe and all natural, just because they advertise it?

-          And Tango Makes Three

I actually love the idea of this piece.  The fact that it is based on real events is just amazing. For me, this story was simply a message of acceptance, in the simplest of terms. The debates still goes on for whether or not homosexuality is “natural” or not.  The fact that so many people argue about this tells me that society is missing the point.  Figuring out what “causes” homosexuality is not what is important; accepting one another with the notion that we are all unique, we are all different, but equally important and equally human. Candi Cushman is a prime example of this misunderstanding.  The two male penguins formed a bond; they wanted to raise something together because of this bond.  And I am fairly certain that the other penguins didn’t “catch” homosexuality   because of two penguins doing what came naturally.  This one, in my opinion, really stood more on its own as far as relating to the other pieces.

-          A Primal Compassion and Rikki-Tikki-Tavi

I really enjoyed this story. So often to people believe that we are more important that any animal or creature.  Just because we may be more evolved, does not mean we have the right to do whatever we want to other animals. Animals have compassion, they have emotions, and they can feel fear and love both, just the same as humans. In my eyes, this gorilla wanted nothing more than to care for an injured child, something she would do naturally in her own habitat with her own children.  The end of the piece could not have a better point; if something seen as “lesser” than humans can show such compassion to something/ someone it knows nothing about, why can’t humans do it to each other? “Riki-Tikki-Tavi” shows this animal compassion as well. 

Of course “Black Fish”, as well as nearly all of the rest of these pieces, really played on the viewers emotions to drive its point.