Do You Believe In Santa?
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My grandmother taught me about Santa Claus. She told me how he could see me when I was asleep and he knew when I was awake. We had no chimney, so he could pass through walls. He knew every child in the world by name. He knew my name. No matter what time of year it was, he knew when I was bad. He also knew when I was good. In fact, he rewarded me. Once a year he would come to our house and put presents under the tree for me. With all of his mystical powers, he found it in his heart to make the effort to come all the way from the North Pole to deliver presents. I was one of those children whose home he visited!
My grandmother was a devout Catholic. She taught me about God and the teachings of the church. She showed me how to pray and be a good boy in the eyes of God, who always watched over me. Naturally, I assumed that Santa Claus was a part of the Holy Trinity. Besides, Santa physically came to my home and bestowed tangible gifts unto me. He blessed me with rewards that I cherished: rewards I could touch and feel. I believed in and respected God, but Santa was of this Earth. He was my connection to the other realm. He was my real-life hero.
When I was ten years old, I found myself at school defending my hero to the other children. After all, my grandmother would never lie to me and I saw the presents. I touched them. I still had them at home as proof! My argument did not sway the opinions of these unbelievers and there were so many of them. They succeeded in planting a seed of doubt in me and I finally had no choice but to confront my grandmother on this issue.
She came clean. I had been lied to all this time. He never visited. The gifts were not from him. He did not even know my name . . . because he was not real. I had but one more question to ask her. “What about God?”
Most religions teach us that we should have compassion. They tell us that we should do right by others and in the process, we will save our very souls. Many are evangelical, meaning that we must enlighten others to save their souls as well. So what happened? Why do we see so much selfishness in religion? We are to save our own souls while we leave a dying planet in our wake. We are to insure our place in the far-beyond while future generations will have to suffer from our selfishness.
According to scientists, there will be little or no life left in the oceans as of the year 2048. You don’t believe me? Look it up! Research it for yourself. While you are doing that, you may as well research the repercussions of such an environmental catastrophe. If the seas die, we die . . . or should I say, the ones we leave behind will die.
But that’s okay because we can just save our souls and that is all that matters.
Forty percent of fish caught in the oceans are fed to livestock and farm raised fish. Most of the land used to grow vegetables is used for producing feed for livestock. Our meat habits are destroying the Earth. But that’s okay too. We can leave compassion in the wind and enjoy another meal from a dead animal. If the entire world were vegan, there would be no hunger and we would not be animal rights activists. Talk about a utopia!
You may say, “Well why should I be vegan when the rest of the world isn’t? It’s not gonna matter anyway if just little old me becomes a veggie freak!”
Hmm! Do I detect a note of selfishness in your tone?
Maybe I do follow a religion. Maybe I follow them all. Does it matter? How can we even have the slightest bit of comfort in our own souls if we don’t do everything in our power to fix this mess we have created? I have many years to make up for. I may never make up for all the animals who suffered so I could have a comfortable life, but that is not going to stop me from trying.
You cannot insure a place in heaven if you cannot find your place here on Earth. And our place right now is to stand up and do something. Our place is to spread the word and let people know what this world is coming to. Our place is to not be selfish, to not seek our own comfort and to not leave a ball of dust behind us for our children, for our grandchildren, for our nieces, nephews and our neighbor’s children. Take responsibility! Take charge of your life. Quit being so damned content and make some waves for once! If I hear one more person say that they don’t want to share a post on facebook because they do not want to upset their friends, I’m going to reach through that monitor and slap you silly! Wake up! This is not a game!
Maybe it’s time we got back down to Earth. Why? Because that is where we are needed the most. Heaven can wait! Maybe it’s time we made the connection. Maybe it’s time we finally sat down and watched Earthlings! Yeah! I’m talking to you! Pull your chair up and pay attention. Watch it now. It will change your life! Then you can see how you can leave a tangible gift behind. You can see how to leave a reward just because you care. Then you can believe in Santa again, because he is you!
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anagirlempath
Holise E Cleveland III
Monika Turner
Thomas O'Brien
Hi Holise, I translated one of capt Watson’s comments. You can find the original article on SS’s official site. It’s one paragraph of English, followed by a Chinese translation. It’s mandarin Chinese, btw, not Cantonese Chinese. It’s kinda like a pet project, but I enjoyed it. Lemme know what you think!
Sea Shepherd Welcomes the Support of the United States, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Australia in condemning Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean
Commentary by Captain Paul Watson.
海洋守護者協會由衷歡迎下列各國的聯合聲明：
美國、荷蘭、紐西蘭以及澳洲嚴厲譴責日本捕鯨船在南冰洋鯨類保護區的非法捕鯨行動
Two completely different fleets are making their way towards the Southern Ocean. The Japanese whaling fleet, weaker than ever before, is three weeks late as it steams southward. The three Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ships are stronger than ever before, as they steam southward in advance of the whalers putting them in a position to be in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary in time to greet the arriving poachers.
兩支懷抱著完全不同使命的艦隊正朝著南冰洋前進。今年的日本捕鯨船隊的殺傷力大不如前，而且比往常離港的時間晚了三個星期。另一方面，海洋守護者協會（The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society，以下稱為SS）的船隊陣容比之前更堅強、更具阻嚇力。SS船隊目前正駛往南冰洋，將比日本捕鯨船更提早抵達南冰洋的鯨類保護區，摩拳擦掌準備迎接這群日本盜獵者的來臨。
Onboard the three Sea Shepherd ships are 88 crew from 21 different nations all participating in the 7th Sea Shepherd voyage into these remote and hostile waters. This year the tension is higher than ever. The frustration and anger of the Japanese whalers is becoming stronger as their profits are negated and their debt rises. They are on the ropes financially and they know it.
SS船隊上有來自二十一個國家的八十八名志願者，有志一同參與SS這第七趟護鯨之役，遠征前往遙遠且險峻的南冰洋。今年日本捕鯨船隊與SS間的緊張情勢更加高漲。日本捕鯨船員們比往年更感到挫敗、憤怒，因為他們的利潤大打折扣，債台高築。他們的經濟前景黯淡，他們也深深了解這一點。
In light of this, four of the nations that are signatory to the Antarctic Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary have issued a joint statement through the United States State Department condemning any action that may threaten safety at sea. We at Sea Shepherd have no problem with this. We haven’t sustained any serious injury nor have we caused any injury at sea in 33 years and certainly not in the last six voyages to the Southern Ocean.
有鑑於此，南極冰洋鯨類保護區的四個簽署國透過美國國務院共同發表聲明，嚴厲譴責任何危及海上安全的舉動。身為海洋守護者，我們對這點表示贊同。參與護鯨行動三十三年來，我們團隊沒有受到任何嚴重傷害，也未曾對他人造成傷害；過去六次護鯨之役也是如此。
What the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society welcomes however is the fact that the statement issued by the four nations clearly condemns the illegal whaling activities of the Japanese whaling fleet. This statement validates and encourages Sea Shepherd intervention during Operation No Compromise this year.
上述四國所發表的共同聲明，顯然在譴責日本捕鯨船的非法行動；對於這點，SS深表歡迎。這項聲明承認SS今年「決不妥協行動」的正當性，並給予極大鼓舞。
What we would really like to see is these nations directly upholding international conservation law by sending Naval vessels to the Southern Ocean to enforce the protection of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. We often wonder just what it is about the word SANCTUARY that these governments do not seem to understand.
我們真正想要看到的，是見到這些國家採取直接行動維護國際保育法案，遣派海軍船隊到南冰洋的鯨類保護區確實執法。我們常常覺得奇怪：這些政府對於「保護區」這麼顯而易見的定義似乎不甚了解。
New Zealand said they may send a warship but now they are retracting that suggestion claiming they do not have a vessel in a good enough condition to make the trip down to the Southern Ocean.
紐西蘭政府曾表示他們或許會遣派軍艦到南冰洋巡航，但是他們現在撤回那項建議，聲稱他們沒有一艘軍艦有足夠的配備得以前往南冰洋。
The Kiwi’s on the Sea Shepherd crew were somewhat embarrassed to hear that considering that a small non-profit like Sea Shepherd with a meager budget can send three ships down to the Sanctuary but the New Zealand Navy can’t muster just one to make the same trip.
SS船上的紐西蘭志工對於他們政府撤回聲明感到難堪不已，因為像SS這麼微小的非營利機構，居然能靠著微薄的預算送三艘船到南冰洋，而紐西蘭海軍居然連派遣一艘船去巡航的能力都沒有。
The presence of a New Zealand and/or an Australian vessel would be a very positive move in that it would represent a mediating influence between the whalers and the anti-whalers and they would be able to document and collect evidence of illegal whaling activities at the same time. Of course it would be nice if they were to simply order the poachers out of the sanctuary but the economic and political reality is that neither Australia nor New Zealand wish to antagonize Japan too much for fear of upsetting trade relations.
紐西蘭以及/或是澳洲船隊若能加入護鯨團隊的話，對保護行動將會是一項極為正面的發展；因為這代表著捕鯨者和護鯨者間將會有一股斡旋的力量，紐西蘭和澳洲也得以在同時紀錄並且蒐集所有非法捕鯨活動的證據。當然，他們若能命令這些盜獵者滾離保護區就更好了。不過他們要面對一個經濟和政治現實，就是澳洲和紐西蘭都不希望得罪日本，擔心這樣的行動會影響雙方的貿易關係。
Both governments are caught in a dilemma. The people of Australia and New Zealand are passionately opposed to whaling, and especially whaling in the Southern Ocean, but the two governments pay only lip service to this passion and concern.
紐西蘭和澳洲政府陷入兩難。這兩國的人民堅決反對捕鯨，特別是在南冰洋的捕鯨活動，然而這兩國的政府對自己人民所堅持和關懷的議題，卻只用口頭上的應酬話敷衍一番。
New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully acts more like the foreign minister for Japan than for New Zealand. He has yet to meet with any representative of Sea Shepherd but he certainly keeps an open ear to the concerns of the Japanese. The sole political support from New Zealand and Australia comes from the Green Party from both nations.
紐西蘭外交部長莫瑞‧麥考利的所有舉動，宛如一名駐紐西蘭的日本外長。他沒有時間與SS的代表見面會談，卻願意騰出寶貴時間，傾聽日本當局對於捕鯨活動的看法。紐西蘭/澳洲的綠黨，是SS從紐西蘭/澳洲唯一獲得的官方協助。
Sea Shepherd has the support of the majority of the Australian and New Zealand public, the support of the Aboriginal community in Australia and the support of the Maori in New Zealand. We have the support of the Mayor of Fremantle and the Mayor of Wellington. All that is lacking is the support of the federal governments.
SS擁有澳洲和紐西蘭絕大部分民眾、澳洲原住民團體和紐西蘭毛利族群的支持。我們也有弗里曼特爾市長和威靈頓市長的背書。我們現在唯一欠缺的，是這兩國聯邦政府的支持。
Sea Shepherd is not holding our breath waiting for official government support. And it is not that important anyhow. We have what we need, the support of the people and especially the indigenous people, and it is that support that sustains us for we could not make these annual voyages to the Southern Ocean without this incredible support.
然而SS絕對不會屏息等待任何官方政府的幫助。況且，他們的支持也不是那麼重要了。我們有我們所需的一切，就是人民－特別是原住民－的支持。他們的支持為我們的行動帶來極大鼓舞，沒有他們的鼓勵，我們絕對不可能年復一年遠征南冰洋。
And so we will let the politicians talk, condemn, and play politics as usual.
因此，我們放手，任由所有的政治談判、譴責和操弄手段繼續紛擾下去。
As for Sea Shepherd, we have some whalers to stop and we intend to aggressively and effectively oppose them while taking into account the need for safety at sea, and responsibility and concern for all lives involved including those of our own crew, the Japanese whalers and most importantly, for our clients – the whales of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.
至於海洋守護者協會，我們得去阻止非法捕鯨者的屠殺，我們打算採取更積極且更有效率的行動破壞他們的血腥手段，努力維護海上行動安全，護衛所有生命，包括我們志工們和日本捕鯨者的安全；更重要地，我們要捍衛我們客戶的生命權益－即是南冰洋所有自在悠游的鯨群。
Wonderful! You are the greatest, Shannon!
Absolutely brilliant and thought provoking column, Holise and very much right on the point. Some people have such a peverted sense of belief in God, one reason that I really can’t stand organized religion.
I was actually impressed, on the other hand, when I found some quotes from the Catholic Church which normally does not provide much salvation to the creatures of the world.
“Animals are God’s creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness with which saints like St. Francis of Assisi or St. Philip Neri treated animals.”
—Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 2416
“Animals possess a soul and men must love and feel solidarity with our smaller brethren…the fruit of the creative action of the Holy Spirit and merit respect…as near to God as men are.” He reminded people that all living beings came into being because of the “breath” of God. He spoke of St. Francis’s love for animals declaring, “We, too, are called to a similar attitude.”
—His Holiness Pope John Paul II.
“It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer and die needlessly.”
—Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 2418
Regardless, as you have pointed out, my friend, our own salvation may very much depend on how we show compassion to all of God’s creatures, humans and animals alike.
How many brilliant minds have professed the same thing, people that so many respect and admire because of their respected fields but had little idea of their vision and comprehension of basic compassion to all life; Einstein, Dalai Lama, Gandhi, Leonardo Di Vinci, Hippocrates.
I hope many people read your column Holise and I will certainly share it accordingly. It definitely fod for thought
Thank you for the incredible insight. It simply goes to show that, with a little research, it is evident that animal welfare activists are practicing what most religions profess. No wonder they consider us to be threatening. Our compassion for all life challenges the core of their beliefs, shining light into the darkness of their very souls. They claim to be lovers of life, but at their dinner tables they are most certainly lovers of death.
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