We playfully teach our dogs to dance, wear clothes and talk like us, but in reality we should be more like them, emulating their loving, kind and compassionate traits!
Dogs are not prejudiced. They do not care what color, size or breed another dog is. It is
common-sense-confusing why all humans don’t act this way. All puppies and human babies really want is to be loved, fed, treated with kindness, supported and cared for as they grow.
When you fall in love with a puppy it doesn’t matter that the little mutt-mix is long/short furred, or its soft coat is polka dotted, striped, solid or tri-colored. Similarly, why would one care if a child is black, white, striped or has pink polka dots? World over, the little ones
want to be loved and give love. Neither children or dogs care what color their parents are or what religion they, their neighbors, or others in far off countries hold.
Place a passel of multi-sized puppies in a pen. Watch them innocently bounce around looking for others to play with. Similarly, when our children arrive at playgrounds they, too, have one purpose in mind; to find other children who want to have fun! They are blind to color, social status, gender,
religion, who is able bodied, or not, unlike some of their parents. If a child joins them in play or chase, then that child is instantly their "best friend". Everyone should follow their lead and “play nice”.
Take time and watch puppies and kiddies play. The little ones’ enthusiasm and joy makes hearts smile and open up to new paws-ibilities. Have you asked, “Why does someone judge others? Did a parent instill cruel beliefs in them?” Be like the
black short haired Doberman and fluffy white German Shepherd joyfully chasing each other, or like the Great Dane snuggling down for a nap with his best Shih Tzu friend. They are feeling carefree, happy, loved and accepted for who they are. Something that every human enjoys.
Years ago, my high school teachers introduced a brilliant plan to help end prejudice against our "cold war" enemies. The staff knew that exposing us to “the enemy” would teach us, the next
generation, to view politics and the media with a broader canvas. Shortly after, teenage Russian exchange students arrived into our school because as a wise teacher said, "You can't hate close up."
At first those teens, and us, were nervous. Then the magic began. We could not speak the same language, but just like a pack of puppies playing together, we broke the cold barrier. We experienced, first hand, that they are like us. What was to hate about happy basketball
players your age with a sense of humor who were kind to others?
When the Russian students returned to their families and classmates they shared how the "enemy" (us) had treated them. This experience educated both of our cultures how wonderful families in other countries are and how much we truly have in common. Everyone was left with wonderful memories of respecting, playing and learning together.
Then several of our students went into
"enemy territory" (Russia) and had the same enlightening experience. Both sides learned that the angry barking dog that the media paw-trayed of the “other” country was really a pussy cat who wanted nothing better than to play and have their chins scratched like them. This experience broke the stereotype of the enemy to both country’s teachers and students, changing the entire the high schools’ pup-ulation purr-adime of blindly hating. Our teachers were
amazing!
Watch your pet, learn some of their best qualities and be like the man that declared, "I try to be the person that my dog sees in me." Life is short, run through it with a loving heart, not one filled with hate and fear like a dog tied to a short leash restricting its moves, barking at anything that walks by it.
Now go out and chase that ball!
