Giving Bears a Voice: Make Peace not War!

If you’re of the mindset that you can “fight the war on” anything, you are dead wrong. War begets war. Fighting begets fighting. So what are you supposed to do then? Sit back and let bad sh*t happen? NO!

Contrary to what we might think, or the way we may have done things before, we can create positive change and advocate for a peaceful coexistence by lifting ourselves above anger.

“Martin Luther King Jr. was outraged by legalized segregation, but his nonviolent temperament lifted him above personal anger. Mahatma Gandhi was outraged by the British colonization of India, but his nonviolent temperament lifted him above personal anger. Notice how in both cases, the fact that these men were lifted above the lower energy of anger empowered them to be even more effective at eradicating the conditions that outraged them. Nonviolence didn’t mean they looked away from the problem; it meant they looked through it to a realm of possibility that lay beyond the conditions that angered them.

Can we use the philosophy of nonviolence today, to save the earth and wage peace among the peoples of the world? Is that too big, too bold a dream….or is it not magnificent? That’s what King did. That’s what Gandhi did. And I think that’s what lies before us now.” ~ Marianne Williamson, The Law of Divine Compensation

Our great ethical and moral challenge of the day is for society to accept non-human animals as the sentient beings they are with the right to a life without suffering, access to clean water and food, and a place they can call home.

Until society can accept that, we can not create long term sustainable change. We can have temporary wins, without a doubt. But we need to change the culture of thinking. We need critical mass. And I think it is absolutely possible. We have already begun building a movement. We need to keep the momentum going. This concept must be entrenched in all or our educational programming.

“If you know what changes a heart, you know what changes the world.” ~ Marianne Williamson

So… get out there and find an informative and inspiring way to get your message across.

Partner. Inspire change. Work together toward the common goal (there will be one, I guarantee it). Sit down at the same table. LISTEN. Work on resolving the problem. Leave personal differences aside. Don’t ever forget, it’s not personal, so don’t make it personal and don’t take it personally.

Here’s a very helpful guide from PETA on effective advocy. And a link to our page on Education.

And please don’t get discouraged. If you get out there and stand in your values, you’re gonna get your butt kicked. That’s just the reality of it.

So take some solace in these powerful words from Theodore Roosevelt… “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs…. [And] if he fails, at least fails while Daring Greatly.”

So dare to give bears a voice and do so daring greatly!

Note: If the idea of daring greatly resonates with you, read Brené Brown’s book titled Daring Greatly – a New York Times Bestseller. I’m betting it will transform the way you live, love and lead with courage.

Photos: Derek Kyostia