(IMO) I think the earth is a school. We didn't come here masters and we don't necessarily behave as such. I love animals immensely. And ditto for people. I think we are all cut out of the same cloth and apparently share an amazing percentage of the same DNA.

I have come to realize for myself through various rebellious stages in my life, that when I would reject my family, my origins, my hometown, my own species, I was in turn loathing and rejecting my own self. And if it is true that we get what we expect (and to me this is an utter truth), it serves us all to see ours strengths and the good things we do! I believe we receive what we focus on.

People have come a loooooong way, especially of late. A century ago, people were chained to walls, tortured and slaughtered for crimes of having their own belief, or being mentally handicapped, or just too different from the rest (and free-worlds were not exception). Women were not allowed to own property or to vote. And some human beings and races were entirely enslaved! The list truly goes on of where we have been and what we have overcome.

Yes, there are still dark areas in the world, and perhaps the fact that these dark areas are so easily illuminated today through mass media, video, and photography, and the fact that much of the world is becoming so much brighter thereby further contrasting the inequalities and shadows, might inadvertently lead us to think people are not becoming better. But we really and truly are. We have cured and learned to prevent and treat so many diseases that life expectancy is dramatically longer for most of us. Some of the richest humans are using their wealth to feed, vaccinate and educate the world (Orpah, Bill Gates, etc.) A woman may even become leader of a world-power nation!

So many people are vegetarians and vegans, refusing to harm even a hair on an animal's head. And so many put their lives on the line daily to save the oceans, trees and wildlife. Others dedicate their lives to helping those that are destitute, in poor countries, or those that are very lost and sad.

This world is a truly great place and filled with magnificent beings. We have lots of things to work out, but there is every indication that this is what we have been doing, are doing and continue to do as we grow to be masters.

Just my