Thursday, September 10, 2009

WHY CAN'T HUMANS BE MORE LIKE CATS? (CIVILITY LESSON #1)

From my usual spot on the back of the couch, behind Steve and his female, I watched President Obama’s speech on health care reform, and quite frankly, I was stunned by the behavior of certain human members of Congress. Throughout the speech, I heard cat calls (and I don’t mean meows), and I saw several humans texting or Twittering while the President was speaking. Tres rude! One white male congressman even shouted out, “You lie.” Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t the President of the United States the leader of the free world and deserving of a certain amount of respect, even if you disagree with him?

Now what occurred to me while watching the speech, among other things, is… why can’t humans be more like cats? Let me give you an example. When I disagree with one of my fellow felines, I merely hiss at them and… well yes, sometimes a whap or two on the head are also required to drive my point home. But I don’t call other cats liars or Nazis or Commies or whatever. Even with enemy cats, I try to show a reasonable degree of courtesy and respect. After all, what are we? Animals?

Now I’m not suggesting that humans hiss at each other or whap each other on the head, but a little civility would be nice. All this screeching and name calling is getting humans nowhere, and for the rest of us, it’s mighty unpleasant. Disagree if you must, humans, but please try and keep the level of discourse out of the gutter. And it would also be nice if you could disagree more quietly. Hey, some of us are trying to nap.

3 comments:

Piglet said...

Maybe all these humans just need to be neutered.

Terry R said...

Yes, yes, I agree with Piglet. Neuter 'em all. Maybe they'll be a little less cranky!!

Shilgiah the Cat said...

You have written some very profound truths Quasi. I think Piglet is on to something. Not only would neutering decrease the overpopulation in the world but would probably directly impact the health care issue and decrease the cost of universal health care. In my opinion everyone (including cats) deserves health care as a birth right...so, less births less health care costs. They spay and neuter us to keep the population in check...it's only fair.