Apr 2 , 2022
By Kidist Yidnekachew
A fellow human being can make us angry or trigger us to start a fight from time to time. Differences in ideas and arguments are a given. That is why we often see people fighting, even though that is not always the solution. I cannot remember the last time I was in a physical fight with anyone. There is no point in throwing a punch unless in self-defence and even then, it is not a sure bet.
The idea of fighting is fascinating. As an overprotective, anxious control freak who often assumes the worst of scenarios, I find every punch lethal but that is not always the case. I know some fights are necessary to make us strong both mentally and physically. Instead of countries going to war, if leaders could have sorted out their differences in a fist fight without dragging the population into it, then the world would have been a better place.
In some circles, it is sometimes argued that adults should not meddle when children fight. Let them sort it out on their own as that will prepare them for the real world, they claim. There could be some truth to it, but it is never okay when there is a power differential.
But it could be even worse other times. Some boys, especially those between the ages of six and twelve, take fancy hitting stray cats or dogs. They are walking on the road and they see a cat, sitting on the side of the road harmlessly, neither approaching nor attacking them; simply minding its own business. Out of the blue, it is hit by a stone by some boy. And they do not even show remorse; they keep hitting it.
Why and for what?
I understand the logic behind hitting a dog that was aggressive towards one but wanting to hurt a harmless creature only because we can show that we are indeed capable of inflicting pain is absurd.
It is not like these children were having an emotional fit or needed to displace their anger, it happens out of nowhere. We see them talking and laughing and all of a sudden, they see a cat and get the urge to either throw stones at it or hit it. The poor and helpless cats do not even know what they did wrong.
It might be the way we are raised. From a young age, we are told to chase away pets when we see them, especially if they are not owned by us. We encourage our kids to tell pets to go away and even to apply physical force to chase them away every now and then. By the time we are adults, we have told our brains that it is okay to do that to pets or other animals. There are parents who teach their children to take care of pets and treat them with kindness. But this is not as common as it should be considering the abuse perpetrated against cats and dogs.
Whenever I see children hitting pets, I tell them to stop but the older children have an attitude and look at me as if to say, “nobody asked you.” They even scare me at times. Understandably, we do not have the privilege to talk about animals’ rights yet, considering what happens to human beings to the present day. But we cannot witness it happen so many times and fail to speak out either.
The same analogy applies to humans too. Sometimes we hurt others because we can and because we simply do not like them, which makes them prey to abuse. This is especially the case if the power differential is tilted in our favour. Sometimes, if the act is being perpetrated against those considered weak and powerless, we do not even notice – much the same way few notice the abuse towards animals.
PUBLISHED ON
Apr 02,2022 [ VOL
23 , NO
1144]
Featured | Jul 09,2022
Life Matters | Jul 20,2019
View From Arada | Apr 30,2022
Featured | Dec 21,2019
Featured | Nov 02,2019
Photo Gallery | 96573 Views | May 06,2019
Photo Gallery | 88853 Views | Apr 26,2019
My Opinion | 67144 Views | Aug 14,2021
Commentaries | 65753 Views | Oct 02,2021
Feb 24 , 2024 . By MUNIR SHEMSU
Abel Yeshitila, a real estate developer with a 12-year track record, finds himself unable to sell homes in his latest venture. Despite slash...
Feb 10 , 2024 . By MUNIR SHEMSU
In his last week's address to Parliament, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) painted a picture of an economy...
Jan 7 , 2024
In the realm of international finance and diplomacy, few cities hold the distinction that Addis Abeba doe...
Sep 30 , 2023 . By AKSAH ITALO
On a chilly morning outside Ke'Geberew Market, Yeshi Chane, a 35-year-old mother cradling her seven-month-old baby, stands amidst the throng...
Apr 20 , 2024
In a departure from its traditionally opaque practices, the National Bank of Ethiopia...
Apr 13 , 2024
In the hushed corridors of the legislative house on Lorenzo Te'azaz Road (Arat Kilo)...
Apr 6 , 2024
In a rather unsettling turn of events, the state-owned Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (C...
Mar 30 , 2024
Ethiopian authorities find themselves at a crossroads in the shadow of a global econo...
Apr 20 , 2024
Ethiopia's economic reform negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are in their fourth round, taking place in Washington, D...
Apr 20 , 2024 . By BERSABEH GEBRE
An undercurrent of controversy surrounds the appointment of founding members of Amhara Bank after regulat...
An ambitious cooperative housing initiative designed to provide thousands with affordable homes is mired...
Apr 20 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Ethiopia's juice manufacturers confront formidable economic challenges following the reclassification of...