While watching a continuous stream of videos of the ocean raging inland in Japan, one cannot help but wonder about the people in those waves and swirls and their suffering. And I think about the animals, too. But another thought interrupted that temptation to think about the pets and livestock: how do we interpret the images? What tugs on our hearts?
What if I'm confronted with two pictures, one of a child crying on the street alone, and the other of a stranded puppy with a forlorn look in its eyes? Some studies say we're drawn to the puppy with more sympathy. Neither child nor puppy can help itself, but if there is any presumption tethered in our conscience, maybe it's that we know deep inside someone is going to come along and pick up that child and at least, tell the puppy, "sorry little guy, I'm all out of arms".
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