A PRIDE VIGILANCE
SAVES 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL
by
Cliff McKenzie, Editor
vigilancevoice.com

GROUND ZERO PLUS 1382 DAY--New York, NY, Thursday, June 24, 2005--Sentinels of Vigilance take many different forms. In Ethiopia, they assume the shape of a pride of three lions.

The world news reported that a 12-year-old girl was abducted by a gang of men and held captive. The kidnappers goal was to force her into marriage. They beat her repeatedly, seeking her submission. The United Nations estimates that more than 70% of marriages in Ethiopia are by abduction, practised in rural areas where the majority of the country’s 71 million people live.

But then something strange happened.

A pride of three Ethiopian lions appeared and chased the attackers off.

Three Ethiopian lions came to the rescue of a twelve-year-old-girl

Then they stood guard around the girl for a half day until Ethiopian police came to her rescue. Ethiopia’s lions, famous for their large black manes, are the country’s national symbol. They adorn statues and their pictures are used on the local currency. It is estimated only 1,000 Ethiopian lions remain in the wild.

Stuart Williams, a wildlife expert in the rural development ministry of Kefa province, said he thought the whimperings of the girl who had been repeatedly beaten might have resembled the mewing of a lion cub. Her cries caused the lions to think she was one of theirs, and to come to her protection.

That's certainly one explanation.

The other is that Vigilance runs through all creatures. This explanation holds that a "Pride of Vigilance" is ingrained in all creatures, and that in moments of Terror, it percolates to the surface.

Vigilance runs through all creatures

When the Beast of Terror appears and the accompanying pain and anguish that results is broadcast, Sentinels of Vigilance tune in. They are drawn to the distress signal. Their Vigilance hackles stiffen.

Who's to say absolutlely, then, that the three lions in Ethiopia aren't Sentinels of Vigilance?

Humans often treasure the idea they are the only creatures with the frequency to tune into moral judgments. They divide the world of morality among themselves, excluding animals.

When we attribute human characteristics to animals, we call it personification. We apply human traits to the "beasts," but with the caveat they don't "deserve it."

But do they?

There is little doubt that a 12-year-old girl in Ethiopia considers the saving of her life by the three lions as an act of "Vigilance."

Perhaps we should have lions roaming the streets of New York, or Helena, Montana, or Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit and every township in America.

When a parent abused a child, the lions would prowl around the child's house, roaring and snarling until the police or neighbors came.

Around churches, the lions would stalk any clergy who even thought about acting inappropriately with a child.

In the dark nooks and crannies of our streets, the lions would walk alongside the vulnerable, the innocent, baring fangs to let any would-be attacker know that to endanger the safety of their wards would be immediate evisceration.

If a parent were to shout at a child: "I wish you'd never been born," the lion would swipe a big, sharp claw down the parent's back--a reminder to not try and kill the spirit of the child or denigrate its emotional security.

However, if lions were roaming about we would shoot them.

Instead of seeing them as Sentinels of Vigilance, we would consider them Beasts of Terror. SWAT squads would pour from black vans and snipers would squeeze triggers ending the lions' presence on this earth. Their heads would be mounted on walls as victory over the wild, a symbol of man's superiority over nature.

Practically, one wouldn't urge his or her children or grandchildren to walk up to a lion and try and hand feed him or her. Over many eons the gap between man and beast has widened. But also, the gap between the man and his or her own beast has shrunk.

Today, the fragility of the human nature to "snap" is of constant concern. Terrorism is nothing more than the eruption of our Beast of Terror from within. Like a boil, the pus of Terrorism enflames and then finally volcanoes out in the form of Emotional or Physical Terrorism against another.

Terrorism is the eruption of our Beast Of Terror from within

A parent who abuses a child, a spouse who hits or spits at another spouse, a politician who rails that American troops are like Nazis are all Beasts of Terror in a variety of different forms dancing on a thin leash daily.

So what do we do.

We can adopt a Lion of Vigilance.

In our minds, we can imagine the three lions in Ethiopia as our Principles of Vigilance. One is named Courage, the other Conviction and the third, Right Action For The Children's Children's Children (RACS for short.)

We walk through live with Cur(for Courage) and Con (for Conviction) and RACS strolling at our side. When the Beast of Terror tries to kidnap us as he did the 12-year-old girl in Ethiopia, instead of surrendering to the Fear, Intimidation and Complacency of Terrorism, we simply sic Cur, Con and RACS on the bad guys.

Terrorism will run. Just as it did in Ethiopia.

More importantly, the Lions of Vigilance will stay with us.

The Lions of Vigilance will stay with us and protect us

The Lions of Vigilance will protect us. The Pride of Vigilance guards us.

If you want to be a Sentinel of Vigilance, take the Pledge of Vigilance today.

Adopt Cur, Con and RACS as your pet guardians. More importantly, pass them down to your children and loved ones.

Don't walk through life without the Lions of Vigilance.

Become a Pride of Vigilance member.

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