CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

I'd commented on this in my Goof Off thread, but I think that this belongs more in the General forum as it is not at all silly.

I've been volunteering at the Rickshaw Rally VBS this year at my church (in a Kenshin costume as well). The leaders bought a kiddie-pool and put some live goldfish in it as well as some stones and lily-pads to make it a nice environment.

These were such cute little fish. Little orange baby goldfish, some of them with black speckles, some brown with orange specks, all of them very cute and very timid.

At the VBS store, the goldfish were being sold to the kids for fake money that they'd earned for having good behavior. A handful of fish were left, however.

Today, a bunch of teens claiming to be Christians thought that it might be "fun" to torture the remaining goldfish. I'd heard that teens had been dropping them from the balcony, but I didn't believe it until today, a friend--Kevin--came running up to me, shouting that "the teens were throwing fish onto the roof!"

I raced outside to see three of the most well-behaved teens in the church throwing live fish at the roof of the church. They were bashing against the walls and were bloody and ripped apart. A few innocent little children were sobbing and begging the teens to stop while they tried to catch the fish.

I screamed at them, calling them "jerks" and totally catching them off-guard while I told them that it was WRONG what they were doing to the poor fish. After I'd yelled at them for a few moments, all the while being stared at by everyone else who were in total shock at the side of me that they hadn't seen before, one of the leaders came out and had a word with the teens.

I went back inside, hoping that the leader (who had more respect from the teens than I do) had taken care of everything.

Not half an hour later, Kevin came running up to me, saying that "fish were being flushed down toilets!" Since I can't go into the men's room, Kevin went in for me. After much shouting, he came back out with the fish. Soon he found a home for it.

My mother, who was volunteering as well, caught someone coming out of the bathroom while Kevin was gone, and she asked the boy what was going on. He said that they were going to flush ANOTHER fish down the toilet. She made him give her the fish.



Then some poor kid was talking about how the teens were dropping the poor live goldfish off the balcony and how they were hitting the floor and the pool and how a few were dying.

Kevin and I guarded the last fish until kids took them home.

I am very, very disappointed and will be talking to the youth group about cruelty to animals.



By the way, these are what the fish looked like:

O.O those poor little goldfish ; ;

thats discusting I cant but then I can beleave that. teens these days *picks up flame thrower* let the flame wars begin. *runs out of the hows and shoots it at every teen he sees doing sumthing stupid.*

...That is so sad. ; ___ ;

Let me guess- they didn't get in trouble? If I found out my kid was doing something like that...oooohh...grrr. >O<

a good idea when you see someone doing that? tell teh pastor.

The pastor wasn't around.

Nope they got in no trouble unless you count being screamed at by a volunteer in a Kenshin costume and her almost-equally-furious mother getting in trouble.

However, I AM calling the humane society tomorrow. Usually they wouldn't deal with fish, but this was so horrible--and because there were little kids around--that they'll have to at least talk to them. And if they're doing it to fish, no telling what they'll do with other animals...

I didn't even finish reading everything and I already feel so SICK! I need to slap someone or something I dunno...gaaahhh!!! *holds back anger* >_< What's wrong with these ppl!!!????

And they're supposed to be showing God's love and demonstrating how Jesus loves ALL THE CREATURES to the little children.

I'm back, 10 teens are now eating soup. and a total of 16 are now grounded. but can I ask how old these kids were?

Between the ages of 15 - 17. Not like little kids. They should know better.

I don know better but....... I call anybody that dus dumthing that dum kids. so I call a lot of peaple kids.

They were kids...under 18 = kids...especially if they're acting like kids.

I'm worried if they feel no remorse doing that to animals, why not humans later on in life?

It's about respecting life and God's creation.

How can someone be so cruel? And there were kids around if i was there i would definattly slap them, i know it isn't right but when peaple are being mean like that it gets me so mad.

Actually they came quite close to getting hit...but I decided that this probably wouldn't make the situation any better so screaming "HEY! YOU JERKS! LEAVE THOSE FISH ALONE!" probably got my point across.

I spit on anyone willing to hit a harmless goldfish.

Does anybody think that I should call the humane society?

A little while ago, some teens were arrested for beheading two chickens (the other four died of stress from watching...how sad). Teens these days...or at least, some of them...icky...

So shouldn't torturing goldfish count? Just want some opinions...

Well, an animal is still an animal, a life is still a life. I'd call the Humane Society, and if they won't do anything, well, you tried.

maybe, maybe not. but there is always try.

Hmm...okay...I'm calling tomorrow.

These teens need to get in trouble with the law to learn, I think. They just won't learn. They threw the fish at the roof, then after being told not to do that, they went and were going to flush them down toilets.

I originally didn't want the teens to get into trouble but they need to before they do this again.

yeah..

Thats just so mean... Its bad enough to do that to poor little baby fishes, but I think a large part of their sin was acting like total bullies to those kids who wanted them to stop!

Call The Humane Society! Do It Now!! Nownownownow

I just wrote them a letter and am editing it.

The teens claim that they didn't hear the kids, but there were quite a few children...but, they kept torturing fish (in the men's room, I think that it's because they know I can't get in there, but luckily I have a boy friend [not boyfriend, mind you] who went in there and gave them the what-for and saved the fish that was still alive). So even if they didn't hear the little kids, they most certainly heard me.

And I was near tears, too. I really hope I didn't scare the little kids. I was pretty ticked...I don't think that the teens were expecting to see such a furious side of me as I'm usually very gentle and calm.

God gave us dominain over animals, and no right to abuse that gift.

i dont like the humane society at all, they think animals have more rights then us, but anyways i really cant say much cuase ive done much worse things then just throwing a fish.

That was certainly cruel and uncalled for.

Some people just won't learn...

That's so sad.

Whoa...I am also against cruelty to animals, but I think you guys are taking this a bit too far.

Mave wrote:I'm worried if they feel no remorse doing that to animals, why not humans later on in life?

First of all, none of us is really above committing any sin. King David had a man killed, Solomon worshipped other gods despite his wisdom, and Abraham lied to save himself. Are you greater than them? The answer is no: none of us are.

I think most young boys go through a phase where they "torture" animals, whether they are insects (sun+magnifying glass+ants...), or fish, in this case. It does not mean that they will go on to harm larger animals, let alone humans.

Heart of Sword wrote:Whoa...I am also against cruelty to animals, but I think you guys are taking this a bit too far.

Mave wrote:I'm worried if they feel no remorse doing that to animals, why not humans later on in life?

First of all, none of us is really above committing any sin. King David had a man killed, Solomon worshipped other gods despite his wisdom, and Abraham lied to save himself. Are you greater than them? The answer is no: none of us are.

I think most young boys go through a phase where they "torture" animals, whether they are insects (sun+magnifying glass+ants...), or fish, in this case. It does not mean that they will go on to harm larger animals, let alone humans.

Heart of Sword wrote:A little while ago, some teens were arrested for beheading two chickens (the other four died of stress from watching...how sad). Teens these days...or at least, some of them...icky...

So shouldn't torturing goldfish count?

No...no it shouldn't count. Trying to get some kids thrown in jail for "torturing" goldfish is definitely overreacting.

The best thing you could do is ask your mother to speak to the teens' parents. That way they can be punished in a way that is not overly harsh.

Once again let me say that I am against cruelty to animals; however, it appears that my reaction to that belief is somewhat different than yours.

Even if you do get them in semi-serious trouble, that probably won't help. In fact, something inordinately severe (i.e. jail) would probably just make them really mad at you, causing them to seek revenge. They would also know that you are bothered by cruelty to animals, and might use that to get to you.

Finally, consider this: "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord" (Romans 12:19). Don't go too far in trying to ensure that these teens get what you think they deserve. When they stand before God in judgment, they will feel remorse greater than anything you could ever instill in them.