If one can look past humanity’s conditioned revulsion, rodents are very amazing and admirable creatures. The fact that no matter how hard people try (and unlike most other species on this planet) we literally cannot bring about their extinction (and also that they carry comparatively as many microscopic lifeforms within their bodies as humans) seems to drive us to great heights of frustrated insecurity and irrational hatred; however, as anyone who has sheltered rodents such as rats can attest, one learns that, far from the loathsome “vermin” our cultures make them out to be, rodents are in actuality all varied individuals. As a species, they are much like us at our Best — curious explorers, loving, living, social, and deeply empathic beings. They can also be quite vicious, vindictive, and destructive, especially when driven to a primitive state of Darwinian survival struggle. However, much more reliably than us humans, if they are liberated from that sorry state of desperate scarcity, and elevated to a state of (even mild) comfort and shown compassion, their “higher selves” will shine through.

There are prairie dogs outside and mice inside this dungeon where I currently live. They survive off of tiny and (to us) irrelevant scraps. They are furtive and frightened — curious and Brave. The other humans, both prisoners and guards, crush, poison, and torture them in every way their sadistic imaginations can possibly dream up. Much to the impotent rage of the other humans, some of us choose a different path.

I am listed as a ”Hindu-Jain,” and, on both ethical and religious grounds, I strongly object to the Department of Correction’s policy of poisoning the various native beings (whose ancestors have lived here long before humans decided to start putting dungeons on their land). Kindly convicts have been threatened by both sadistic prisoners and emotionally stunted guards with major retaliation for daring to show compassion to these fellow Earthlings (all of whom, like us, are mammals with brains, central nervous systems, families, and the potential for rich emotional lives). The most outrageous of these threats against acts of kindness are perversely charges of “animal abuse” for anyone refusing to participate in the killing of these fellow living beings.

Even if one fails to care about the torment of other species, it is a well-documented sign of psychopathy that violence against small animals leads to violence against small people; therefore, in the interest of rehabilitation, no correctional facility should be punishing compassion nor rewarding cruelty as is the current norm. It has also been scientifically indicated that it is very therapeutic for reformed violent offenders to care for vulnerable animals. It has certainly been a great help in my own struggle with mental illness (pity then that this facility does not allow animal companions). Conversely, socially sanctioned bigotry and a lack of even basic empathy are sure signs that such inmates are NOT ready to be released into the wider world.

Poisoning is an exceptionally horrific way to murder anyone. That is the true “biohazard,” and our citizen-funded DOC should not be complicit in such barbaric practices. These living beings are neither “pests” nor “vermin.” We are the invasive species. They are not “disgusting.” Only cruelty is truly disgusting. They are innocent, playful beings only trying to survive. If there is anything truly “sacred” in this universe, it is surely Innocence, and it must be protected; therefore, instead of brutalizing these little orphans for the “crime” of taking crumbs, that I’d never even miss, I began leaving out for them the tastiest food and the cleanest water I could find. I discovered that these courageous little explorers drew closer and closer to me over time. They performed little “experiments” of their own, observing my reactions and adjusting their behavior accordingly to better coexist or, if you prefer, communicate with me. Despite countless generations of petty brutality perpetrated by my species against their’s, these non-human beings would come and carefully sit upon my hand, understanding full well that I could kill them on a whim — having no doubt witnessed it done to their families by other humans time and again and having it be practically encoded into their very genome. These diplomats from another species, against all instincts to the contrary, chose to put their trust in me — their precious lives literally placed in the palm of my hand. To be offered such a priceless gift, is awe-inspiring.

Existing on a different time scale, their lives (to us) are very short; all the more reason to value them highly and fill their existence with the maximum of joy. I would sometimes awaken to find one particularly brave little girl politely cuddling in the crook of my arm. Imagine having the courage to offer such affection and trust to a giant whose people’s interactions with your species are predicated entirely on solipsistic selfishness and mindless extermination. She wasn’t cold; she wasn’t hungry. At the greatest possible risk, this little orphan was choosing to display cross-species compassion. I called her Whisker-dash.

Tragically such beautiful beings seldom survive in this world. Time and again, the most sentient among us are artificially not “selected for” to survive. Time and again, their trust and attempts at nonverbal communication are answered only with human savagery and betrayal. Other animals would be forgiven for thinking humans mere mindless automatons, so doggedly do we ignore these attempts.

And yet! Individuals from new generations still arrive and try again the Olive Branch of Peace between species, between such alien beings, between different worlds. They still risk all to Try. These brave little diplomats raise Our consciousness one fellow Earthling at a time to not merely survive but to thrive Together and, to truly Live, not in primitive zero-sum cruelty but in Harmony and Love. Perhaps one day We may live up to the inspiring example of these legendary Mice.

*In honor of rodents, like my late furry-friend Whisker-dash, who, with her Courage, elevated my consciousness with cross-species empathy. You will not be forgotten.