BEST OF NORTH IDAHO: Human vs. Humane

We have just recently completed the nominations for the “Best of 2023,” in the North Idaho Business Journal. At this writing, I don’t know what the outcome will be in the final round but I need to voice my concern. The last two years our Humane Society has won top honors as a nonprofit over Open Arms Real Choices. Part of this could be due to the categories set by the Business Journal by grouping unlike entities together, just because they are nonprofit. This requires us to be very careful in our voting.

We are indeed blessed to have a “no kill” Humane Society and they do a tremendous job of placing animals that would otherwise be euthanized. Like many others, I too love animals and have had cats, dogs, birds, pigs, sheep, etc. I also recognize a higher calling in protecting human life.

Although the words Human and Humane appear similar, there is a clear difference between them in terms of their meaning. The key difference between Human and Humane is that a Human is a biological being. On the other hand, being Humane is showing kindness and concern, having a quality of compassion.

Where does our compassion lie when we say great job Humane Society, while we put the life of an unborn baby in a lessor position? Even our laws protect an animal from being deliberately killed but the life of an unborn baby can still be taken without any repercussion.

I hope and pray that we all are willing to place our compassion and our vote for Human life and not just be Humane.

CHAPLAIN MIKE McPHAIL SR.

Rathdrum