Animal Suffering by Cowboy Rocky – SEE SAW Comics, Webcomics from the Sequential Artists Workshop

Animal Suffering by Cowboy Rocky

“In 2022, I became vegan for health reasons. I have long covid.” A cluster of viruses “I have chosen this diet in hopes of reducing inflammation and other debilitating symptoms.” Cowboy Rocky is lying down with their head resting on their arms.

“Though political ideology did not motivate this dietary shift, I’ve since found myself more sensitive to the plight of animals.” Six dead pigs hanging by their feet (in preparation for butchering).  “Companies slaughter millions of animals every single day in order to feed our population. Prey animals are hunted by predators. Sometimes they are eaten alive. Survival rates for wild baby animals tend to be low. Many wild animals suffer and die from preventable injury and disease without the aid of modern medicine.” A tiny snake bares its fangs, hanging out of the beak of a bird.

“None of this is new. This is the natural order of things.” Cowboy Rocky solemnly looks down at a little bird and asks, “How do you all survive the Texas heat?!” The bird says, “Some of us don’t!” “Only recently have I internalized the brutality of this arrangement on an emotional level. Now, the cruelty of survival really, really bothers me.” “I am reminded of a popular memefied quote from Kristen Bell’s character in The Good Place: THIS is the Bad Place.” Kristen Bell as Eleanor Shellstrop points at something behind her, smiling as she says the line.

“Some lines of philosophical inquiry cite the suffering of animals as reason to cast doubt on the existence of God. This is tied to a larger question known as the Problem of Evil, which attempts to reconcile the existence of evil & suffering with a benevolent god.” Two raccoons, one on the other’s shoulders, try to hide within the robes of a God figure with a full white beard and long hair.

“In his book Freedom, God, and Worlds, philosophy scholar Michael J. Almeida explores the problem of evil through the lens of animal suffering.” Almeida holds up his hands in lecture and says, “If God is omnipotent, omniscient, and wholly good, and can actualize an evolutionary perfect world, then why does the evil of extensive animal suffering exist?”

“Centuries before Almeida, Leonardo da Vinci was also interested in this question. According to historical documentation, he was a vegetarian and animal lover and was troubled by the cruelty of nature’s food chains.” da Vinci looks at the reader and asks, “Why did nature not ordain that one animal should not live by the death of another?” Narration continues, “I struggle to accept and make peace with animal suffering, however I’ve begun to cope and take action in small ways.” “I let a spider live in the corner of my kitchen and greet her in the morning.” A spider stands by her web in the corner of a room. “I keep an eye out for turtles in the road and move them to safety. (Happens more often than you would think.) A turtle is held in the hands of a human.

“I fill the bird bath in my front yard with cold water during the punishingly hot Texas summer days.”
Cowboy Rocky fills a bird bath with water; little birds splash around in it.

“I tell myself that despite the suffering, all animals experience moments of peace, joy and levity too.”
Cowboy Rocky looks down at a little squirrel gnawing on a nut.
“@cowboy.rocky”

Published On: July 13, 2024

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