How One Choice Can Have a Harmful Effect on Others

In Chris Heath’s story “18 Tigers, 17 Lions, 8 Bears, 3 Cougars, 2 Wolves, 1 Baboon, 1 Macaque, and 1 Man Dead in Ohio , the theme he uses to get his ideas across is Point of view. Through point of view Heath explains that we should not keep wild animals and treat them as pet, they should be in the zoo where they can receive the proper care they need. This occurrence came to a halt. when all the animals had to be put down,because of one man who was suffering with depression made a bad decision to take his life. He did this in order to punish his wife for cheating on him,but little did he know that it would have a rippling effect. What started this sequel of events was his depression. Health states “.....son remained trapped in the bard. From there, looking through a north-facing window, he watched the menagerie grow” (Heath 149).

This affect not only prevented a mentally distressed man to miss out on an opportunity of getting the help he needed but the animals had to suffer a the at the hand of humans. It all depends on how you see this story the animals were put down to prevent them from doing harm to anyone in the community but lost their lives. Animals suffering at the hands of humans is when the big issue when morality comes up. Heath states that “Only once you slide up and down these slippery moral slopes can you see how much easier it is for all of these owners to believe they are acting with kindness to animals that they love, and that their love is on some level reciprocated.” (Heath 162) Just like in heath story, morals come up again in Sabrina Rubin Erdely’s story “School of Hate”.

In “School of Hate” Erderly’s theme revolves around many differnt themes such as, bullying of LGBTQ students but more so on the outcomes when intervention is taken protect LGBTQ children. Erderly states “By age thirteen, she’d been taunted as a “cunt” and “cock muncher” long before such words had made much sense. When she told administrators about the abuse, they were strangely unresponsive, even though bullying was a subject often discussed in school-board meetings” (254). There were so many different regulations and policies that prevented teachers from intervening. School of hate also touches the topic of different faiths Whether you are for it or against also will play a role in how you interpret the reading. If you do not agree with LGBTQ people some may veiw this as being sinful or even mentally ill which is why some may find it bazarre that some of these LGBTQ students took thire own life. Where as individuals who actually support LGBTQ students choice would not only sympatize with them help establish laws that safe place where they can go and discuss their fears and concerns without turning to suicide. more with a LGBTQ student who is being bullied and had no support.

The out come is grim. Erderly states that “There was another common thread: Four of the nine dead were either gay or perceived as such by other kids, and were reportedly bullied” ( 256). This quote from the story makes you wonder in the LGBTQ students commited suicide because of the many they were seen in the community or was it simply because of thier sextual orientation.

I think the main point that pulled the trigger in this story was when Erderly states “The next theme is discrimination, an example of that is: “When Christian activists who considered gays an abomination forced a measure through the school board forbidding the discussion of homosexuality in the district’s public schools, kids like Brittany were unknowingly thrust into the heart of a clash that was about to become intertwined with tragedy” (Erdley 253) Although these essays had some things in common and we can clearly see the picture the authors painted for their readers both take a different spin on issues that involve how one choice can have a harmful and even a deadly effect on others around us.