Sir,
Sunday’s front-page article (March 5), exposed the disgusting and sickening act of soldiers burning a dog to death.
Your newspaper, and Sigma Television, should be commended for bringing this to the public’s notice. No one, animal lover or not, could have not been physically revolted by the article. But articles like this highlight the important role the media plays in society, by exposing such evil acts.
The fact that the perpetrators of this hideous crime were soldiers, is in itself disturbing; do we really want, or need, people like that in a position of responsibility to defend and protect our country?
I am not a psychiatrist, but is plainly obvious that those responsible are very, very sick people. I would go further and add that the depth of their sickness has been part of their despicable characters for a long time.
What sort of adults will they become, more frightening, what sort of parents; and what future does society have with people like that in its midst?
Criminals are often described as animals when the crime is a serious one. That well used statement is grossly insulting to animals; they behave in a far more civilised way than a lot of human beings.
I mentioned not so long ago to a Christian friend, that my personal idea of heaven was a beautiful garden, and the presence of lots of animals. I was told in no uncertain terms, that there are no animals in heaven, because animals do not have a soul.
Do the soldiers who burnt that poor dog to death have a soul? I can never be convinced that they do. And yet as humans and supposedly the superior species of animal, they, upon repentance, will be allowed through the gates of heaven.
As no mortal has yet paid a visit to heaven as a tourist and reported their findings back, I live in hope that my ideas of such a place will be all I wish for.
Apart from any judicial punishment that can be levied against the guilty soldiers, I would suggest they be subjected to a compulsory community service order, and for them to work at one of the many animal sanctuaries on the island.
This would expose them to the daily suffering of animals at the hands of humans. In doing so, if they did have a soul or an ounce of decency in their bodies, it may bring an awareness to them of how to ease suffering, not to inflict it.
Michalis Alexandrou, Larnaca
