Mark Twain: The War-Prayer

"O Lord, our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with their little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sport of the sun-flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it -- for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen."

In accordance with Twain's request, this was published after his death.

Animal Bill of Rights

[Note: This is from the Animal Legal Defense Fund. You can sign this by clicking on the title below to go to the petition on their site.]

A Petition to the United States Congress

I, the undersigned American citizen, believe that animals, like all sentient beings, are entitled to basic legal rights in our society. Deprived of legal protection, animals are defenseless against exploitation and abuse by humans. As no such rights now exist, I urge you to pass legislation in support of the following basic rights for animals:

• THE RIGHT of animals to be free from exploitation, cruelty, neglect and abuse.
  
• THE RIGHT of laboratory animals not to be used in cruel or unnecessary experiments.
  
• THE RIGHT of farm animals to an environment that satisfies their basic physical and psychological needs.
  
• THE RIGHT of companion animals to a healthy diet, protective shelter, and adequate medical care.
  
• THE RIGHT of wildlife to a natural habitat, ecologically sufficient to a normal existence and self-sustaining species population.
  
• THE RIGHT of animals to have their interests represented in court and safeguarded by the law of the land.