Do you love your dog (or cat, horse, or other animal) more than your car?

[Shepherd]

Dear Animal Lovers,
Given the recent attention to the new "Beauty & the Beast" film, I just checked out the original film, by French poet Jean Cocteau. The opening line in the booklet with the film follows: "The poet Paul Eluard says that to understand my film version of "Beauty and the Beast," you must love your dog more than your car." Do you?

Here's another quote from French poet Anatole France: "Until one has loved an animal a part of one's soul remains unawakened."
Shepherd

[Shandi]

I don't understand what loving your dog more than your car has to do with "Beauty & the Beast". Can anyone explain this? What if we don't have a dog? Do people really "love" their car more than their pet?

On the subject of "Beauty & the Beast", before I saw it I had read that the film was banned in some countries because of a "gay moment". So, I looked closely for this during the film. I saw one scene where a man seemed happy to be momentarily dressed as a woman, but that wouldn't be considered "gay". I hadn't read any references to cross dressers or transvestites, but there it was.

I must have missed the "gay moment" since I was caught up in the other wonderful aspects of this film: the music, costumes, animation, action, and ultimately the message.... not to judge by appearances. Which is exactly what is being done by those condemning the film, and suggesting that only those over 16 be allowed to see it. Really? With all that kids are exposed to online? I can't imagine that many teens over 16 would be that interested in it. Just my opinion.

I do agree with the quote from Anatole France.


Dear Animal Lovers,
Given the recent attention to the new "Beauty & the Beast" film, I just checked out the original film, by French poet Jean Cocteau. The opening line in the booklet with the film follows: "The poet Paul Eluard says that to understand my film version of "Beauty and the Beast," you must love your dog more than your car." Do you?...