Ashley McGuire on Horton's Message in Our Times

"'A person’s a person, no matter how small.'

"It sounds like a pro-life slogan. In fact, it's just a line from Dr. Seuss' 1954 classic, Horton Hears a Who! In the story, an unsuspecting elephant is bathing himself when he hears a cry. The cry is originating from a speck, which turns out to be an entire planet of tiny people floating about vulnerably and desperately seeking protection. Though they shout at the top of their lungs, they are not heard. Horton, just a clumsy elephant, becomes their advocate, and quickly becomes the most loathed animal in the jungle.

"He is called a 'fool,' 'out of his head,' 'a rot,' and a 'big dope'; his fellow animals are upset by his 'carryings-on in our peaceable jungle' and his 'bellowing bungle' about the poor people on Who-ville who cannot be seen or heard. 'It's full of persons!' he exclaims. 'They’ll prove it to you.' But he is thwarted and threatened at every turn."

In a recent commentary, writer Ashley McGuire reflected on the relevance of Horton Hears a Who! to current serious life issues facing this nation.

To access Ashley's complete post, please visit:

National Catholic Register: Blogs: Ashley E. McGuire: A Person's a Person, No Matter How Small (31 JUL 15)