This is kinda wierd, and I wonder if there's a precedent for it. The new Horton hears a who movie is out, and as expected, we're inundated with the trailers. Obviously they brought back fond memories, and a brief mental run through of the plot of the book left me mixing up both books, and gave me my original idea which I'll get into later. After research, I got my facts straight, and was only further convinced. I believe Horton the elephant was meant as, or can be effectively used as a symbol for religious persecution. I don't intend this to be a religious discussion, but stick with me on this.
Horton is a very principled person(elephant). He tries his best to do what he thinks is "Right". In both books, the plot can be summarized as Horton's determination to protect something, despite conditions, and persecution of his fellow creatures. He exhibits strange behaviors, and does something that the others do not understand.

In The first book, the other animals(immediate peers) merely laugh at him, the world throws everything at him, furthermore,as his behavior, the protection of the egg,(religious beliefs) is exposed to humans(The world at large) and made a mockery of, through his determination and faith(a word used expressly in the book), he is able to live through these and eventually gains happiness with the child as his new friend(enlightenment, contentment, salvation, heaven, whatever your religion offers you)

In the second book, the religious paralells are more prevalent. Horton now, not only believes in the whos(god, heaven, the devil, reincarnation), but exhibits the same kind of strange(to his peers) behaviors as before( religious practices). In this book, his immediate peers take to outright persecution, attempting to destroy(convert him to their beliefs) the flower holding whoville(his beliefs)
as he continously resists, they bocome more vicious, attacking horton himself. In the end, I believe the message is rather depressing, as horton's pleas and persuasion do not work, and the only way to save Horton is through the acts of the whos themselves (divine intervention)

Meaning that humanity will always pick on the odd man out, unless god himself does something about it,or in other words, only something out of human actions can disrupt this cycle of persecution. I personally don't belive this, but that's what I got from the books.

opinions? thoughts? rebuttals? should this go in discussion?