Brenton
Vegetarians and Vegans
September 30th 2007 12:57
Animals and humans – who is superior? One argument put forward for Vegetarian and Vegan lifestyles is that Humans and animals are equal. And Equals do not eat each other for dinner (Fish and Bundy excluded).
However that argument sounds completely dodgy to me. If Humans and animals are equal, then why can man not eat sheep, while wolves can? In fact, if we’re equal to Lions, how come they get to eat us, and not the other way around?
I’m no Vegetarian (could you guess?). I have difficulty with the term animal rights (something to do with the visualisation of a Kangaroo voting). However, I do think that humans have a duty to animals.
1. Because we’re more dangerous. OK, so if you’re trapped in a cave with a Mountain Lion or a Cobra or an angry Baboon, then they’re fair game. But generally we’re a larger threat to animals than they are to us. Just as adults care for children, just as greenies protect trees, it is essential that we protect animals, from the impact of our own species.
2. Because animals are good for us. Not just if you’re a hippy. People with pets tend to live longer. Whales make us happy, as do dolphins.
3. Because it is not in the interests of humanity to justify cruelty. Individuals such as Ted Bundy began their legacies of cruelty with the torture of small creatures. Societies tolerance of cruelty is to our own detriment.
So that’s it for me. I’m happy to munch on the odd sheep, but I do see that humans have a duty to protect the animal kingdom. We just have to much to loose if we don’t.
IMAGE. by Striatic.
However that argument sounds completely dodgy to me. If Humans and animals are equal, then why can man not eat sheep, while wolves can? In fact, if we’re equal to Lions, how come they get to eat us, and not the other way around?
I’m no Vegetarian (could you guess?). I have difficulty with the term animal rights (something to do with the visualisation of a Kangaroo voting). However, I do think that humans have a duty to animals.
1. Because we’re more dangerous. OK, so if you’re trapped in a cave with a Mountain Lion or a Cobra or an angry Baboon, then they’re fair game. But generally we’re a larger threat to animals than they are to us. Just as adults care for children, just as greenies protect trees, it is essential that we protect animals, from the impact of our own species.
2. Because animals are good for us. Not just if you’re a hippy. People with pets tend to live longer. Whales make us happy, as do dolphins.
3. Because it is not in the interests of humanity to justify cruelty. Individuals such as Ted Bundy began their legacies of cruelty with the torture of small creatures. Societies tolerance of cruelty is to our own detriment.
So that’s it for me. I’m happy to munch on the odd sheep, but I do see that humans have a duty to protect the animal kingdom. We just have to much to loose if we don’t.
IMAGE. by Striatic.
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