The first thing I should probably explain is that I, in no way, support torturing animals. I, like everyone else on planet earth, think that what Micheal Vick (and plenty of others) did was terribly inhumane. (Also, I used to have a cat, and I loved her dearly.) However, giving animals rights is ridiculous. Whether you believe in creation or evolution, which obviously significantly colors your opinion of animals, the idea of making animals equal to people does not even make sense. If you are a Creationist, then you believe that God made humans superior to animals and told us to have dominion over them. If you are an Evolutionist, then you view yourself as superior to animals because you evolved into a more sophisticated creature than they did. To those Evolutionists who hold that by caging animals we are hindering their chance to evolve further, that idea is absurd. It contradicts the entire concept of survival of the fittest, because, if that were the case, each species would want to maximize its own potential to evolve and minimize every other species' potential. The fact is, regardless of how you view the distinction between humans and animals, it does exist, and animals should not be treated as humans for that reason. If it is not stopped, it is hard to imagine to what extent animal rights might be taken. Are we going to make killing an animal a criminal offense as killing a human is? Are we going to allow them to vote? (If you think that question was ridiculous, you are only proving my point that there is a distinction between humans and animals because they cannot reason in the way we can.) Are we going to allow them to run rampant as they do in India, where they are notorious for taking human lives, which are obviously worth more? I simply fail to see how giving animals rights (beyond the obvious punishment of criminals such as Micheal Vick) benefits anyone or makes any sense at all.
Animals Have Rights? When Did They Get Those?!
By Katie Marie - Posted on February 28th, 2008
In my mind, I tend to agree with you. But at the same time, the treatment of animals is (as you criticize) only one step away for how people treat animals. Teenagers who treat animals poorly tend to grow up to treat people the same way.
Also, there is the issue of "sharing the earth". If we completely disregard our fellow creature, we are going to lead ourselves down a very dangerous path.
One thing that you are quite heavily mistaken on is the evolutionist's perspective. It is highly stressed in biology that we are NOT any more evolved than even the single celled bacteria that live in our stomach. They have evolved to suit their needs, as we have evolved to ours, along with all other animals. In fact, there is evidence to suggest that we are LESS evolved than most other animals on the planet, as we have decreased evolution tremendously as more people live. My point is that people are not more evoloved than animals, and thus your argument is flawed.
If we assume that we are more evolved than other animals (which we are not), then why does that mean that we would have more rights? Who gives rights, any way, and what makes human kind so superior? Do all creatures not have the right to attempt to be alive as long as possible? Do all creatures not have the right not to be tortured and abused? It's not the same in wilderness, like with lions eating prey, as they are doing so for survival, and not out of superficial or cruel reasons.
As to your quote: "Are we going to allow them to vote? (If you think that question was ridiculous, you are only proving my point that there is a distinction between humans and animals because they cannot reason in the way we can.)" NOT THE SAME THING! The basic right to forgo torture is not the same as governmental rights given to people.
I'm sorry (actually, I'm not), but this blog is rediculous.
I think your over simplifying the issue.
I don't recall hearing anywhere about giving voting rights or such to animals.
I think the real issue is the treatment of animals and the way we respect or disrespect them. You've heard it before so I won't repeat it but it is only right to treat animals with respect.
Now...if you want to really transcend mindless classification, we could discuss humans as being no better than animals (or wiser). Humans have and always will be fueled by basic primordial instincts inherent in all living beings. Curiosity, pain, comfort, hate, fear; these are but a few of the things animals and humans share.
Although we don't think about it, aren't we too driven by basic needs and wants? Don't humans need food and comfort? Don't animals tend to congregate and socialize? Are we not territorial in our possessions? Half our legal system is built around posses ion!
Even learning, teaching and the desire for knowledge can be found in animals. Cubs are taught survival skills, birds investigate their surroundings and many mammals use tools to go about their daily life.
I would argue that humanity is no different from the animal kingdom. We are motivated by the same needs and wants as animals, only in a more discrete form. I suppose humans are like the Mercedes of all living things, it may look all grand and advanced on the outside, but in reality, it is just another car on the road.
Does this mean animals should be able to vote? not necessarily. But we shouldn't go around treating them like inferior beings just so we can feel macho.
Please don't speak for the evolutionary community, you clearly do not reflect the general open mindedness nor the reasonable people that make up the group.
The greatest threat to any given nation is ignorance; more specifically, the ignorance of the people.
Believing in evolution has nothing to do with giving animals rights. Just because I am intellectually superior to a four-year-old doesn't mean I should start using that four-year-old for my own selfish gain. Animals do not need the same rights as humans, but they should be treated humanely (i.e., if you eat an animal, at least raise it happy and healthy and kill it painlessly and don't waste it).
Kiota wrote what i was going to say on this subject. There is no reason why an animal should not be treated well even if they are just being raised to eat.
So basically you're telling me that animals have no rights...so why do you have rights then? You are technically an animal so then if animals have no rights then neither do you and it would be ok for me to punch you in the face for idotic and overtly simplified blogs. But I don't do that because you have rights and are an animal.
*applause* THANK YOU! I couldn't agree more.
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Do read my post fully. Not only does it help you understand my point instead of making rash statements, but it also gives me some semblance of faith that people can read and understand an argument.
Some people say God gave humans rights but since I don't believe in God, I say that humans give humans rights. We have rights because we have decided we have rights. We only get to keep these rights if we guard them and are willing to fight for them. In much of the world, humans have very few or no rights. The rest of us watch and wring our hands as we watch these people get abused or have their 'rights' trampled on but very seldom do we ever step up to plate and actually do something about it. When we do, there is almost always another overriding economic or political interest involved. The vast majority of humans have about the same rights as other animals: little or none.
Along with rights come responsibilities. Most people who shriek about their rights being involved forget the other half of the equation. But it is when people forget that they have responsibilities that go along with their rights that they generally lose their rights. For example, how many countries around the world have had the opportunity to vote and ended up voting a dictator into power. It has happened all to often. People used their rights irresponsibly and got what they deserved which is no more rights. Of course the dictator has the unlimited right to do whatever he pleases to anybody (or any animal) under his power.
I think one of the responsibilities that comes along with our rights is the responsibility to be humane and to ensure that our fellow citizens behave humanely. If we have a high tolerance of inhumane behavior, including mistreatment of animals, then our whole society is tainted by this tolerance for evil and pretty quick people are behaving inhumanely towards other people, like turning women into sex slaves. I favor laws that require people to treat animals humanely because it is a necessary thing in a decent society.. I'm not giving animals right but rather putting restrictions on human behavior. There is a big difference between a law that restricts inhumane treatment by humans of animals and a grant of rights to animals.
If animals have rights who is going to fight for those animal rights? Are we going to invade another country if there is a systematic animal rights violation? Personally, I would be against committing even one American soldier to such a fight and my guess is that most of the public would be with me..