Different from me

If we care about the differences in others, which might put them at a disadvantage (whether it be racial, species difference), our caring may not stem from kindness but from interest. It’s usually interesting to observe the differences in others. In whatever form, it’s deeply satisfying to experience the diversity of life.
The difference may not be in person-form but in the form of an idea. An idea might not be familiar, it may scare us, but it may show us new possibilities and opportunities. Different people, different life forms, different ideas – they can help us move on and grow. Perhaps great ideas like non-separation and non-violence suggest a new approach, in how we treat each other and, in tandem, these two ideas can smooth the way to an acceptance of animals, as being of equal importance to humans. On some levels we might be superior to them, on some levels they might be superior to us. But however we see them, if we look closely, we can learn a lot from them, to our benefit. We don’t need to hurt them for us to benefit from them! By realising some of the superior qualities they have, we’re more likely to re-think how we treat them.
Animals may be superior to us, by having better survival skills. They may do better with their relationships, because they aren’t gratuitously violent with each other (sure, there are exceptions!). They lack revenge. They aren’t judgemental. They don’t bear a grudge. To accept animals as equals we need to use our imagination. If animals are worthy of equal respect, it means the same as respecting people from different cultural backgrounds – who show us things about ourselves we didn’t know, some wonderful qualities we don’t have.
Our reactions to ‘different-ones’, whether species or racially different, might at first spark hostility in us, from feeling threatened by the unfamiliar. But once we get to know them a little better, we might switch over from dislike to admiration. We can learn a lot from foreigners … whether they’re human or non-human.