Wednesday, May 28, 2014

The biggest battle

1065: 

This struggle we have with the popular mindset, about the inappropriateness of using animals for human benefit, is a classic David and Goliath battle.  For us to create the right atmosphere for an entire switch of attitude seems like an impossible dream, yet it doesn’t rest there.  If our final aim is to use ‘animal’ issues as a springboard towards building a non-violent society, then ethics must come first, before personal comfort.  And that means people have to focus in on a more compassionate consideration of other species.

At the moment we’re a long way from that.  We still love comfort too much, in that we are attached to rich animal-based foods or the warmth and comfort of animal skins and furs.  We’re still very sensual beings but with a very low empathetic sensitivity.

If we want a secure supply of animal-based foods on our dinner table each day, we know the animals have to be captive and therefore accessible at will, just as water is from the tap.  Animals must not only be kept ‘in their place’ but be seen as objects rather than sentient beings.

Even the most sensitive, kindly and well educated people, support the exploitation of animals and are still able to enjoy eating them without a shred of empathy arising for them.


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