Applying The Golden Rule to ALL Animals (2017)
Animals: Tradition - Philosophy - Religion
from All-Creatures.org

From

Craig Cline, Salem, Oregon
October 2017

The people who’ve most broadly expanded their Golden-Rule-based horizons are those who’ve become vegans. These humane humans live by “the rule” every day, expanding its application to ALL of us animals.

We humans consider ourselves to be humanitarians. We willingly deal with the needs of mankind in general and the alleviation of human suffering in particular.

Notably, the word “humane” is derived from the root word human. When we act humanely, we exhibit the good qualities of humans, such as compassion, kindness, benevolence, and mercy.

In an ideal world, each of us humans is humane — and collectively, we create humane societies.

The universally known Golden Rule shines brightly. Early in life, we learn we should behave towards others as we would have others behave towards us.

The word “others” is commonly taken to mean other humans, regardless of their color, creed, religion, national origin, and so on.

Let’s take a big step forward, as “humane humans,” and see that the word “others” can and should include ALL members of what we call the animal kingdom — scientifically known as Animalia — beyond only the human component of that kingdom.

Common sense holds that our animal “others” would — if they only could — implore us fellow beings to save them from being victims of human-imposed cruelty, abuse, pain, suffering, and premature death.

Logic also holds that since we humans would normally not willingly suffer any such abusive afflictions, we should not impose them upon non-humans.

If we do, whether we cause the afflictions directly or indirectly, we are violating the deeply compassionate spirit of The Golden Rule.

Historically, humans have leaned on the presumption that “Man” has dominion over the non-human animals. They are at our mercy. But we besmirch our own Golden Rule when we make choices which are — from their perspective — merciless.

Humane humans refuse to “do wrong,” in any way, to any animals. The fact is, we don’t have to participate in wrongful acts. We can — we should — choose to abandon them. We can follow our innate sense of compassion. We can apply The Golden Rule to all “sentient someones.”

The people who’ve most broadly expanded their Golden-Rule-based horizons are those who’ve become vegans. These humane humans live by “the rule” every day, expanding its application to ALL of us animals.

Let’s expand our vision. Let’s open our eyes to see all the “animal wrongs” we humans inflict on the other animals.

Let’s live Golden-Rule-guided lives — so we can each help put an end to those wrongs.

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