On living our values
An Animal Rights Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM

There's an Elephant in the Room blog
October 2018

Declaration of intent to hurt and rob others of the life they love, the life that matters to them so very much, can never change the responsibility each of us has to live true to our own deepest values.

Image from Filming for Liberation

It is not necessary for human animals to use other animals for any reason, and only those unaware of the science, or those who have a vested financial interest in keeping us from realising the truth, will tell us different.

Does it change them?

When a declaration is made that an individual was ‘bred for eating’, or ‘bred for eggs’ or ‘bred for milk’, does that change something about that individual?

How could it? Although WE may decide that our conscience is easier if we think of them as nothing but a thing and a resource, they remain who they are; still unique, still sentient, still experiencing their existence through senses that match our own; still sharing bonds with their family and friends just as we do ourselves. They think, they breathe, their hearts pump the blood round bodies that seek to avoid pain. They feel.

Does it change us?

So if it doesn’t change our victims, does the declaration change us; does it mean that we cease to be responsible for our own actions? Most of us would be quick to claim say that we are our own masters, and would never be manipulated to act against our own deep-rooted values of fairness and decency.

So what does it change?

So although it is completely unnecessary for us to harm other animals in any way, does the declaration that an individual was ‘bred for eating’, or ‘bred for eggs’ or ‘bred for milk, make it mean that using, mutilating, and slaughtering that individual becomes the right thing to do? Does such a declaration make it mean that we can betray our victims’ utter dependence on us for their well being and protection by using, mutilating, and slaughtering them, without needing to feel any guilt?

Of course it doesn’t. Certainly it’s much easier not to even think about the consequences of our actions. Possibly it’s more comfortable to pretend that those who sell broken bodies and lives to us are making sure that our values are respected while they are doing all these things that we’ve decided not to think about. However it’s the stuff of purest fantasy if we really imagine for a moment that their aim is any more noble than to get hold of our cash – by any means necessary.

Declaration of intent to hurt and rob others of the life they love, the life that matters to them so very much, can never change the responsibility each of us has to live true to our own deepest values; that we have no right to cause needless harm to those who are vulnerable and defenceless.

Our choice; their lives. Be vegan. 

---

Return to Animal Rights Articles