Hey. I've wanted do to this for a while now but didn't find the time until now. I will be posting some words about topics that are important to us and are present in our songs. I will try to keep it as short as possible,but please understand these are complicated subjects and I do tend to rant sometimes. I will also try to post it translated into romanian.
Feel free to write us if you want for info about it or if you have questions.
Here goes....
Animal rights
“We told her we didn’t own any pets. She looked a little surprised, and took a bite of her sandwich. Our hostess, who had now finished serving the sandwiches, joined us and took up the conversation: “But you are interested in animals, aren’t you, Mr. Singer?”
We tried to explain that we are interested in the prevention of suffering and misery that we were opposed to arbitrary discrimination; that we thought it wrong to inflict needless suffering to another being, even if that being were not a member of our own species; and that we believed animals were ruthlessly and cruelly exploited by humans, and we wanted this changed. Otherwise, we said, we were not especially “interested in” animals.” (Peter Singer – Animal Liberation)
It seems to me that the whole “liberation” movement going on right now in the world falls short when confronted with the big picture. Of course capitalism is “the big evil” right now, but what made it become this monster other than our own consumerist habits? It was market demand that made “farmers” cram chickens in cages the size of shoe boxes. We wanted cheaper eggs and we didn’t care where they came from. The same goes for sweat-shops or massive deforestation. How can we truly say we want a peaceful society when our own comfort is based on other’s misery, human or non-human?
When it comes to the human exploitation of animals, I am an abolitionist. To put it simple, I want the abolition of all animal agriculture, the end of the use of animal skins and fur for fashion, the end of animal testing and any other usage of animals that causes them harm or rips them away from their natural life. I do not consider myself an extremist in any way. I believe kindness and rationality are some of our greatest natural traits, and that we should not suppress them in any way.
For some reason this is still a taboo in the activist world. Many times I get the answer that humans come first. I partially understand where this is coming from, though I can’t say I agree. Suffering is suffering, pain is pain. To say that the animals used by man do not suffer is by far the biggest understatement ever. What we do to them I wouldn’t wish to anyone. Some say that this is just the order of things, but again, how can this be true, when we ourselves feel so much compassion for an animal that lays hurt in front of us? Of course there are exceptions, but those people are usually labeled by society as deranged and are always condemned for their acts. For the regular person, killing is a hard thing to do. It requires them to go against their own nature, against their own compassion. This is why we hide it from it and we never want to make the connection from our plate to the slaughterhouse.
Tolstoy’s “The First Step” offers a great insight on the difficult relation between man and his food: “I asked him whether he did not feel sorry for the animals that he killed. He gave me the usual answer: "Why should I feel sorry? It is necessary." But when I told him that eating flesh is not necessary, but is only a luxury, he agreed; and then he admitted that he was sorry for the animals. "But what can I do? I must earn my bread," he said. "At first I was afraid to kill. My father, he never even killed a chicken in all his life." “
But who is to say who is entitled to have rights? The majority? Tradition? At one point in our history women were considered lesser citizens than men. Some still see them this way. Does this mean it was right? Tradition was used to justify some of the greatest atrocities. Tradition is bullshit. We shouldn’t put it on such a pedestal, because after some much time of civilization and gathered traditions, things aren’t actually looking so good for us.
I am not an animal lover. I actually find that term stupid and demeaning to animals and to us as rational human beings. When you say you love something because it’s fluffy or cute you just objectify it and a life becomes the same as a sweater or a pair of jeans. I believe that if we look at it rationally, there is no argument to say that animal suffering this is necessary or excusable. It’s clear now that we can get all the proteins and vitamins from a plant-based diet. It’s also clear that heart disease and colon cancer are related to our unnatural dietary habits. And the list of “side effects” from consuming animal products goes on and on. The truth is we eat this because it makes us feel good for the moment. It’s that simple. And we put them through so much pain because we it’s convenient. Now more than ever we are turning away from our food, we know less and less about what’s on ourplate.
So what does it take to make the connection? Well , I guess you first have to look at yourself and the way you live your own life and how it affects others. When we question everything, we also need to question ourselves. Maybe then you will come to see that their suffering is not so different from ours.
None are free until all are free, human or non-human.
Things you should check out:
Animal Liberation by Peter Singer
Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer
Animal Rights, Human Wrongs by Tom Regan
versiune in limba romana:
Drepturile animalelor
“I-am spus ca nu avem nici un animal de companie. S-a uitat un pic surprinsa si a mai luat o imbucatura din sandwich. Gazda nostra, care intre timp a terminat de servit sandiwich-urile, ni s-a alaturat si s-a bagat in conversatie:” Dar sunteti interesati in animale, nu-i asa, Domnule Singer?”
Am incercat sa-i explicam ca suntem interesati in prevenirea suferintei si ca suntem impotriva discriminarii; ca credem ca e gresit sa provoci suferinta nenecesara altei finite, chiar daca acea fiinta nu este un membru al specie tale; si ca credem ca animalele sunt exploatate cu cruzime si fara scrupule de catre oameni, si vrem ca asta sa se schimbe. De altfel, am zis, nu suntem in special “interesati” de animale.” (Peter Singer – Animal Liberation)
Mi se pare ca toata miscarea asta de “eliberare” care are loc acum se impotmoleste oarecum cand este confruntata cu imaginea de ansamblu. Desigur ca capitalismul este “raul suprem” , dar ce l-a facut sa devina acest monstru daca nu tocmai obiceiurile nostre de consum? A fost cererea de pe piata ceea ce i-a determinat pe “fermieri” sa inghesuie gainile in custi de dimensiunea unei cutii de papuci. Am vrut oua mai ieftine indiferent de pret. Aceeasi chestie este valabila si pentru sweatshop-uri sau pentru defrisarea masiva. Cum putem spune ca vrem sa traim intr-o societate pacifista cand confortul nostru se bazeaza tocmai pe suferinta altora - fie oameni sau nu?
Cand este vorba de exploatarea animalelor de catre oameni, ma consider abolitionist. Mai simplu, vreau abolirea folosirii animalelor in agricultura, incetarea folosirii pieilor si blanurilor animale, incetarea testarii pe animale si incetarea oricarei alte intrebuintari a animalelor de catre oameni care le cauzeaza durere sau le rupe de lumea lor naturala. Nu ma consider un extremist in nici un fel. Cred ca rationalitatea si bunatatea sunt unele dintre cele mai importante trasaturi naturale ale oamenilor, si ca nu ar trebui sa le suprimam in nici un fel.
Se pare ca asta este inca un subiect tabu in lumea “activista”. De multe ori primesc raspunsul ca oamenii sunt mai importanti. Desi inteleg partial de unde vine aceasta justificare, nu pot sa spun ca sunt de-acord. Suferinta e suferinta, durerea e durere. Sa spui ca animalele folosite de om nu sufera, ar fi o aberatie foarte mare. Ceea ce le facem lor, nu as dori nimanui. Unii spun ca asta este doar ordinea naturala a lucrurilor, dar cum poate asta sa fie adevarat cand fiecare dintre noi simte atata compasiune pentru un animal ce zace ranit in fata nostra? Desigur ca sunt si exceptii, dar de obicei acei oameni sunt etichetati de socitate ca si oameni cu probleme si sunt condamnati pentru faptele lor. Pentru o persona normala, e foarte greu sa ia o viata. Din acest motiv preferam sa ne eschivam si nu vrem sa facem legatura dintre farfurie si abator.
In “Primul Pas”, Tolstoi ne ofera o incursiune in relatia dificila dintre om si mancarea lui: “ L-am intrebat daca nu ii este mila de animalele ce le omoara. Mi-a dat acelasi raspuns: ”De ce sa-mi fie mila? Este necesar.” Dar cand i-am zis ca mancatul carnii nu este necesar,ci este doar un lux, a fost de acord; apoi a recunoscut ca,de fapt, ii pare rau pentru animale.”Dar ce pot sa fac? Trebuie sa-mi castig painea,” a spus ”La Inceput imi era frica sa omor. Tatal meu, nu a omorat nici macar o gaina in viata lui.” ”
Dar cine e indreptatit sa spuna cine are sau nu drepturi? Majoritatea? Traditia? Destul de recent femeile erau considerate inferioare barbatilor. Unii le mai vad astfel si azi. Asta inseamna ca era corect? Traditia a fost folosita de multe ori pentru a justifica atrocitati inimaginabile. Nu ar trebui sa punem traditia pe asa un piedestal, deoarece dupa atatea mii de ani de civilizatie si traditii, lucrurile nu stau tocmai bine pentru noi.
Nu sunt un iubitor de animale. Consider ca termenul de “iubitor de animale” este stupid si injositor pentru ele si pentru noi ca si fiinte rationale. Cand spui ca iubesti ceva pentru ca este dragut si pufos tot ce faci este sa-l obiectifici si astfel, o viata are aceeasi valoare ca si un pulover sau o pereche de blugi. Sunt de parere ca daca privim rational lucrurile nu exista nici un argument sa zici ca suferinta animala este justificabila sau necesara. Este clar acum ca ne putem lua toate proteinele si vitaminele necesare dintr-o dieta bazata pe plante. Este la fel de clar ca bolile de inima si cancerul de colon sunt rezultatul a unui obicei nenatural de a manca proteina animala. Si lista de efecte secundare este foarte lunga. Adevarul este ca mancam asta doar pentru ca ne face sa ne simtim bine pe moment. E simplu. Si le cauzam atata suferinta pentru ca este convenabil pentru noi. Acuma, mai mult ca niciodata, stim tot mai putin ce anume se gaseste in farufuria din fata noastra.
De ce este nevoie ca sa facem conexiunea? In primul rand trebuie sa ne privim fiecare in oglinda si sa analizam propria viata si cum afecteaza pe altii. Daca chiar vrem sa punem totul sub semnul intrebarii, atunci primul lucru care trebui investigat este propria persoana. Poate atunci vom realiza ca suferinta lor nu este asa diferita de a nostra.
Nimeni nu e liber, pana nu sunt toti liberi.
Animal Liberation by Peter Singer
Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer
Animal Rights, Human Wrongs by Tom Regan
Jonathan Safran Foer*
ReplyDeletehaha. yes. my mistake.
Deletethere we're a bunch of mistakes, but they're all corrected now. sorry about that. it's what happens when you try to do stuff like this at 2 am.
ReplyDeletei wouldn't exactly say 'all'
Deleteclose enough :)
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