We should never present flesh as somehow morally distinguishable from dairy. To the extent it is morally wrong to eat flesh, it is as morally wrong — and possibly more morally wrong — to consume dairy
Gary L. FrancioneTags: wisdom life education animals justice inspirational-quotes global-warming veganism health exploitation slavery racism nonviolence sexism extinction rights abolition ahimsa moral-obligation classism climate-change abolitionist sentience dairy speciesism vulnerable peace-movement peace-on-earth heterosexism francione nonviolence-jainism peace-making moral-imperative ableist calves
If we take the position that an assessment that veganism is morally preferable to vegetarianism is not possible because we are all “on our own journey,” then moral assessment becomes completely impossible or is speciesist. It is impossible because if we are all “on our own journey,” then there is nothing to say to the racist, sexist, anti-semite, homophobe, etc. If we say that those forms of discrimination are morally bad, but, with respect to animals, we are all “on our own journey” and we cannot make moral assessments about, for instance, dairy consumption, then we are simply being speciesist and not applying the same moral analysis to nonhumans that we apply to the human context.
Gary L. FrancioneTags: wisdom life education animals justice inspirational-quotes veganism exploitation slavery racism nonviolence sexism rights abolition ahimsa moral-obligation classism abolitionist sentience speciesism vulnerable peace-movement peace-on-earth heterosexism francione nonviolence-jainism peace-making moral-imperative ableist
We should always be clear that animal exploitation is wrong because it involves speciesism. And speciesism is wrong because, like racism, sexism, homophobia, anti-semitism, classism, and all other forms of human discrimination, speciesism involves violence inflicted on members of the moral community where that infliction of violence cannot be morally justified. But that means that those of us who oppose speciesism necessarily oppose discrimination against humans. It makes no sense to say that speciesism is wrong because it is like racism (or any other form of discrimination) but that we do not have a position about racism. We do. We should be opposed to it and we should always be clear about that.
Gary L. FrancioneTags: wisdom life education animals justice inspirational-quotes global-warming veganism health exploitation slavery racism nonviolence sexism extinction rights abolition ahimsa moral-obligation classism climate-change abolitionist sentience speciesism vulnerable peace-movement peace-on-earth heterosexism francione nonviolence-jainism peace-making moral-imperative ableist
An abolitionist is, as I have developed that notion, one who (1) maintains that we cannot justify animal use, however “humane” it may be; (2) rejects welfare campaigns that seek more “humane” exploitation, or single-issue campaigns that seek to portray one form of animal exploitation as morally worse than other forms of animal exploitation (e.g., a campaign that seeks to distinguish fur from wool or leather); and (3) regards veganism, or the complete rejection of the consumption or use of any animal products, as a moral baseline. An abolitionist regards creative, nonviolent vegan education as the primary form of activism, because she understands that the paradigm will not shift until we address demand and educate people to stop thinking of animals as things we eat, wear, or use as our resources.
Gary L. FrancioneTags: wisdom life education animals justice inspirational-quotes veganism exploitation slavery racism nonviolence sexism rights abolition ahimsa moral-obligation classism abolitionist sentience speciesism vulnerable peace-movement peace-on-earth heterosexism francione nonviolence-jainism peace-making moral-imperative ableist
I am opposed to animal welfare campaigns for two reasons. First, if animal use cannot be morally justified, then we ought to be clear about that, and advocate for no use. Although rape and child molestation are ubiquitous, we do not have campaigns for “humane” rape or “humane” child molestation. We condemn it all. We should do the same with respect to animal exploitation.
Second, animal welfare reform does not provide significant protection for animal interests. Animals are chattel property; they are economic commodities. Given this status and the reality of markets, the level of protection provided by animal welfare will generally be limited to what promotes efficient exploitation. That is, we will protect animal interests to the extent that it provides an economic benefit.
Tags: wisdom life education animals justice inspirational-quotes global-warming veganism health exploitation slavery racism nonviolence sexism extinction rights abolition ahimsa moral-obligation classism climate-change welfare abolitionist sentience speciesism vulnerable peace-movement peace-on-earth heterosexism francione nonviolence-jainism peace-making moral-imperative ableist
There are some animal advocates who say that to maintain that veganism is the moral baseline is objectionable because it is “judgmental,” or constitutes a judgment that veganism is morally preferable to vegetarianism and a condemnation that vegetarians (or other consumers of animal products) are “bad” people. Yes to the first part; no to the second. There is no coherent distinction between flesh and other animal products. They are all the same and we cannot justify consuming any of them. To say that you do not eat flesh but that you eat dairy or eggs or whatever, or that you don’t wear fur but you wear leather or wool, is like saying that you eat the meat from spotted cows but not from brown cows; it makers no sense whatsoever. The supposed “line” between meat and everything else is just a fantasy–an arbitrary distinction that is made to enable some exploitation to be segmented off and regarded as “better” or as morally acceptable. This is not a condemnation of vegetarians who are not vegans; it is, however, a plea to those people to recognize their actions do not conform with a moral principle that they claim to accept and that all animal products are the result of imposing suffering and death on sentient beings. It is not a matter of judging individuals; it is, however, a matter of judging practices and institutions. And that is a necessary component of ethical living.
Gary L. FrancioneTags: wisdom life education animals justice inspirational-quotes veganism exploitation slavery racism nonviolence sexism rights abolition ahimsa moral-obligation classism abolitionist sentience speciesism vulnerable peace-movement peace-on-earth heterosexism francione nonviolence-jainism peace-making moral-imperative ableist
Ethical veganism represents a commitment to nonviolence.
Gary L. FrancioneTags: wisdom life education animals justice inspirational-quotes veganism exploitation slavery racism nonviolence sexism rights abolition ahimsa moral-obligation classism abolitionist sentience speciesism vulnerable peace-movement peace-on-earth heterosexism francione nonviolence-jainism peace-making ableist
Tags: books rich history war hate mistakes ignorance fun history-repeating-itself forgotten poor bombs classism uncaring starving cave atomic
For benefits by their very greatness spotlight the difference in conditions and arouse a secret annoyance in those who profit from them. But the charm of simple good manners is almost irresistible.
Alexis de TocquevilleTags: kindness manners classism
Pip, dear old chap, life is made of ever so many partings welded together, as I may say, and one man’s a blacksmith, and one’s a whitesmith, and one’s a goldsmith, and one’s a coppersmith. Diwisions among such must come, and must be met as they come. If there’s been any fault at all to-day, it’s mine. You and me is not two figures to be together in London; nor yet anywheres else but what is private, and beknown, and understood among friends. It ain’t that I am proud, but that I want to be right, as you shall never see me no more in these clothes. I’m wrong in these clothes. I’m wrong out of the forge, the kitchen, or off th’ meshes. You won’t find half so much fault in me if you think me in forge dress, with my hammer in my hand, or even my pipe. You won’t find half so much fault in me if, supposing as you should ever wish to see me, you come and put your head in at the forge window and see Joe the blacksmith, there, at the old anvil, in the old burnt apron, sticking to the old work. I’m awful dull, but I hope I’ve beat out something nigh the rights of this at last. And so God bless you, dear old Pip, old chap, God bless you!
Charles DickensTags: friendship shame pride great-expectations classism
« first previous
Page 2 of 3.
next last »
Data privacy
Imprint
Contact
Diese Website verwendet Cookies, um Ihnen die bestmögliche Funktionalität bieten zu können.