If you do disagree and believe that violence towards nonhumans is acceptable... Please re-examine why you think that. Please question your premises with a critical eye. Please put yourself in the place of that other animal in order to come to a better conclusion. If you refuse to do so... You are a danger to us all.
As often as Herman had witnessed the slaughter of animals and fish, he always had the same thought: in their behavior toward creatures, all men were Nazis. The smugness with which man could do with other species as he pleased exemplified the most extreme racist theories, the principle that might is right.
Isaac Bashevis Singer, Enemies: A Love Story
*Thanks to VeganElder for the title inspiration
7 comments:
Ms. Newkirk exceeded herself in this message. The story of the hawk couple was most powerful. She and her organization often sometimes do what are (to my perspective) boneheaded and erroneous things but...I've never thought she didn't care fiercely for our sister and brother animals and for justice for all. She demonstrates this quite well in the video.
Early on (2007) in my efforts of counter the cultural propaganda that I had absorbed since birth, I watched a documentary about her. (http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/i-am-an-animal-ingrid-newkirk-peta#/) It was very powerful to me to hear and see someone saying out loud and unflinchingly that our sister and brother animals should be left alone to live their lives however they wanted.
Thanks for finding this and for posting it, I could have done without the religion references but I can see why she inserted them...and she did an excellent job of presenting the case for non-violence here.
I love this post and the title (and thanks for the thanks). (Bea the bunny says thanks too) :-)
She does it get right! I cringe at PETA's tactics a lot but then Ingrid will say something so smart. She published such a great essay about the bp oil spill in the Gulf as a horrendous animal cruelty case. Brilliant. And very convincing. It was printed in our mainstream paper up here.
PETA gets to do TV commercials which is why I give them money every year. They pursue many media platforms to get their message across. What I'm against is the "euthanasia for all alike" approach. Some animals are capable of being rehabilitated even after severe injuries, so euthanasia cannot be the panacea for all unwanted and mistreated animals.
Hi veganelder - Yes I agree that Newkirk is genuine in her desire to liberate all others. The methods of the message aren't always spot on - But this one capped off with the hawk story is a winner.
I saw I Am An Animal in my first few months of awakening... I understand her passion and respect that she's devoted her life to this work.
I am grateful for her - And for you - And for anyone who speaks out against the injustices we inflict onto others. As you know... There's a much better way to live.
Thanks D.E.M. I wasn't aware of her speaking out against the BP spill - But it doesn't surprise me. When you really care...It's hard to draw dividing lines on what issue to stop at. Improving ourselves and our world - The work never stops! ;)
I agree Maria... PETA's position on "euthanasia" isn't one I support either. That's why I'm so very, very glad that this organization isn't the only go-to place for information or strategy. Killing is never a solution.
Thanks for your comment and for caring.
Please excuse if this posts twice or more, had a hard time signing in with WordPress...just delete this if previous one posted, thanks.
Just had to commend you on your wonderful site here, Bea, just discovered it yesterday, believe it or not. You know how the web is, come in here and there are "quicksand" pits all over the place, distracting, pulling you in, making you forget what you wanted to do, not seeing so much that's also important. Or, maybe that's just me, lol. Anyways, thank you for all you're doing, it's awesome. And here's one instance where I am grateful for what Ingrid Newkirk has done...her statement is beautiful and non-irritating, the way I wish all PETA campaigns would be done. And "The Dream" video from PETA on your other page...another absolute gem that should open some eyes, minus the hate that PETA often inspires. I just wish they'd be more responsible and far more effective with all that funding, such as getting rid of puppy mills for starters.
Sure, animal activists get hate no matter how we present things, but so much less when we give it our best.
Thanks again, you're wonderful.
~ Laura
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