Rights

Written by Courtney

Rights. Always fought for since the beginning of time, rights have been a just fight for revolutions and a cause of most changes in history. A demand for the voiceless to be heard. The invisible to be seen. In the 1910s, it was women's voting rights. In the 60's; civil rights. Now, in a time of less ignorance and greater liberalism, we look into a whole new realm of fighting for rights; the rights of animals.

Many scoff at animal rights activists for many different reasons. For some, they think animals don't deserve rights; they don't have brains like humans; not productive to society. Others believe that animals were put on this earth to serve humans, not to be treated equally. Some even say that just one person who stops eating meat or wearing leather will not help to stop animal suffering. Just one person cannot make a difference. Often times I just hear comments from peers about what they ate this week, specifically the meat, thinking such comments will bother me. But I believe those people are looking at animal rights activists in the wrong way.

These callow remarks are what activists like myself hear everyday. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. hear? I'm sure much of the same. "How can one person change the world?", "Blacks aren't meant to be treated as equally as whites." And Susan B. Anthony, no doubt, heard of how "women aren't productive to society; only meant to sew and cook and clean and have children." But that did not stop her, and that did not stop Martin Luther King, Jr., and it will not stop me or any other animal rights activists out there. Because I believe, truly, one day, animals will have rights.

Look at how history has set the chain of command. First, it was white male, white female, other races, animals. Then whites, races, animals. Now, its humans, animals. The chain of rights is at the last link. Once animals have rights, the world can live as one.

Every year, over 70 million animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits, primates and monkeys, rats, mice, pigs, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians are tortured and killed in test labs. In the US alone, 250 animals like pigs, cows, sheep, chickens, and turkeys are killed each SECOND in factory farms. On federal land alone, 200 million animals are killed every year from hunting. 3.5 million animals are killed each year for their fur. Surprised? When I first heard these statistics, I know I was. I loved animals, but had no idea how much pain I was causing by eating a hamburger and wearing certain makeup. But I was, and I knew I had to change.

The people whom I have talked to about animal rights were either brought up to think a certain way or don't think they are strong enough and don't have any support. But as a true vegetarian, non-leather/fur wearing, circus/rodeo/dissection/hunting protester, and believer in what I think is right, I know that one person, with no support or upbringing rallying their belief, can do it.

Animals have no voice. They have no communication with humans. If Dr. Dolittle were real, I know there would be a whole different outlook on meat eating and everything else. People could see that animals suffer and are in pain and have NO WAY of stating that. Animals are being tortured and hurt, and all because
they have no say in what is done to them. After all, they are only animals. Just as women were only women, and blacks were only blacks. But they are not only animals. They feel pain, just like any human.

What kind of society do we live in that judges the rights of something by it's productivity in the world and not by if it can hurt or not. The most compassionate choice of rights would be if it can hurt, don't hurt it. If you can prevent it, don't
inflict pain on anyone or anything. I have seen video of what happens to these animals, in factory farms and in labs. It is NOT humane and it is in no way compassionate.

Although I may be mocked, and although I may be ridiculed for my beliefs, I know I am doing the right thing. I am joining a revolution of men and women who are hearing the voiceless and seeing the invisible. I hope you do too.

Visit:

The Vegan Society

Also visit:
The American Anti-Vivisection Society