I agree with the idea that
the animal rights movement can be viewed, in a sense, as an extension of human
rights movements. The underlying motive
is the capacity for empathy and compassion, and the recognition that all people
(and arguably many animals) should be treated as ends in themselves. Yet, considering the challenges still facing
campaigns for universal human rights,
I am somewhat pessimistic about the animal rights movement, particularly
vegetarianism.
Although it is conceivable that greater exposure could
bring an end to certain practices that show a blatant disregard for animal
welfare, such as factory farming and laboratory testing, I am not so convinced
that vegetarianism will ever really catch on.
Due to the questions regarding levels of consciousness and so on, the
debates surrounding animal rights are not as clear as human rights. And one could argue that human attitudes
toward animals are even more deeply seeded than the prejudices that lead to
human rights abuses. There are plenty of
people that do not want to see animals suffer “unnecessarily,” but still have
no problem with eating meat. I suppose
my point is that widespread vegetarianism might be asking too much. I can use myself as exhibit A: I find factory farming and animal testing
horrifically disturbing, I generally consider myself an animal lover, I’m
taking this class, and yet I still
somehow have a hard time making the switch to vegetarianism.
