Ideas That Undermine Animal Activism

6 Comments

1. Laura Slitt says:

   November 6, 2013 at 10:17 am

   My thought process is different. It appears that those who see the malfunctioning of government systems, measured by all the polls putting Congress’s approval rating at all time lows, are ignorant, not surprisingly, that the government system failing them, is the same system that preys on animals as commodities.
   In other words, those who support animal’s as commodities also support the “predator/prey” behavior that we see coming full circle and putting profits before protecting tax payers. Perhaps the focus should include an over-arching reality that this system that mercilessly exploits and violates other non-human animals, has shown it’s ugly head by doing the exact same thing to those who fund the agencies that have sided, over and over, with corporate interests.
   Those that are still capable of analytical thinking, must see that a system that allows torture and relentless suffering to helpless beings, ultimately behaves similarly to those it oversees. US! Is this too abstract?
   A system that harms children by way of promoting foods that cause disease, subsidizes unhealthy commodities that are causing health care and special education costs to skyrocket, is a sick system. Not to mention the psychological and emotional harm being caused to children when their innate love for animals is bulldozed over by modern cultures reduction of animals to the practices inherent in the predator/prey culture, a culture that pretends to protect children, while it simultaneously does the polar opposite. Focusing solely on animals leaves out the broader issues of a culture in conflict with itself.

2. McKenna Grace Fisher says:

   November 6, 2013 at 9:48 am

   Interesting, however I don’t necessarily agree with your entire premise. The fact is that most activists do ask for personal independent fundamental change and IMO the way this comes about is by creating a chain reaction of thought. If it has to begin with some kind of welfare awareness of animals enslaved, then that will in turn catapult into more critical thinking of each individual. There is not clear way to end suffering of animals with out a step by step process, as this is how the systemic usage of animals became the issue it is today; a step by step process of indoctrination. Most if not all activists want Abolition, but the reality screams that we use a process of teaching new behaviors of living cruelty free, if welfare and laws will assist in garnering this change than how is that not moving in the right direction. I do agree about the authority side of what you spoke of; we are too embedded in our thinking that asking authority figures to help us is not necessarily the best way, however as in the Prohibition Act of 2010 making “Crush Videos’ a felony, and the ban that have been put into place in West Hollywood against Fur and exotic animals being used and or sold; Bear baiting being now against the law in South Carolina, etc. Many examples of how laws are assisting in awareness and education of the masses. Unfortunately unless we change the entire way we are governed in this country and countries around the world, we are not going to make much progress in the direction of abolition with out setting in place laws that protect our animals. It’s unfortunately the way we are set up in our societies. If there were a clear cut way (tool) to Abolition, does one not think every activist would be initiating it into action every where. Thank you for your video Namaste McKenna

3. Carole Raphaelle Davis says:

   November 6, 2013 at 9:02 am

   And btw, I speak from experience. Direct action experience and legislative experience. We didn’t ask to have larger cages in pet stores in 32 cities. We prohibited the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores, cutting off the market for them at the point of sale. We are CRIPPLING the puppy mill biz. Here in Europe, we are doing the same thing with bullfighting. It is boots on the ground and no half-stepping. We’ve been brutalized by police but we will win. Abolition.
   Anger and shame work. Look at history.

4. Carole Raphaelle Davis says:

   November 6, 2013 at 8:58 am

   Disagree about the battle. It IS a war. Just like the civil rights movement, the suffragist movement, the abolitionist movement, the gay rights movement. Her fist argument here is right on and after that, she ‘s waaaaaaaaaay off. We had better be thousands marching, tens of thousands marching, boots on the ground, angry and demanding change. At home, we need to ask everyone to stop paying/ buying abused dead animals and putting them in our kitchens. Enough already. Abolition. Get on board. Get it right. Know the facts, fight the war.
   Carole Rapahaelle Davis, Companion Animal Protection Society

5. Jack McMillan says:

   November 5, 2013 at 10:07 pm

   Another Outstanding shorty here Lee. Wish I had viewed this earlier. Maybe this is the topic you can develop for your presentation at our VegFest. Perfectly on point to where we stand in the movement and what we have to push against. Jack

   • Lee Hall says:

     November 5, 2013 at 10:38 pm

     Jack: Glad you find this helpful and the discussion worth continuing. Appreciation to Michelle at Gooseberry Productions for the presentation.