Jan. 12, 2021
Speciesism
When your actions create victims, it’s time to change your behaviors
Speciesism, in the simplest terms, is a prejudice whereby we modify our attitude and behavior towards other individuals depending solely on their species. In practice, speciesism results in the denial or withholding of rights to other individuals, based on this arbitrary distinction. Humans, get over yourself! It is not all about YOU!
Here is a scenario I want you to think about. When we talk about sentience, defined as a non-cognitive experience of a self, which includes the experience of pleasure and pain. According to this definition and logic- would a human in a coma or a human that is braindead whom are not experiencing pleasure and pain be deemed a non-sentient being? Like our pets whom are not considered sentient- beings… which makes absolutely no sense to me based on the definition. Where is the logic in this?! Do you get my drift?
Courts now consider the pet’s best interest in divorce custody battles, just like human children. To me this is a no brainer. Pets are sentient beings. But, the law will only go so far most of the time. There is a blurred line and they are not interested in crossing it. Sometimes they do cross it and true justice is served, which is a victory for us all!
Look, it comes down to this. A recent poll indicated that 95% of American pet owners view their pets as members of their families. Not property… family. Not only do they view pets as family they treat them as a member of their family. They treat them as a sentient being.
Judges, courts, laws, and veterinarians need to adhere to “the social contract.” At the very least– by our own sense of moral justice one should observe that very same code for any other sentient being, regardless of species membership.
There is a difference between what is and what we wish would be. Let’s accept reality and work toward making our wish for animals to have the right not to be viewed as property but as sentient beings. For them all to be treated with justice, fairness and respect come true!!