.jpg)
The nomination of Cass Sunstein has brought the national debate about animal rights to the forefront. There needs to be a clarification of terminology. Many people do not know the difference between an animal rights activists and animal welfare proponents. They are vastly different even though the two terms are often used interchangeably.
- Additional information on hunting and fishing legislation
- Could Cass Sunstein be the next Van Jones?
- Should Americans stop Cass Sunstein?
Animal Rights Activists believe that animals have the same rights as humans. In other words, animals are on equal moral terms with people. They forgo all animal consumption of any kind. Food must be meat free, clothes and furnishings must not use any animal products and animals should not be harmed in any way for any reason. Animal Rights Activists are the people that are known to protest fast food restaurants, picket farms and release captive domestic animals into the wild (usually to starve to death or be eaten by a real wild animal). In the extreme, animal rights activists believe that pet ownership is immoral and a form of slavery (this can’t be made up). They follow a model of total animal liberation, that is, all animals should be liberated from the bonds of human servitude and be left to live without human intervention.
This philosophy was best summed up by Ingrid Newkirk, co-founder of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) “A rat is a pig is a dog is a boy.”
Some organizations that support this or a similar viewpoint are:
- Humane Society of the United States-HSUS (not the local Humane society, they are not nearly the same)
- PETA-People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
- All-Creatures.org
- Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting
- Friends of Animals
Animal Welfarists are the people that believe that animals should be treated humanely but are not the equal of people. The people that support and volunteer at local animal shelters are usually not animal rights activists. They believe in reasonable steps to ensure the humane treatment of animals and cannot stand to see an animal suffer. Most people that love animals fall into this category. If a sense of outrage overcame you when the Michael Vick story broke but you have no problem with eating meat, it indicates not only that you may be animal welfarist but you also have a moral compass. What may seem ironic to some but I have found very true is that hunters and farmers, when pressed on their personal beliefs, turn out to be supporters of animal welfare. I have yet to meet a hunter or farmer that can stand and watch an animal suffer and they are usually pretty vocal about the subject when pressed. Given the choice and when asked in detail about personal philosophy and beliefs, most Americans are proponents of animal welfare, not animal rights.
Where does Cass Sunstein fall in these categories? While not a total Animal Rights Activist he is a proponent of many of their views and the extreme groups that believe in total animal liberation may soon have a friend in the White House.
Among them:
- Animals should have access to legal representation
- Hunting should be banned
- Compares animal use to slavery
- Proponent of extensive regulation of animal husbandry
- Opposed to using animals in scientific research
President Obama may have made an honest mistake in stating during the campaign that he was for Animal Rights. The President is not, he likes a good Kobe steak and he bought a pure-bred dog (that he has a dog in the first place made some feathers ruffle in the ARA community). President Obama may be a proponent of Animal Welfare but courting the extreme side of this issue may cost him some political capital. Most people in this country believe in responsible animal use and while reviling out and out animal abuse do not think that animals are equal to people or should receive equal consideration on moral or legal grounds.
Comments
don't confuse PETA and the HSUS with AR groups. they are not.
Really? Then why on earth would Peta send money to Rodney Coronado for his legal defense?
HSUS is PETA with more money. See consumerfreedom or activistcash for info about what HSUS really is - a $200+ million lobby for the Animal Rights movement. They take your donations and turn them into incrementalism - moving legislation an inch at a time till you will have no more pets or eat meat or be able to hunt. They get you in your soft spot for money, then use it to take away your rights. They fight to put agriculture out of business, one state at a time. They claim to be the voice of animals, but call all of your local shelters and ask how much money they have gotten from HSUS! An Atlanta ABC television station did an investigative report on HSUS, showing it was an AR lobby, and WHAM, HSUS with their 25 full-time lawyers shut that report down. Now you can only see that report from a foreign country website. Wake up, people! HSUS is an animal lover's worst nightmare.
I am a Democrat, and I vote--I am opposed to Sunstein's nomination. His positions on animal rights are not in accord with animal welfare or with our rights as human beings to care for our animals according to what we believe is the right way. Rather, many things would be dictated to us about animal care and ownership.
Janet
PETA and HSUS are most definately AR groups! They're leading the charge, and footing the bills. Do your research.
Animal lovers don't need any more high powered politicians trying to rule their lives. Many of us are sick and tired of those who "have all the answers" but don't even understand the "question". Most of you have never considered what spay/neuter does to an animal who is spay/neutered too young. Animal lovers live with the problems of raising HEALTHY animals and then have to worry about the likes of these politicians delivering the directives of how to do it. I'm fed up!!!
The Center for Consumer Freedom, which runs the Activistcash website was started as a front organization by the tobacco, alcohol and restaurant industries. When not attacking the HSUS, they're busy lobbying for smokers rights and against anti-obesity campaigns. Real credible source there.
This guy is a real nut job. Don't you leftist loonies realize that ANIMALS EAT ANIMALS. So if animals are equal to humans then wouldn't they be liable under human law. If a fox eats a mouse then the fox would be subject to arrest and trial. Who would be the foxes attorney? A frickin chimpanzee? If God didn't want animals to be eatan He wouldn't have made animals to eat animals
Sometimes I think lefties try to 'out lefty' other lefties. O.K. You guys want to protect animals? Big deal! We want live bacteria to be assigned counsel every time someone sprays lysol on them. Beat that!!!
Patrick, Let me get this straight. So the Center for Consumer Freedom is NOT a credible org. because they WANT consumers to be able to choose for themselves if they want to smoke, drink and be fat? Smoking.drinking and being fat is NOT AGAINST THE LAW. Nobody has any right to tell another human being what they should do. We still live in the USA don't we? If it isn't against the law then stay out of my face. I'm not one of those people who need an org. to tell me what is correct. Grow a pair, Patrick
what are you talking about? i couldn't under stand any of it.
ur gay
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!