Charles Krauthammer got it right: Future generations will look back on our subjugation and abuse of animals the way that we now view human rights atrocities of the past. (May 8 column, “How we treat animals reflects on our humanity.”) We can no longer deceive ourselves that human beings are separate from other sentient beings in order to justify abusing them, much as we’ve done throughout history to human beings of different sexes, races, nationalities, religions, and intellectual abilities. Animals are like us in significant ways: They can learn languages, form complex social bonds, recognize each other’s facial features, play with friends, use tools, risk their own safety to help others, mourn deceased loved ones, and more.
Already, we are seeing our treatment of animals evolving. As Krauthammer correctly stated, the documentary “Blackfish” has caused SeaWorld to “hemorrhage customers” as people think critically about the morality of taking intelligent animals away from their homes and families and confining them in tiny tanks to perform silly tricks.
As people are confronted with the knowledge that all animals on Earth share the ability to feel love, joy, pain and fear; the walls of separation will crumble, and people will continue to make more and more compassionate choices.
Michelle Kretzer
The PETA Foundation
Norfolk, VA
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