I don't think the animal rights movement arose because a bunch of people with nothing to do were sitting around and decided they needed an agenda. I think that with the rise of factory farms, and a more modern consciousness that gradually came into being, more sensitive people just started thinking more about animal welfare.
I'm not sure if you are aware of this, but during the nineteenth century in America, dogs were used much like slaves, tethered to machinery that they powered by pushing while all chained up, or on tread mills or whatever. But at the same time there were people who loved dogs and didn't think this was right, and finally the ASPCA was formed in the middle of the nineteenth century to try to get better laws for animal treatment.
Now if you suddenly came upon a factory where dogs were doing all the work, and not being treated very well, and perhaps collapsing at their stations, wouldn't you find that scene a little weird and disturbing? I'm guessing that you would.
My point is that most people take for granted what they are used to seeing. But once more visionary folk point out cruelty, then often the rest of society comes along, and sees the same cruelty, and standards change for taking care of animals. I don't think that's an agenda--I think it's a consciousness raising. What really is wrong with that? Is there something wrong with being the most caring, humane person you can be? |
