Introducing Animal Rights There is a common and rather disturbing philosophy that thrives amongst humans. It states that we have the ability, and therefore the right, to abuse and kill animals. This philosophy is half true. Yes, we clearly have the ability to overpower any other creature in this world by the use of technology and our physical strength, but No, this doesn’t mean we’re allowed to abuse them. Think about it this way: If we judge by intelligence, why do we treat elderly demented people, and infants and young children with lesser abilities with respect, while we kill the non-human animals whose abilities could even outrank those of the humans? Why is it not okay to judge by race, or sex, but do people say Yes to jugding by species? Isn't speciesm just as bad as racism or sexism? And when we say that animals aren't as smart/good/capable as us, we're judging them for something they have no control over. The physical, emotional and psychological limitations that their species have shouldn't be something we judge by. We can't expect a two-year old to vote in elections, and we can't expect a dog to vote in elections, for example, so what sets them apart? Just their species? Why is it, truly, that humans consider the violation of a basic set of rights to be acceptable. The answer? Egocentrism. Abuse, in any form or level of severity, isn’t acceptable. Why should it be right for us to yank the skin off a conscious animal as it hangs, suspended by it’s hind legs, three feet above the ground? What makes us so extraordinary that we shouldn’t have to consider the suffering we inflict on animals as we slice their skin with the strike of a whip? We should be above torturing defenseless creatures, though it appears that many of us haven't yet reached the level of intellect that is required to understand this. It can't be all that difficult to enforce respect, can it? Animal rights isn’t merely a movement, it’s a way of life, a brand-new, improved philosophy to replace the faulty one that currently posses all too many people’s minds. It’s a fact that we evolve, that we come to live with more sense and improved abilities and insights over time, so maybe it’s the era of compassion. Maybe, finally, human beings have learned that we shouldn’t abuse and kill animals; that we simply don’t have the prerogative to. All animal-involving industries contain abusive situations, where the cattle is struck with canes, or the elephants are beaten with bullhooks during training; hence we are in need of severe change. More and more people are altering their lives to be more compassionate and fair, so why don’t you? Is it your intention to be responsible for the ghastly deaths of thousands of animals during your lifetime? Several questions pop into my mind whenever I think of those who cannot, or will not, see the importance of animal rights. I wonder why they cannot see that inflicting pain is wrong. I wonder why they cannot grasp the concept of sympathy. And I wonder why they are unable to open themselves to factual and rational views of the world and embrace a more respectful and sustainable lifestyle. Animal rights. Think about it. Please check out the other pages, and take a moment to fill in the questionnaire on the "Tell me your opinion" page. Thank you.