There are people who believe and teach others that we should avoid
negativity, dwell on happy thoughts, look for the good everywhere and
in everyone, etc. And, as would be expected of those who believe
everyone is basically “good,” use of the word “evil” is avoided.
While to some people these teachings may seem to have merit, I wonder
if it is fair to the victims of the perpetrators of cruelty. Such
wishful thinking plays right into the hands of those individuals and
industries who abuse others, both human and non-human, either for
personal gratification or for profit. How will cruelty be brought under
control unless it is exposed and brought to the attention of the public?
Factory farm concentration camps that are hidden from view and advertise
“happy” animals, in order to fool the consumers, will only proliferate
if someone doesn’t expose the truth.
To pretend that cruelty doesn’t exist is to allow it to escalate. At
what point would these people, who hide from the truth, admit that evil
does indeed exist? When they or their loved ones become victims? When
violence is totally out of control in this world? It certainly appears
to be heading in that direction!
Whether we want to admit it or not, violence is on the increase; and
looking the other way will not make it disappear. Isn’t it interesting
that the escalating worldwide demand for animal products appears to
parallel the increase in demand for violent video games, pastimes, and
“sports”?
An interesting study on violence and teenagers showed that girls were
more influenced than boys by viewing violent wrestling scenes. It
appears that women are fast playing “catch-up” in the realm of cruelty
once thought to be mostly the domain of men. In humans, this seems to be
the rule rather than the exception: The oppressed soon becomes the
oppressor.
I will close with these words: The sooner other animals are granted
legal rights and respected as individuals, the better off we will all
be.
See also:
http://www.all-creatures.org/anex/index.html
