By Guest Author Mike Jaynes
This short piece deals with certain presupposed "flaws" in human nature and how those flaws keep humanity from acting in a moral manner toward non-human and human animals. First, I acknowledge no divide between the "human" and "animal" world. Neither do I feel all animals are equal. It is a fact that some animals are neater, faster, or more courteous than others. Humans may be the most intelligent animal while there are plenty of animals kinder, more socially developed, and more aware of their mates. When this article refers to the animal world, I include humans as well in that all inclusive term. Certain religious, social, and personal structures hold humanity up as completely separate from and superior to the animal kingdom in various manners. Such monikers as "non-human animals" are needed in attempt to shift human thought away from anthropocentric and speciesist behavior. Thus, when this article discusses animals it includes humans in the term. Non-human animals (NHAs) will refer to the individuals who are traditionally thought of as animals.
The Disconnect
It is commonplace to hear complaints regarding the social, economic, and political structure of America. When a new and possibly more successful mode of thinking and acting is introduced, often we do not adhere to it as a result of the difficulty and life changes it will require. The competitive nature of the animal world is inevitably referenced; aggressive human competitiveness is examined and we concoct elaborate excuse structures to support our selfish way of life and to resist the self-examination and restraint required of specific life changes, especially regarding non-human animals (NHAs). Case in point: most people are very much opposed to the abuse of factory farmed animals and continue to eat them. The disconnect between the meat product on their plate and the living, breathing, and suffering creature in the mechanized nightmare of the factory farm is what allows humans to stay firmly encased inside our cruel dreamland. This disconnect perpetuates the false belief that eating one more steak (which is already dead) won't add to the suffering of farm animals. Truthfully, it is doubtful most meat consumers even think about the matter to that extent.
“Dominion” Over Animals
Humans often feel immune to social justice issues when they are not directly involved. When pressed, people seem to believe a certain amount of human cruelty to all animals is natural. Religious persons, especially self-labeled Christians, often turn toward the mistranslated and misunderstood "dominion" that God has given Man over the animals. As a Christian (admittedly non-traditional), I feel great sorrow at the vast misunderstanding of that particular word. This is easily refuted and "dominion" is easily put into its true context as a pro NHA rights position when one understands to have dominion over something is to be its loving caretaker. Parents have dominion over their children and no one would permit a human mother to eat her offspring if she were hungry. Analogously, the Queen of England has dominion over her subjects and she is not allowed to run roughshod over their lives and basic sentient rights. Therefore, having "dominion" over NHAs does not give us the right to torture them, harm them, hunt them for sport, use them for entertainment, kill them, or eat them. And of course many people do not believe in that particular faith-- or any for that matter-- and still the NHAs are suffering and need compassion from their caretakers. My interpretation of Christianity is that it is a call to compassion and mercy for animals at the mercy of humans, even if they be nonhuman. For a complete discussion of the issue, please see Matthew Scully's beautiful and terrifying book "Dominion: The Suffering of Animals, The Power of Man, and The Call to Mercy."(Buy Direct)
The Nonexistence of Human Nature
Soon after the discussion of "dominion" comes the discussion of the tragic flaw of human nature. People relate the flaw to wealth, greed, fear, envy or a host of other things. Usually this theory is grounded in the biblical Fall of Man where Adam and Eve supposedly sinned and were cast out; thus developed the imperfect nature of man and this mysterious flawed nature that keeps him from doing kind and compassionate things.
