"In fact, when we abuse childlike qualities in animals ....." -----

[defendandprotect]

In fact, when we abuse childlike qualities in animals – when we take advantage of trust, sweetness, simplicity, or innocence, for example – we are well on our way to the abuse of children. For decades researchers, child and animal protection professionals, and educators have been pointing to the correlation between the treatment of animals and the treatment of children.



When we abuse animals we debase ourselves
What qualities associated with the best in mankind aren't expressed by animals?
By Barbara Cook Spencer

Brookline, Mass.
Moving a cow by chaining it to a tractor and dragging it by its leg says a lot about how we perceive and value animals. When the Humane Society video that showed this and other brutal slaughterhouse treatment made the rounds on the Internet a few weeks ago, it caused public shock and led to a federal investigation. But there's a deeper lesson that all of us – whether or not we eat meat – need to take to heart: we degrade ourselves when we degrade animals.

Much as bullies demoralize themselves when they dominate or ride roughshod over those who are meek, vulnerable, or defenseless, it should be obvious that human beings are the ones demoralized by the commission of inhumane acts.

Over the years, many have been caught up in the debate over what is, or is not, man's obligation to animals. But the debate is transcended by the growing realization that neither our civilization nor our planet will survive unless human beings grow richer in moral qualities like mercy, kindness, compassion, and temperance.



http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0411/p09s01-coop.htm

[ColbertWatcher]

1. The Humane Society Agrees.

I am not a member, nor do I represent them (nor am I pretending to), but http://www.hsus.org/hsus_field/first_strike_the_connection_between_animal_cruelty_and_human_violence">that's how I learned about it.

[chknltl]

2. Our children, our pets offer us: LOVE UNCONDITIONAL.

IMO: This is the greatest of all lessons.

Our pets do not have to be trained to do this. Our children offer us the same thing and again without training. Both can love their abusers...for awhile. I can not watch news stories of children or pets who have been abused...it hurts! I have not been abused but I can feel hate for the scum-suckers who would abuse children or animals. If that makes me less than our children or our pets then so-be-it!

Thank you for the link. I look forward to learning more about this.

[dhill926]

4. you are correct...

[BlooInBloo]

3. Though I don't believe that mere animals have any intrinsic moral value...

... I can readily acknowledge this correlation as a sufficient reason to be against animal cruelty.

[VotesForWomen]

6. "mere animals?" you're a mere animal, and you can't prove you're not. it's all might makes right;

whoever has the power says who/what does or doesn't have any 'moral value.'

[BlooInBloo]

7. I'm guessing that we disagree.

[VotesForWomen]

14. like i said, you can't prove that you have any intrinsic moral value to anyone who doesn't wish

to believe it and has the power to deny it. i suspect that your standards of intrinsic moral value are entirely arbitrary and self-serving.

[BlooInBloo]

15. Blahblahblah.

[LWolf]

10. Living things have intrinsic value. Life has intrinsic value.

Humans are animals.

[BlooInBloo]

11. You didn't disagree with me - lolol!

[VotesForWomen]

5. the treatment of animals is an insight into the darker side of human beings. nt

[and-justice-for-all]

8. We are all in fact part of the Animal Kingdom...

All living things are made up of all the same materials...

Humans like to try and seperate themselves from the Animal kingdom, when the reality is that Humans are part of it and are related to it.

I would never think of harming an Animal, I find it unacceptable.

[susankh4]

9. Squiggy, Ernie & Katie thank you!

As do all the fosters here at Three Sisters!

[nam78_two]

12. K&R.nt

[defendandprotect]

13. Push . . . hoping more will think give it some thought ---

[otherlander]

16. Tried to reccomend

But couldn't. 24hr rule.

I think you can tell more about people by how they treat animals than by how they treat other people.