Home > Blog >

No, bringing animals into the world to die is not humane

By Ari | Feb 21, 09 10:42 AM

Village Voice writer Sarah DiGregorio asked, "Is Foie Gras Torture?" and decided that she was okay with what she saw when she visited a foie gras operation. Since I am not okay with the death machine we call "animal agriculture," regardless of how "humane" it tries to be, I had to write her a letter protesting her findings. My open letter is below; I urge others to follow suit.

Read the article
Send an email to the author
Send a letter to the editor

Read on for my letter.

Hi,

I just read your article on foie gras. You write, "If I had seen with my own eyes that Hudson Valley produced foie gras by abusing ducks, this article would have turned out very differently. But that just wasn't the case."

How do you define "abuse"? These ducks are brought into the world explicitly so that they can be confined, force-fed, and slaughtered. If that was done to a human being it would certainly be called abuse. Why is it acceptable to do it to a non-human animal? Their confinement and force-feeding may be done with some consideration for their health, but do you not see a fundamental problem with calling what is being done to them "humane"? How can killing a living animal (and a healthy one, according to your article) be anything but abuse?

Your article deeply saddens me because it makes these excuses for an industry that exists to kill, because it will make those who like to support that industry feel comfortable with their decision. Your words rationalize and defend violence for the sake of taste and desire. You have a lot of power, when you publish these words.

I wonder what you feel for the many billions of animals out there who feel pain and pleasure, who are fully capable having family relationships and friends, who are living and waiting to die for you and other folks who like to eat their bodies. Do you think they would appreciate your article? Would they, if they could comprehend what is happening to their species, appreciate your favorable report of their living and dying, and your self-professed concern for their welfare? Could you say to them, if they could understand you, "I have looked at your suffering and I have deemed it humane"? How do you think they would respond, if they could?

They can't comprehend what your article means for them and their children, I know - but some of us can. We humans have powerful brains - brains that invent ethics and morals to live by. We can use our power to add to the beauty and peace and love in the world, or we can use it to create suffering and death. When you wrote this article, did you remember your power over the powerless, and ask yourself what kind of world you were helping to create for them?

Because I care about animals and know that transparent dialogue is what helps culture change, I hope you don't mind that I'm posting this email as an open letter on my blog. Please feel free to post your response as a comment if you would like it to appear publicly, or just email me back (I may post your response unless you object). I'm very curious as to your reply. I have also submitted this letter as a letter to the editor of your paper.

Thank you for reading, and peace,
Ari

More: Activism | Animals | Food | Oppression

Archives