KD:
: I am wondering how we are to be persuaded by Melissa Etheridge and Ted Nugent, among others. I mean, I like Melissa Etheridge's music, and I admire her courage (while I could take or leave Ted Nugent), but isn't it the argument we should consider, not the person? MB:
I like Melissa's first album ["Similar Features", "Like The Way I Do", etc], and I also like a lot of Nugent's crunching rock n roll. Melissa and Ted are just two example perspectives I brought up regarding hunting and testing of animals. Yes there is a lot to consider about the argument.
KD:
: As far as medical breakthroughs, many doctors oppose vivisection because it often leads to harmful rather than helpful treatment. Many drugs doctors prescribe only replace one ailment or condition with another, since, afterall, we are pumping our bodies full of chemicals that don't belong there. All this aside though, what should human beings accept as an appropriate form of illness? I mean, we NEED to die eventually, right? Well, what disease is acceptable then? I understand wanting to PREVENT disease by changing to a more healthy lifestyle. I even understand that it must be a desperate feeling knowing you (or a loved one) are terminally ill. What I don't understand is the shortsightedness and self-centredness of a species which demands to live forever, as it were, no matter what it might cost other species, and no matter how miserable it might make us.
MB:
It's not so much as "wanting to live forever", but I'd personally like to stay on this earth as long as I can. Do you want to die before you're 40? You should do all you can to prevent disease and not take dangerous risks, but just getting out of bed in the morning involves risk. And not everyone who contracts a terminal illness does so because of lifestyle or choice of food. Many of the experts say that animal testing is a necessity that has to be dealt with if we have any hope to soften the blow or actually find cures for our current crop of terminal illnesses. Florida resident Kim Bourgeaolis, a college student in her early 20s' and a VIRGIN, contracted the AIDS virus from her ORTHODONTIST in the early 90s' [This was national news here in the States.]. Just by merely getting dental surgery. Imagine if an actual cure for AIDS/HIV could have been found back then. And even people who did take not-so-intellegent risks should get a second chance at life. Maybe Freddie Mercury could be rocking on to this day, him and his famous band performing "Bohemian Rhapsody", "We Are The Champions", and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" before new generations of audience. Maybe Robert Reed could be making a comeback right now, and I don't mean a contiuam of his "Mike Brady" character. Maybe Magic Johnson can be cured. David Crosby and "Papa" John Phillips had to have liver transplants as a result of their years of excess in terms of drugs and alcohol. As far as I know, they are grateful for their second chance, and are taking it seriously.
KD:
: What exactly gives us the authority and permission to perform these experiments, destroying the lives of other beings so that we may artificially extend our own? In many cases (not all, but many) those people who are ill are so because of their lifestyle choices. This could be prevented with some serious education and legislation (for example, sue the pants off of tobacco companies, the dairy board, the department of agriculture, and alcohol companies for lying to us and misleading us through advertizing.) Either we work at prevention or we live with the consequences. We have no legitimate claim over other life forms to use them to compensate for our own stupidity.
MB:
Again, risks are taken all the time. Everytime you get behind the wheel of your Mustang or SUV, even. And so far, nobody has suggested an alternative with evidence the same results will be achieved. One guy who supports animal testing wrote an article which sort of serves as an open letter to PETA and other radical animal groups. It's topic is to the point: Put Up Or Shut Up [His words, not mine.]. I'll give the link in a future post.
MWB.
