Thanks for the education on Hinduism. Fascinating stuff.: Much as I respect your viewpoint, I can't fully agree with it. let me put it thsi way. Suppose an African were to come to New York and say that abortion is an abomination and therefore we must ban abortion. Would you agree with him? Or would you assert your right to work out right and wrong for yourself, in consultation (or not) with God?
I believe in ahimsa. To the extent I'm not practicing it, if anyone, from any culture, pointed that out, I'd consider it. Again, my main point on religion, and any other human activity, for that matter, is that one may do as one wishes, so long as one does not harm others; as an animal rights advocate (a term I dislike, by the way. I prefer "animal liberation," because I believe that animals are slaves in human society, but I'm stuck using the common name for the movement), I believe that animals count as "others" because of their capacity to think and experience emotion and, most of all, suffer. Jane Goodall recently pointed out that scientists now understand much more about animals, and are realizing that animals have much more in common with humans than once believed, even to the extent of having languages among a remarkably high number of species. With this new knowledge, she said, we must treat them accordingly, that is, do unto them as we would have them do unto us. Somebody else (I believe Julian Bond) said that with knowledge comes a responsibility to act. I know that animals can feel pain and fear, and therefore, I have no choice but to act on that knowledge; hence, my activities on this board and elsewhere.
As for abortion: I have spent a great deal of time thinking about abortion. I am pro-choice, but I have all the sympathy in the world for those opposed to abortion, because they are very much like animal rights activists in both the depth of their convictions, and their tactics (though to date, no animal rights activist has committed murder for the cause, thank god). I concluded that abortion is a unique matter, since the developing child actually resides within the body of the mother, making it impossible for her to act independently of it. Given this unique situation, I come down on the side of the mother.
That's my abortion stance in a highly condensed form. I hope I've answered your questions here. Again, I think we differ only in degrees: we both think animals should be treated humanely, but I go farther than you in the rights I would accord them. I do this not only for the animals, but in the belief that a human society which treats animals with mercy and compassion will be a better society for us all. To quote Albert Schweitzer: "Until he extends the circle of compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace."
Peace,
Michael
None.
