A number of myths stand in the way of the public’s
understanding of animal rights. Below are a dozen of the most popular
animal rights myths, along with some facts about animal rights.
1. Myth: Animal rights activists care more about animals than people.
Fact: Animal rights activists have
expanded their circle of compassion
so that it includes non-human animals as well as people, but caring
about non-human animals does not mean that someone doesn't care or cares
less about people. If you talk with animal rights activists, you will
find that many are also involved with humanitarian causes such as
hunger, poverty, sweatshops, feminism, marriage equality, or civil
rights.
2. Myth: Animal rights activists protest fur while wearing leather shoes.
Fact: Although some
fur protestors may wear leather shoes, animal rights activists
oppose the use of leather
and do not wear leather. With today's synthetic materials, it can be
difficult to tell if someone is wearing leather shoes just from a casual
glance and it would be wrong to accuse someone of wearing leather shoes
without checking.
3. Myth: Animal rights activists care only about “cute” animals.
Fact:
There are some animal protection groups that tend to promote the
protection of "cute" animals like panda bears, baby seals or puppies,
but the animal rights philosophy applies to all animals. In fact,
activists are often ridiculed for championing
fish,
flies, chickens or other "non-cute" animals. ("Cute" and "non-cute" are in quotes because cuteness is highly subjective.)
4. Myth: Animal rights activists protest hunting but buy meat in a supermarket.
Fact: Some people who eat meat may protest
hunting,
but animal rights activists oppose both hunting and buying meat from a
supermarket. Animal rights activists advocate veganism, and do not
consume any meat, eggs, dairy or other animal products.
5. Myth: PETA (or HSUS) represents the entire animal rights movement.
Fact:
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and
The Humane Society of the United States
dominate mainstream media coverage of animal rights issues in the U.S.,
but do not represent the entire animal rights movement. The animal
rights movement is not monolithic, and it would be inaccurate to believe
that one or two organizations represent the full diversity of animal
rights activists, strategies, philosophies and organizations that are
out there.
6. Myth: Animal rights activists are terrorists.
Fact:
A very small minority of animal rights activists engage in violent
tactics, but they do not represent all activists or even the majority.
Just as it would be wrong to judge all pro-life advocates by the ones
who kill abortion doctors, it would be wrong to say that all animal
rights activists are terrorists.
7. Myth: Animal rights activists protest whaling, but not the killing of cows.
Fact: While some people oppose the killing of whales because various whale species are threatened or
endangered,
or out of a belief that whales are special, animal rights activists
oppose whaling because they believe it is wrong to kill sentient beings
for food. Animal rights activists advocate veganism, but in general,
protests against the killing of cows, pigs or chickens do not garner as
much media coverage as protests against whaling, which might explain how
this myth arose.
8. Myth: Animal rights activists are privileged, white, educated, urban women.
Fact:
Animal rights activists are diverse when it comes to class, ethnicity,
race, education, gender and geography. Although the animal rights
movement may not appear diverse based on attendance at conferences or
protests, it would be wrong to judge the entire movement based on a
small number of events. Much animal activism goes on in homes, churches,
temples, and within communities and countries that are underrepresented
in mainstream American media.
9. Myth: Hitler was a vegetarian.
Fact: While various writers have labeled Hitler a vegetarian, some of those very same writers also point out that he
ate ham, sausage, liver, and caviar.
A German chef and cookbook author wrote that stuffed squab was a great
favorite of Hitler's whenever he came into the hotel where she worked.
Regardless, whether any particular individual is vegan or vegetarian has
no bearing on whether animals deserve rights.
10. Myth: Animal rights activists want to take my pets away from me.
Fact: While some activists
oppose the keeping of pets
and think that no more should be bred, no one wants to take your
animals away from you. The best place for your pet is in your home, with
you.
11. Myth: Animal rights activists want to impose their views on everyone else.
Fact:
Animal rights activists are not trying to impose their views on anyone.
The animal rights movement uses public outreach, education and
persuasion, not force. Even
campaigns to change laws are based on organizing enough voters to make it politically advantageous for legislators to support animal protection.
12. Myth: Veganism is not healthy.
Fact: The American Dietetic Association
supports vegan diets:
"It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that
appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or
vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide
health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases."
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