Speciesism is a term used by so-called animal rights activists to belittle the belief a hierarchy exists within the animal kingdom, and that human beings are a superior form of life lording over the food chain. The extremists have decreed speciesism to be just as bad as racism or sexism. By their definition, I am a speciesist. To the average animal rights activist, a human being is just another animal -- nothing special. As People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) founder Ingrid Newkirk famously said, "When it comes to having a central nervous system and the ability to feel pain, hunger and thirst, a rat is a pig is a dog is a boy." Therein lies my problem with PETA -- members of that organization obviously fail to recognize that the lives of some creatures are clearly more valuable than others. And on that critical point, I strongly beg to differ. Of course, Newkirk is right about one thing -- animals can feel pain. So what? Animals can get hungry, and thirsty, just like a human being. Yet when a human suffers a mortal or life-threatening wound, they often go into shock, which ultimately causes them to experience less pain. By the same token, why can't we assume the same thing happens with other animals, that they might also go into shock when death becomes imminent? The animal liberation movement began with noble intentions -- opposing the barbaric practice of using of kittens and puppies for laboratory testing or medical experiments. But a rat is vermin. A pig might be served for dinner. And a dog is man's best friend, as this story … [Read more...]