Wise thoughts from Ingrid Newkirk

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[SIGN]An animal experiment cannot be justifiable unless the experiment is so important that the use of a brain-damaged human would be justifiable. — Peter Singer, godfather of the animal rights movement, Animal Liberation: A New Ethic for Our Treatment of Animals, 2nd. edition, 1990.[/SIGN]
 
The life of an ant and the life of my child should be accorded equal respect. — Michael W. Fox, Vice President, The Humane Society (The Associated Press, Jan. 15, 1989).
 
She compares the killing of seafood comparable to the killing of mentally disabled children.

Frankly, if you believe in such a thing as “speciesism” I find your views to be radical too.
I certainly do believe that killing some nonhuman animals is comparable to killing mentally disabled children, because there is no relevant difference between the two groups except their species. A species difference is like a race or gender difference: there but morally irrelevant. Those who find Newkirk view’s absurd should think about why the line they draw at species-membership is more rationally defensible than the line sexists draw at gender-membership.
 
[SIGN]An animal experiment cannot be justifiable unless the experiment is so important that the use of a brain-damaged human would be justifiable. — Peter Singer, godfather of the animal rights movement, Animal Liberation: A New Ethic for Our Treatment of Animals, 2nd. edition, 1990.[/SIGN]
I agree.
 
Surely there will be some nonhuman animals whose lives, by any standards, are more valuable than the lives of some humans. — Peter Singer, godfather of the animal rights movement, Animal Liberation: A New Ethic for Our Treatment of Animals, 2nd edition, 1990.
 
I certainly do believe that killing some nonhuman animals is comparable to killing mentally disabled children, because there is no relevant difference between the two groups except their species. A species difference is like a race or gender difference: there but morally irrelevant. Those who find Newkirk view’s absurd should think about why the line they draw at species-membership is more rationally defensible than the line sexists draw at gender-membership.
And for this reason I will never take you seriously again.

It’s okay. You can ignore whatever I say too and hold me as a radical. Fair is fair.
 
And for this reason I will never take you seriously again.
I should point out that this is an instructive example of fallacious thinking. If you don’t wish to take my views and arguments seriously, because you genuinely think they’re wrong, that’s one thing. But to dismiss my views and arguments because you don’t take me seriously would be to commit a fallacious circumstantial ad hominem.
 
April, perhaps you can explain why you don’t agree with the quotes you posted?
 
There are some circumstances, for example, where the newborn baby is severely disabled and where the parents think that it’s better that child should not live, when killing the newborn baby is not at all wrong … not like killing the chimpanzee would be. Maybe it’s not wrong at all. — Peter Singer, godfather of the animal rights movement.
 
[SIGN]We need a drastic decrease in human population if we ever hope to create a just and equitable world for animals — Freeman Wickland, Animal Liberation League, and editor of “No Compromise” in “No Compromise”, September 1996.[/SIGN]
 
Arson, property destruction, burglary and theft are ‘acceptable crimes’ when used for the animal cause. — Alex Pacheco, Director, PETA.
 
I should point out that this is an instructive example of fallacious thinking. If you don’t wish to take my views and arguments seriously, because you genuinely think they’re wrong, that’s one thing. But to dismiss my views and arguments because you don’t take me seriously would be to commit a fallacious circumstantial ad hominem.
I no longer trust your judgment. If you believe in “speciesism” then I question your ability to judge any argument or philosophy.
 
We feel that animals have the same rights as a retarded human child — Alex Pacheco, Director, PETA, (New York Times, January 14, 1989)
 
We are capable of dealing with anyone. No one has died yet but that time will come. — Keith Mann of ALF, as quoted in the Evening Standard [London, Dec. 8, 1998). Mann was sentenced in 1994 to 14 years in prison for leading a gang which, in 1991, attacked almost 700 businesses in Manchester, UK.
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It is only human supremacy, which is as unacceptable as racism and sexism, that makes us afraid of being more inclusive.
Ingrid Newkirk
 
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