Debating Animal Rights: A Middle Ground Perspective

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Letter to Editor Even if animals are like us, human rights for them sound a bit too unrealistic. I guess we should just let all animals roam free and make the whole universe go vegan (nothing against vegans though). In 3 articles, either written by Yong, Braithwaite, or Rifkin, there are solid topics that slowly reel their way into the ongoing and serious debate: Should animals have the same rights as humans? Where I stand is a difficult position. Animals should definitely have rights, but only to a certain extent. Animals feel pain, which is why they should not be abused. Animals are like humans, which is why they should be treated with respect. There is such a thing called “The Circle of Life,” which is why animals are where they stay. …show more content…

Fish are animals, and it was proven that they feel pain. Humans have two nociceptors that actually alert us when we are hurt or damaged. Braithwaite says, “fish have the same two types of nociceptors that we do- A-delta and C fibers.(3)” If these 2 same nociceptors make us feel pain and damage, fish should feel the same. Fish feel pain, then maybe other animals do too. Bottom line is that animals should not be abused. There is a difference between abuse and discipline. Reversing roles, if we were animals, we would never want to be abused. It is still not a proven fact that all animals feel pain, but animals do have a sense of …show more content…

In the article, “Of Primates and Personhood” written by Ed Yong, primates are claimed to have personality. Primates are claimed to be much like humans. There is a program called the Great Ape Project that seeks to provide primates with legal rights. They should not be mistreated. Yong writes, “Those laws would ban the use of apes in experiments or entertainment or commercial ventures...captivity.(3)” This law should be granted. They have personhood and should be able to stay clear from being experimented on. If primates, then for all animals. An article written by Rifkin (“A Change of Heart”) gives an example of how pigs need social interaction or else they feel lonely and upset. This gives a sense of emotion. They should be treated with respect and have some rights of their own. They are just like

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