Piglets and ‘crank’ activist reveal our folly
Re Animal cranks make a good point, badly, Mallick, Nov. 5 Heather Mallick accuses animal activist Jenny McQueen of “anthropomorphizing” the two piglets she rescued from Canada’s factory farm system. Actually, it works the other way around. We humans deny feelings and intelligence to “others” we wish to slaughter, out of prejudice or because we wish to eat them.
Forget the cosy of idea of your meat grazing in meadows. The factory farm system is a government-sanctioned abomination, allowing for the torture of every animal from birth to gassing, to throat-slitting, or to live-skinning.
Decades from now, activists such as McQueen will be seen as virtuous citizens who fought for the innocent, helped save the planet and taught humans to see the connection between the saran-wrapped ribs and diseases such as cancer.
We humans have a hard time grasping the slaughter of millions. Perhaps two piglets and one “crank” activist will help us better understand our collusion and our folly. Sylvia Fraser, Toronto
Heather Mallick calls attention to “the hideous torment we inflict on animals,” yet criticizes activist tone and tactics. As a 65year-old woman, I remember that every justice movement — including struggles against racism, sexism and homophobia — have been throttled with complaints about impolite activist
behaviour. As we extend justice to all beings, it’s tragically typical that activists are criticized for being too angry, smug or impolite. It’s a criticism I’ve worn proudly fighting for justice since the ’60s. Ann Bradley, Los Angeles
Yes, science and the ingenuity of people who are appalled by the cruel treatment of farmed animals will eventually prevail and be instrumental in producing and moving lab grown meat into restaurants and food stores. But the issue of animal suffering wouldn’t be discussed without the efforts of groups like PETA or the compassionate efforts of people who can empathize with the pain and suffering of individual animals. Jacqueline Raven, New York