Jo-Anne MacArthur (We Animals) shared some thoughts: We Animals author, photographer, animal activist I post a lot of upsetting photos and information on this page. Thats what my work addresses for the most part, our mistreatment of non-human animals, as well as the efforts to end abuse. I find that the vitriol towards the perpetrators of abuse in peoples responses to my posts is understandable and comes from a place of frustration, anger, even desperation and despair, but at the same time, I dont think the violence we wish on the perpetrators is helpful or useful. People who abuse animals become violent due to many circumstances. Sometimes they themselves were physically abused. Or they were emotionally abused and live in anger and frustration. Some people were taught that animals are nothing more than automatons, but they can unlearn those ideas. Some people come from a background of intense poverty, and slaughterhouse and factory farm work is what they see as their only option. They have no job stability, no benefits, crazy hours, dangerous work and traumatic work conditions. Its a shitty situation for the animals and for the humans. Modern farming, big ag, is inhumane for all and perpetuated by a big, broken, corporate system. We break animals. We too are badly broken. All of this to say that if we want to help non-human animals, we also have to help each other be better people, and live with empathy despite all of the horrible things going on. I think that people who abuse animals can change, and likely want to change. Not all, but many. Hatred breeds hatred. I read the hundreds of hateful comments under the posts I put here, and I wish that we could all instead turn that energy into something more helpful. Even though its hard. Even though were disillusioned and have perhaps lost faith in humans. I lose faith too. Kindness, however, has, and can, and will, change people for the better. https://facebook/joanne.mcarthur.35?fref=ts
Posted on: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 02:27:57 +0000
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