If you get sick withing the next 25 years, do you plan to forgo medical treatment? If at the end of those 25 years you need medications or operations to keep you from dying will you say, “No thanks.”? God forbid you develop cancer, diabetes or heat disease, but if you do would you refuse medications or treatments for these? All of these scenarios require medication and/or treatments developed through animal research.

It’s funny but every time the question is posed to an animal rights activist about forgoing any medical treatment developed through animal research they suddenly come up with some lame reason why it’s OK.

You say that it is the ability to reason and consider these types of issues is what grants people rights. If this is the case, then most children and severely disabled people would be excluded by this thesis.

You say rights by pain is no more arbitrary than life, I agree. If you are against the arbitary nature of granting rights, then why exclude non-human animals?

Take note. Here’s how evolution has been going:

“I am black, I want rights for black people.
I am a women, I want rights for women.
I am a human, I want rights for humans.
I am an animal, I want rights for animals.”

I believe in rights according to each individuals needs. Unsurprisingly our needs as humans are similar to those of non-humans: To be free from pain, imprisonment, oppression, etc.

BTW I boycott Procter and Gamble who make many good products out there that I will never use, like Folger’s, Tide, and a host of household cleaning products. But there are plenty of alternatives and there is with animal testing in general.

I dont expect any of you people to ever have compassion for animals but I will stand up for my furry fdriends every chance I get.

Ok, go ahead and give me a list of all the current roads built by slave labor. Last I heard construction workers make pretty good money building roads, but hey, if you can name a road built by slave labor I’ll be happy to avoid it. My house was only built 10 years ago so I think I’m safe there.

I’ll tell you what, I’ll even go first. Here’s my list of things you have to give up:

Cold medicines, decongestants, anit-inflammatory medications, allergy medications, vaccines, anti-coagulants, anti-depressants, chemotherapy, CT scans, MRI’s , insulin for diabetes, kidney dialysis, migraine medications, cholesterol medications, transplant rejection medications. Those are just a few. I realize you may not need some or any of these now, but you might and are you willing to say no thanks?

If you can name one thing I’m using now that was build by slave labor, list it and I’ll not use it.

I accept most AR folk argue that being “alive” isn’t the important factor – but being able to feel pain. We argue that pain is no more arbitrary than life – the fact we can reason and consider these types of issue is the very thing which allows us to create and have rights.

Tom

It’s fine if you are against slavery and racism. Just remember to reject everything ever gained through it and I’ll be fine with your convictions. Are you willing to do that? If not you have no credibility. If you are I’ll send you a list of everything you know have to forgo. Your choice. Start with boycotting roads, houses, even civilisation itself. Are you doing that? If not you support slavery and racism by your own standards.

It’s fine if you are against animal research. Just remember to reject everything ever gained through it and I’ll be fine with your convictions. Are you willing to do that? If not you have no credibility. If you are I’ll send you a list of everything you know have to forgo. You’re choice.

I’m not sure if you are aware but bacteria isn’t an animal, take a look at a biological chart and you’ll realise this. Bacteria cannot feel pain, happiness, suffering or have social relationships for example.

The point Lynn was trying to make is that not having responsibilites is no reason to exclude rights from individuals, such as children or the severely disabled, who do not have a moral obligation to duties.