is it a human right to torture animals?

[Guest guest]

I was a bit divided on this issue, but giving it some new thought, just

because something is part of a culture doesn't mean that it's right, or that

it has to be respected no matter what. After all, no one considers speaking

out agains female genital mutilation to be racist, so why is being against

shechita considered anti-semitic?

-isabelle

 

 

 

http://www.rense.com/general19/anti.htm

Campaign To Allow Ritual Saughter

Prompts 'Anti-Semitic' Backlash

By Fredy Rom

Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Tel Aviv

1-9-2

 

BERN - The Swiss government has launched a campaign to end a century-old law

barring Jewish ritual slaughter.

 

Launched by Economics Minister Pasqual Couchepin, the campaign has created a

heated outcry against any lessening of the prohibition.

 

It also prompted fears of a widespread anti-Semitic backlash in a country

that has experienced such backlashes in recent years, after Switzerland came

under international pressure to settle a variety of Holocaust-related

claims.

 

In a recent newspaper interview, Couchepin admitted to some surprise at the

stir his proposal has caused. But he said the move to allow ritual slaughter

must be seen as a human rights issue.

 

Noting that an E.U. tribunal ruled that the right to perform shechita must

be respected, he added, " We must decide whether we want to stand on the side

of human rights. "

 

Shechita, or Jewish ritual slaughter, is widely believed to be a humane form

of slaughter. But proponents of the Swiss law believe otherwise.

 

Most European countries--with the exception of Switzerland and

Sweden--permit shechita.

 

Animal rights groups, who have lobbied actively on the subject, have

threatened to seek a national referendum if the government seeks to allow

shechita. The electorate has the right under Swiss law to hold a referendum

on almost any legislative initiative.

 

Observers believe the move to allow shechita would be defeated in a

referendum.

 

A recent government-sponsored survey showed that all the Swiss cantons, or

states, are against allowing shechita.

 

Some historians maintain that the original law, which went into effect in

1893, was drafted because of anti-Semitism, not to protect animals.

 

Since the government launched the initiative, Swiss newspapers have been

flooded with letters from animal rights supporters backing the existing

prohibition.

 

Many of the letters have anti-Semitic overtones, with some referring to

shechita as a " holocaust of the animals. "

 

Most editorials in Swiss papers speak out against changing the law.

 

A campaign against overturning the law recently was launched by Erwin

Kessler, who had been sentenced by the Swiss Federal Court in Lausanne to

several months imprisonment for anti-Semitic offenses.

 

Alfred Donath, the president of the Federation of Jewish Communities, has

called for an end to " the discriminating law. "

 

But many Swiss Jews are concerned that the government campaign may only

increase anti-Semitism.

 

" We have to ask ourselves if a new wave of anti-Semitism is in our

interests, " Peter Abelin wrote in the Jewish magazine Tachles.

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Hey Isabelle! I was hoping someone else would comment on this before

me..but what the hey!

 

 

> I was a bit divided on this issue, but giving it some new thought, just

> because something is part of a culture doesn't mean that it's right, or

that

> it has to be respected no matter what. After all, no one considers

speaking

> out agains female genital mutilation to be racist, so why is being against

> shechita considered anti-semitic?

 

I can't really answer why being anti-shechita is considered anit-Semitic,

perhaps female genital mutilation hits closer to the heart of humans, and

appears more 'barbaric' than most other things. Maybe what we do to other

people transcends racism, but what we do to non-human animals doesn't.

 

It is a topic worthy of serious discussion, imo. Personally, i don't

understand what the big deal is with this 'touchy' area that many AR people

tiptoe around - like aboriginal hunting. (My sincerest apologies if

'aboriginal' is an inappropriate term, please let me know what is.)

 

I am against hunting. I don't give a damn if the person is of a particular

race or belief system, i don't think any animal should have his/her life

taken away (or used) by a human, period. (Except in the rare case of

self-defense.)

 

Could someone please share with me and the list reasons why my view is

unacceptable or offensive, with respect to aboriginal people?

 

Anthony Marr summed it up best, in my opinion. To paraphrase:

 

" Tradition has been one of the greatest hindrances to progression. "

 

(Note that i am rather ignorant of aboriginal issues, and i am willing to

accept that my viewpoint is flawed. This is to comfort people who may look

at my potentially 'strong' words and think 'no point talking to him'!)

 

Thanks, looking forward to hearing from you!

 

- Dave