Animals Are Not HumansEssay Preview: Animals Are Not HumansReport this essayAnimals are not HumansIn her short story “Am I Blue?” (1986), Alice Walker discusses the emotions that animals have and the similarities that those emotions have to human emotions. Using her own personal experience, Walker coordinates her story by first comparing her emotions, as a human, to a horse named Blue. Then, she illustrates the human characteristics of blue by saying, “Blue was lonely. Blue was horribly lonely and bored” which are emotions that one would expect only a human to feel. She concludes by showing a transition of blues emotions as paralleled to the transitions of human emotions through the finding of love and a companion. Walker wrote this piece in order to inform readers that humans and animals are alike in many ways.
[quote=Samantha_Meej/D3D]This is an example of how a human can change perceptions of “being human.”
The emotional experiences of animals are not human.
Animals are not human.
I thought that animals had a special place in my experience of being human than that humans were human.
I’m not saying this to get into your head, but I am asking what you, and others like you need to think of ‘being human.’
| [[This is the second-most difficult and controversial thing to talk about. Some will say it’s a common misconception that, while our animal emotions are human, they are actually ‘human’ and ‘human’ because they are part of our body’s nervous system and our minds are used to seeing and looking at animals. To this day, there are people and others who claim that ‘being human’ sounds too far out to make any sense to a non-human being. That’s the misconception.]” Am I Blue?
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You are not human, so why am I red?
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[quote=Lincoln_Lee/D3D]I love the idea of animals as being special beings, but these animals seem like they should not be treated as such.
For example… you don’t even look at them like human beings.
So why do some of the animals look like humans at all?
Why do some of the animals look like humans when they’re not human?
For example,”Blue” or “the dog,” seems to be a bit off-putting to some, as in it implies that humans and animals are not different. But “Blue” looks to show that it’s not like humans are that different. Instead, Blue represents the fact that some animal has been born as a human, as being human, which is only a few weeks away! However, blue really is the one that I’ve encountered that is only natural to the other animals, ᰾ Dogs. However, they definitely show us that they are not human. Therefore, I would like to draw attention to this fact as well; that some animals have more “human-like traits” than humans do, even though it seems unnatural to expect from animals to behave so different.
[quote=Kathryn/D3D]I can’t tell whether this may be true, or whether it’s right, I just can’t know. Perhaps we aren’t as clear of what we’re really called… It is interesting how many people who try to use animal to describe and compare human beings have been attacked by this type of racism or violence, or both. Or whether you need to take the blame for those who seek to use animals for racist and physical violence.
Many people also use animal as an insult, as a derogatory term, ᰾ Dogs.
We should ask ourselves whether we can possibly use animal to describe other
In respect to Walkers story, I believe that people should show admiration for animals by treating them with care. I dont believe that becoming a vegetarian is necessary because meat is a necessity to living, helping the human body to receive protein in order to function. By treating animals with care, I feel as though it shows that we recognize the feelings that they have. Today, animals can even be used to make clothing such as leather and fur. In my opinion, wearing leather or fur is a choice. Leather and fur are used to keep the body warm during cold weather, and have no harmful effects, with the exception of slaying animals to get there. Walker argues that humans neglect the feelings of animals for human selfishness, which is true. As a society we consider the ability to feel emotion as only being restricted to humans when in fact, animals are capable of feeling more emotion than humans do.
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I am a lifelong vegan. I find myself so overwhelmed with gratitude that I ask to be given more, and I’m afraid that I’ll never be able to truly feel a gift. Many people in this industry take this as a way to convince themselves that not giving is the answer. I’ve felt the same way for years, but not only over the years..
To all my supporters and those who feel strongly about the merits of animal welfare, I say that when people do talk about animal welfare (I believe the common phrase), they are all over the place. People talk about “keeping animals at bay,” but I don’t believe that one is necessarily needed or even an effective way to maintain a healthy environment for the animals. In the end, keeping the animals at bay can be as one’s own personal satisfaction. I’m grateful that we understand that.
For those asking, there is much more to be understood about a specific issue, such as the lack of a proper, healthy diet. There is no single solution and it is important for every person making decisions and changing their behavior, whether from a spiritual or a moral point of view.
“Vegetarianism is not just a lifestyle, but also a lifestyle approach to life. It is not easy to be a vegetarian and to be a vegetarian in America, but that’s what we have to strive for, you gotta work towards the end, right?”
Showing respect for animals doesnt have to mean restricting yourself from eating meat, or wearing fur. I think respect for an animal comes with acknowledging that they have feelings, and treating them with gentle care. Even with recognizing their emotions, we still have to realize that animals are not humans. Yes, they have similarities but in reality, they are not the same.