THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 30, 1996 TAG: 9607300003
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 29 lines
Regarding ``In animal-rights debate, we can all agree on no cruelty'' (Perspectives, July 25): Editorial writer Patrick Lackey correctly acknowledges that ``cruelty is cruelty, no matter the victim, and kindness is kindness, no matter the recipient.'' He then, however, goes on: ``I don't deny that birds and fish can feel. I would have them killed to be eaten by me, but I wouldn't torture them.''
The sad fact is that chickens are tortured on the modern factory farms where they are raised and slaughtered for food. While more people are deciding to adopt more humane diets by giving up red meat, the lives of the billions of chickens butchered yearly, unfortunately, are too often forgotten.
Mr. Lackey also writes, ``As far as I know (chicken and fish) aren't that bright.'' Is intelligence level really the right criteria to use when deciding who we will protect from cruelty? When discussing intellect, the abolitionist Sojourner Truth once asked, ``What's that go to do with women's rights or Negroes' rights? If my cup won't hold but a pint and yours holds a quart, wouldn't you be mean not to let me have my little half-measure full?''
Isn't it true, as philosopher Jeremy Bentham stated, ``The question is not Can they reason? nor Can they talk? but Can they suffer?''
HEIDI MORRIS
Norfolk, July 25, 1996 by CNB