I think animal rights are probably a bi-product of wealth. Children need to be taught that animals are to be cherished and not hurt otherwise they'll just maintain the ant/magnifying glass mentality, but when you're franticly treading water in a society that seems hell bent to drag you down you don't have time to think about things like that.
That being said, I don't think it requires a "wealthy society" to have people who are conscious of the innate of right in all beings to live in peace and safety. I think it just requires a society that isn't driving its citizens into the ground. For example, the dogs around the Karen villages I visited were in much better condition (and so were the people, for that matter), because they had a society that was very distinct from Thai. To some western eyes they would seem poor, due to the fact that they lacked cable TV and A/C, but they were happy, only worked 6 months out of the year, and had time to devote to things that are much more important than money. Such as family.
I think that's probably a big reason why the people, and the animals, were in much better shape and were happier.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2005-09-07 07:01 pm (UTC)That being said, I don't think it requires a "wealthy society" to have people who are conscious of the innate of right in all beings to live in peace and safety. I think it just requires a society that isn't driving its citizens into the ground. For example, the dogs around the Karen villages I visited were in much better condition (and so were the people, for that matter), because they had a society that was very distinct from Thai. To some western eyes they would seem poor, due to the fact that they lacked cable TV and A/C, but they were happy, only worked 6 months out of the year, and had time to devote to things that are much more important than money. Such as family.
I think that's probably a big reason why the people, and the animals, were in much better shape and were happier.