Are Elephants People?
By Jo Ann
@akalinus (44366)
United States
October 24, 2019 10:58am CST
There is a growing movement to give elephants, other animals, certain places like a rain forest, and others, personhood with all the rights of people.
I have always loved elephants since I saw them at a circus when very young.
I don't think they are people. If they are recognized as people, someone is bound to say that they need Social Security and reparations for all the circus years and all of their unpaid work.
How far will this movement go, or is it just another craze that will fade out when something more interesting comes up? What do you think of all of this?
Activists hope to win legal battle for personhood for intelligent animals, giving them the same protections as humans
10 people like this
11 responses
@WorDazza (15826)
• Manchester, England
24 Oct 19
Many animals show remarkable levels of intelligence and empathy, more so than young children. Yet we treat them in a way which would rightly cause outrage were we to treat a young child in that way.
I'm all for some level of rights for animals but a balance has to be struck and anyone suggesting the likes of social security etc. should be laughed out of whatever building they make such claims from.
3 people like this
@WorDazza (15826)
• Manchester, England
24 Oct 19
@akalinus Undoubtedly there are always some who will push for more and more unreasonable things but that shouldn't stop us from doing what's right.
Just because some idiots might ask for $50 per hour minimum wage it shouldn't stop us from setting a reasonable minimum wage.
1 person likes this
@Shivram59 (50153)
• India
24 Oct 19
@akalinus I don't know about this movement ,but elephants are very intelligent animals.Still I don't think they should be treated as people.
1 person likes this
@akalinus (44366)
• United States
27 Oct 19
@Shivram59 I think a lot of animals are as intelligent as people. Dolphins and elephants are the main ones. They just can't speak, they can't use hands, or they are just too big.
1 person likes this
@Shivram59 (50153)
• India
25 Oct 19
@akalinus That's exactly what I think.In fact,all animals are intelligent.Elephants are more intelligent ,but they are not people.
@samysotelo18 (7743)
• Mexico
24 Oct 19
I don't think they are people, but they deserve rights as living creatures of mother nature. We must respect them
1 person likes this
@akalinus (44366)
• United States
25 Oct 19
@samysotelo18 They are social animals and help each other. One is in distress and the others gather around. They visit the bones of those who went before them.
1 person likes this
@samysotelo18 (7743)
• Mexico
24 Oct 19
@akalinus That's so amazing, I love them too
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
27 Oct 19
frankly? very confused about it all
1 person likes this
@sweetashoney (3597)
• United States
24 Oct 19
I just got through reading the article. I myself think it's sad that they have to go to that extent, in order to save these animals from abuse, just because the owners only think of them as property. It's like the very first child abuse case that I studyed in my Social Work class, in order to save the child from abuse, they had to charge the caregiver with animal abuse. There was not such thing as child abuse, since children were seen as their parents property.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
25 Oct 19
folks seem to jest keep goin' o'erboard, eh? critters do need to be treated better 'n with great respect. mankind's used 'em ('n abused 'em) fer too many years fer financial gain. there'd be a horse somewhere suin' a previous owner fer abuse 'n neglect. lives now'n a critter sanctuary'n those folks're tryin' to make the prior owner set'p a fund fer the care that'll be needed the rest 'f this poor fella's life.
i do love critters 'n do battle fer 'em, but there comes a time the kinder thingy to do's jest to put 'em down. lettin' 'em suffer prolonged times wears' my heart. 'tis a huge disservice'n my thoughts.
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
25 Oct 19
@akalinus i'd not say useful life, but quality 'f life. if'n one's gotta be'n lots 'f meds all the time, 's somethin' that causes 'em to suffer, 'tis best to put 'em down.
@akalinus (44366)
• United States
27 Oct 19
@crazyhorseladycx I think it depends on the case. Everyone is different. Most vets won't put an animal down unless they live in a lot of pain.
1 person likes this
