From Bridget Murphy.
WHATEVER next, I thought, as I read the headline ‘Animal’ teens back in court (JEP, 19 October). I had visions of a gang of teenage goats, pigs and sheep, etc, brutally attacking and kicking people, stealing cars and crashing them.
In the case of animals, there could be no community service, or prison, for they would be ‘put down’ pronto.
As most people believe they are superior to the animal species, despite breeding and killing them to eat, and just try calling someone ‘a pig’.
It is high time magistrates and other people used correct and just reference to describe violent human miscreants, for animals do not normally attack humans, unless mistreated or threatened by them; even then, very often, they do not retaliate.
Animals, like humans, defend their young, their territory, and kill other animals for their food.
Unlike humans, they do not have the facilities of shops and supermarkets, yet, the human species kill and eat animals, which is totally unnecessary. Universally, the land, if managed and properly used, can support all its inhabitants, and without damaging the climate.
Whether one is a devotee of Charles Darwin, or the Creationist, this is a fact. The animal species have their own instinctive ethic, as we humans have ours, but they are innocent – we are not, because we have the capacity to reflect and understand our actions.
To sum up, the lowest form of behaviour can only be fairly and justly ascribed to the human species. My great affinity with animals is based on my love of their innocence.
