The “Abolitionist Manifesto” at the Abolitionist Animal Rights blog written by James Crump and Karin Hilpisch:

“II. Animal liberation will not merely be enhanced or safeguarded by certain moral relations between humans and nonhuman animals. Rather it will be constituted by certain moral relations — specifically, a concern for animals’ welfare informed (or rather transformed) by respect for their inherent value. Since new welfarists’ compassion and urge to alleviate animal suffering conflicts with respect for animals as rightholders, something which shows itself in their endorsement of supposedly “humane” animal use which is a rights violation, it follows that not only is there no common ground between welfarists and abolitionists, but that new welfarism — necessarily — has nothing to do with animal liberation, since the latter is inherently impracticable without respect for animals’ inherent value which is theoretically informed by the concept of animal rights, i.e. the basic right not to be treated as property, solely as a means to humans’ ends.”

Again, I don’t think a specific belief is necessary. I’m far more pragmatic. I don’t care what your reason for being vegan is, so long as you’re vegan you’re cool with me. I feel the same way about other kinds of killing: I don’t care what your reason for not committing murder is, I’m just glad you’re not going to murder me or anyone else.

You don’t have to respect other people in order to decide not to kill them. It’s simple, you just don’t kill them.

Same goes for kidnapping and holding someone against their will. Just don’t do it. Leave animals alone. Let them do their thing. Only interfere if someone’s life is at risk. Don’t get me wrong, respect is great. It’s just not necessary. We don’t have to respect other people, other nations, or other animals to leave them alone.

Sections: Vegan Theory
Topics: Abolitionist Manifesto, justification, reason, Theory, Vegan