On the surface, one could almost laugh at the idea of humans having prejudices about non-human animals. But if someone says offhandedly that pigs are gluttonous and dirty, or that chickens are stupid and fearful, how many of us would feel the least bit concerned or upset, or step up to express our disagreement with these statements? How many of us would pause to consider the emotional lives, familial bonds, intelligence, and personalities of these animals whose fate it is to be so vulnerable, so at the mercy of human whims? Can we see them as individuals, or are they more likely to appear in our minds as a generic set of exaggerated species-specific characteristics, like those of a cartoon figure in a children's book? Can we see how this serves to make the displacement, control, exploitation and killing of so many animals, not to mention our own participation in these tragedies, more acceptable?

A study of history shows that systematic exploitation of others is almost always accompanied by prejudicial and derogatory ideas about the nature of those being dominated, used or killed, ideas that make these things seem "right" or "necessary" or "natural." Once those in another group come to be viewed as savage or stupid or lazy or dirty or uncivilized or unpredictable or existing purely for the purpose of fulfilling our wants and needs, then controlling them, driving them from their homes, enslaving them and even taking their lives can then begin to sound like acceptable activities, particularly when negative characterizations are repeated over and over by those in positions of authority. Such damaging characterizations are given an aura of objectivity through pairing with an obvious physical, cultural or linguistic difference. Characteristics such as skin color, language, gender and even species become the identifying focal point to which the prejudice is attached.

When exploitation is carried out or a life is taken, whatever the motivation, the common human tendency is for our minds to focus on what makes "us" different from "them." The enormous number of commonalities we share with those we are about to harm tends to vanish from our consciousness. For that moment, we attempt to suppress undeniable truths: that we all seek health and safety and freedom from pain, that we all fear sickness and death, and that we all value our own lives and seek happiness.

The simple act of making a good faith effort to learn more about the true nature of those being systematically exploited or harmed can be the first step toward having one of the deepest and most inspiring human experiences of all, that of overcoming a prejudice and becoming more mindful of all we share in common as creatures of this earth. Our prejudices not only make it easier for us to participate in or benefit from the exploitation of others or to stand by while they are harmed, they also rob us of all we might learn from others, and all the joy we might know in appreciating their beauty. They are not only painful for others, but also diminish our own peace of mind. When we free ourselves to view others in a way that is not defined by prejudice and preconceived notions, but rather, by curiosity, open-mindedness, empathy and appreciation of the individual, there is often a deep feeling of relief and a new sense of connection.

How might things change if more of us made a conscious effort to see animals as individuals? What if we were to see convincing evidence that a mother hen, if allowed to, can show a remarkable range of nurturing behaviors toward her chick? Would we begin to question the morality of bringing billions of chickens into existence only to take their lives when it suits our purposes? Would beautiful photos of a male deer who cared for an orphaned fawn encourage us to question the morality of putting a bullet or arrow through the heart of such beautiful creatures? How might our own hearts be transformed, if we were to learn of an unlikely friendship between a man and a gorilla or between a cat and a bird? Would we open ourselves to the possibility that every bird, and every deer, every cat and every gorilla, is an individual, and that just like human individuals, their personalities and life histories make them capable of all kinds of amazing and unexpected behaviors? This is the promise of the Peaceable Practice of learning to see animals as individuals.


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