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It was either Gandhi or Einstein who once said something along the lines of; ''You can always judge a society by the way its animals are treated.'' If you're not familiar with this quote, there's probably a bigger reason for that-ever since the dawn of man, we humans have maintained a strong and unquestionable bond to animals in the form of predator and prey. Only recently, in the twentieth century, are some people beginning to view other species in a changed light.

For instance, let us examine more closely the Constitutional value of equality for all. (In Michael Pollen's new book; ''The Omnivore's Dilemma'', this argument is elaborated in more detail.) Certainly this American value, on closer inspection, can only be taken for what it ultimately is; an interest, not an actual fact. Our history of slavery and modern poverty proves this. So, you might ask, where do animals fit into this? From an animal rights activist's standpoint, their questions would be precisely: ''why should our perception of equality be limited to our own species? What are the requirements, if any, for a living being to be granted equality? A capacity for language? Proof of intelligence?''

An avid meat-eater may retort; ''There is no need to treat animals with the same rights as man because they are animals, not humans, which means that they don't have the same experiences, and lack the depth of feeling that we humans posses.''

Such a statement is now known by most to be a double sword; sure, animals may not experience the thrilling, passionate emotions of falling in love, or the haunting conscience of regret, but it is certainly true that we may take their expressions of pain for face value, because everyone instinctively knows what a cry of pain sounds like, even from a cat. Which brings us back to that idealistic phrase of equality for all. Would it not be safe to say that a key part of equality is the right (or need) to avoid pain? Is that not every species, if not primary, than prominent concern?

The Cherokee Indians have an interesting belief when it comes to animals, one that is in some ways true: for every animal that is abused or harmed, a new disease enters the human world. When you think about it, industrial agriculture has done just that ever since its conception. Forcing livestock into extremely crowded quarters with no room to range is one of the main reasons the animals get sick, because such unhygienic areas are ripe for the rapid spread of bacteria. On top of that, in the case of cows, feeding livestock food that is against their natural evolution (because of the overwhelming surplus of cheap corn, cows were forced to eat grain, but they are by nature herbivores) causes more ill health, which quickly leads to antibiotics....and the never-ending circle of sickness among industrial farm animals presses on.

All of this makes me wonder: Could animals actually be humankind's final test? Were these creatures put on this earth, vulnerable as they are, for us to nurture as well as respect? Maybe the simple test of complete co-existence has already failed miserably, and no re-test is coming our way.

Learn more about this author, Tara Mcnabb.
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