This message was sent to Prof. Richard Schwarz after I
understood that he was unwilling to even mention unconditional compassion...
From: homerific1990@hotmail.com
To: rschw12345@aol.com
CC: flh@all-creatures.org
Subject: RE: Compassion?
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:08:15 -0400
Professor Schwartz,
From your response it appears your primary goal is to promote religious values
which treat animals as human property, rather than to promote a model of
compassion which honors their intrinsic worth. When I receive testimonials about
the disrespect caring individuals have experienced within the judeo.christian
tradition with regard to their deepest concerns for animals, I will let them
know that they have indeed made the correct decision to leave, as those who work
for compassion within these religions value human needs above the right of an
animal to exist and remain free from pain. I will not promote the Jain religion
or provide unrequested information about Jainism, but will continue to discuss
the benefits for animals due to ahimsa. There is no room for the shameless
promotion of ones religion in a movement that strives to end animal suffering.
I received the following offer from you several times, despite the fact that I
indicated I was not interested in the dvd:
"I would like to offer you a complimentary DVD with our recently released
documentary A SACRED DUTY: APPLYING JEWISH VALUES TO HELP HEAL THE WORLD."
Professor Richard Schwartz
Why is it appropriate to so enthusiastically promote Jewish values, as you
criticize me for promoting one religion above others. As I have noted many times
it is not my intention to promote the Jain religion, nor do I claim it will heal
the world, just point out how a message of unconditional compassion has resulted
in far reaching benefits for animals. I have never offered to send you or anyone
else information on the Jain religion, as I would view that as inappropriate
promotion:
You continue to state: ",,,we should seek common ground and solutions rather
than arguing that one religious approach will sole all problems."
I am not promoting one religion above others, just the value of unconditional
compassion, which when taught in a religious setting, has resulted in numerous
and far reaching benefits for animals. Examples are cited to demonstrate the
effectiveness of ahimsa.
It is apparent that you intend to work with the message of dominion, in an
effort to promote religious values to benefit the humans who adhere to this
belief. The needs of the animals are a distant second.
You still have not explained why you do not criticize the breeding of monkeys in
Israel to be used in gruesome experiments at the Weizman Institute. Nor do you
praise or even acknowledge the compassion inherent in the decision in India to
ban the export of their free roaming indigenous monkey population, to keep them
free from harm in western research facilities. You do not once acknowledge the
far reaching and broad based legislation to protect animals resulting from the
ahimsa model in India, as noted in previous messages.
Conveniently ignoring the evidence of the numerous positive developments in
India, as you continue to repeat that you work to end animal suffering,
undermines this claim. It is not apparent from the decision to promote a model
of compassion which is so detrimental to animals, with its measures of
half-hearted compassion and benevolent abuse, that you are genuinely concerned
about animal lives.
You state that it would not help your message to include unconditional
compassion, despite the fact this message has been such an effective means of
attaining significant improvements in animal lives, by tapping into the innate
compassion of so many, who have had it suppressed by the contradictory message
of dominion.
To respond to your concerns about the consumption of meat and eggs in India:
India is a vibrant democracy and there are many groups in that country that do
consume animal products...There are Moslems, Christians, Jews, Zorastrians etc,
that consume meat and who are responsible for much of the carnage. There are 400
million vegetarians in the Hindu faith who follow a vegetarian diet for
religious reasons...There is virtually 100% compliance of the vegetarian diet in
the Jain community. This information is offered to point out that when religions
teach a responsible message of compassion, rather than cater to human greed and
need, individuals are more likely to live a compassionate lifestyle.
Incidentally the Jains are now beginning to embrace a vegan diet, as it is in
harmony with their values...Gary Francione works with Chitrabanuji, a Jain
Acharya (rabbi, minister equivalent), to promote this message within the Jain
community. The encouragement to follow this diet is based on the ancient jain
value of ahimsa: non-violence for ALL beings
I indicated that I limit my work to end animal suffering, but as you bring up
poverty and the caste system in India, I would reply that slavery and the racism
in many western nations are the equivalent of the caste system. India was not a
poor nation until it became a British colony, as the occupation destroyed the
systems which had worked so well for so many thousands of years. In effect the
British pillaged India of its wealth. The following statement by Lord Macauley,
British occupier, indicates the method used to challenge the traditional values
of Indian integrity:
Lord Macaulay: "I have traveled across
the length and breadth of India and I have not seen
one person who is a beggar, who is a thief. Such
wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral
values, people of such caliber, that I do not think we
would ever conquer this country, unless we break the
very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual
and cultural heritage, and, therefore, I propose that
we replace her old and ancient education system, her
culture, for if the Indians think that all that is
foreign and English is good and greater than their
own, they will lose their self-esteem, their native
culture and they will become what we want them, a
truly dominated nation."
Clearly Lord Macaulay believed in dominion.
This morning Democracy Now aired a piece on the death of Rachel Corrie. Her
family is suing the Israeli Government for her wrongful death. Rachel was
peacefully protesting the demolition of a Palestinian home. An Israeli soldier
bulldozed over her and then the home she sought to protect. She was wearing a
bright orange jacket, for visibility, and was surrounded by other peaceful
protestors. Such actions follow from a position which values some lives above
others.
I find it telling that rarely in this dialogue did you use the word compassion,
as it appears that is not your primary agenda. Unfortunately there are those who
remain in the judeo.christian who continue to suffer because of the mockery that
dominion and its promotion make of their deepest beliefs. Animal lives will not
be bettered by this self-serving approach.
You continue to call for common ground: As Gandhi so eloquently stated:
"Non-cooperation with evil is as much a duty as is cooperation with good."
Gandhi There is no common ground with those who care so little for animals they
are unwilling to relinquish a position which allows for their harm and
slaughter, as this would just serve to increase the carnage.
Why do you choose to cooperate with those who want to perpetuate their ab(use)
of animals in the name of religion?
Respectfully,
Ruth Eisenbud
CC: flh@all-creatures.org
From: rschw12345@aol.com
To: homerific1990@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Follow-up: A Confusing Contradiction
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:16:25 -0500
Dear Ruth, Mary and Frank,
I think we can go around in circles for quite awhile re this, without getting
very far.
I agree with Frank that we should seek common ground and solutions rather than
arguing that one religious approach will sole all problems.
All I can say is that I argue that, based on Jewish teachings, and that of other
religions, people should not eat meat, wear fur, experiment on animals or abuse
them in any other way.
I do not think adding unconditional compassion as an argument will get me any
greater hearing unfortunately.
I personally now feel that our best argument is that a major shift to vegan
diets is essential to avoid the looming climate catastrophe that will be
catastrophic for all animals, including humans, but even that argument is being
denied and resisted by the vast majority of people.
BTW, didn't India have a caste system for many years? and isn't there still much
poverty and a a rapid population growth that is a major environmental threat?
and isn't much milk consumed in India? and what do they do with the baby calves?
is there an egg industry in India?
All the best,
Richard
Richard H. Schwartz, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, College of Staten Island
Author of "Judaism and Vegetarianism," "Judaism and Global Survival," and
"Mathematics and Global Survival," and over 130 articles at JewishVeg.com/schwartz
President of Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) (www.JewishVeg.com) and
Society of Ethical and Religious Vegetarians
(SERV)
Director Veg Climate Alliance
Phone: 718-761-5876
rschw12345@aol.com
