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Definitions
                                                                                       

Vegetarian: A person who abstains from eating the flesh of animals, particularly beef and pork.
 Some may still partake of fish, eggs or other animal~derived products.  Some may wear or
otherwise use products of animal origin, depending on whether their views are ethical, or for
health or religious reasons.

Vegitan (vej~i~tun): A quite new term, meant to be non-political, for the type of diet ~ devoid of
animal products ~ eaten by people who don't necessarily otherwise practice a vegan ethic.  For
more on this, visit http://www.vegsource.com/articles/vegitan_diet.htm .  In case of the possibility
that VegSource's page link might change in the future (it could happen!), it's real easy to do a
quick search for the word.

Animal Rights: The philosophy that animals, by all rights, should be free of exploitation for the
purposes of food, clothing, the advancement of medical science or the safety~testing of
chemicals, entertainment, etc.

Animal Welfare: The philosophy that animals were put here by The Creator for the purpose of
the aforementioned uses, but that they deserve to be treated as humanely as possible within the
scope of their use.

Animal Research:  The study of animals for the purpose of learning how to cure diseases and
disorders of each particular animal.

Animal Experimentation: The study of animals for the purpose of learning how to cure diseases
and disorders of the human species.

~* Compassion's Last Frontier ~*

Firstly, let me say that I find terrible fault with the Animal Welfare philosophy.  Why?  Because the use of animals to protect humankind from the inherent dangers of our own creations, for our
sustenance and for our small-minded and frivolous entertainment simply IS the heartbreaking,
gut~wrenching mistreatment of them!  There is no possible correlation whatsoever  between
dripping Drano® into a rabbit's eyes while he's held immobile ~ to study the effect ~ and treating
him as humanely as possible!  Nor with any other all~too~real scenario!  Why do people think
they find it necessary to restrain any exploited animal?   Because the poor thing is MORTALLY
TERRIFIED, SICK TO DEATH OF LIVING WITH ABUSE AND / OR IN HORRIFYING, EXCRUCIATING PAIN!  If s/he had the chance to escape, s/he WOULDN'T HESITATE!  And the poor babies, such as circus elephants, that have turned on and killed their tormentors offer NOTHING LESS than PROOF that animals have lives, feelings and desires completely independent of humans in this world, and that they just want to be left alone!   DUH!  Why is that so hard for people to figure out?!   Or, at least, to face up to?  It's widely known in the field of psychology that  people tell themselves ~ and each other ~ lies to be spared from feeling bad about the horrible things they do, or stand by and allow to be done, to others.  But that doesn't get ANYTHING done for the blameless victims; it only allows people to refuse to grow to the fullest spiritual and evolutionary potential possible!  

All that said, I am an advocate, primarily, of the rights of animals ( gee, does it show?).
  However, while in the pursuit of their rights , I can't help but advocate the highest standards of
welfare possible ~ which, sadly, are not NEARLY high enough!  There has been discussion that,
in stepping up our pursuit of the welfare of animals in the unforgivable uses to which they are
now put, we're only serving to delay securing for them their ultimate rights .  But I just can't justify allowing the poor, innocent angels currently being exploited  to continue to suffer in their
present straits in order that animals won't have to in the future.  My heart can't bear the pain of
allowing that to happen.
  

Not as long as their beautiful, terrified, anguished eyes are still capable of
appealing to us for the help they so desperately need and so obviously
deserve!
 

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