"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” Mohandas Gandhi
Wrong, dude.
This is one of those oft-repeated platitudes that is more a feel-good concept than it is a reflection of reality.
- The ancient Egyptians worshipped cats, yet practiced slavery.
- Indians esteem cattle, yet maintain an oppressive caste system.
- Nazi Germany pioneered the modern era of animals rights philosophy, but had no qualms about exterminating eleven million human beings.
Gandhi also stated "Nobody can hurt me without my permission". Hmm, tell that to domestic abuse victims. Tell it to any animal who ends his life as a meal for another. Tell it to victims of the Holocaust.
On November 24, 1933, the Tierschutzgesetz, or animal protection law, was introduced, with Adolf Hitler announcing:
"In the new Reich, no more animal cruelty will be allowed."Laws were passed prohibiting hunting on horseback or with dogs, and there was a temporary ban on the use of animals in research.
Apparently, that sentiment didn't extend to his fellow humans. Hitler linked his vegetarianism with his disdain for hunting:"I love animals, and especially dogs." - Adolf Hitler. January 25, 1942.
"I am no admirer of the poacher, particularly as I am a vegetarian."- Adolf Hitler. August 20, 1942.
And there's this:
"But there's one thing I can predict to eaters of meat: the world of the future will be vegetarian." Adolf Hitler. November 11, 1941.Goering, a leading member of the Nazi party, threatened to send to concentration camps "Those who still think they can treat animals as inanimate property". Groups regarded as SUBHUMAN (Untermenschen) ranked below even animals, and included inferior races, political malcontents and the socially unacceptable (including perceived animal abusers). We hear this same sort of rhetoric from today's AR crowd, demonizing those subhumans who consider animals their property.
What do the animal rightists of the Third Reich have in common with today's rabid animal rightists? Most assuredly, it is not a love of animals, but rather a deep-seated hatred of humanity.
www.kaltio.fi/index.php?494
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1407954/Thanks-to-Hitler-hunting-with-hounds-is-still-verboten.html
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1407954/Thanks-to-Hitler-hunting-with-hounds-is-still-verboten.html
yup.. no animals harmed.. we will practice on the "filthy Jews".. great blog.. and great interpretation of Hitler and the "animal rights" movement"..
ReplyDelete"The HSUS's Wildlife Abuse Campaign promotes the humane treatment of wildlife by educating the public and lawmakers on the cruelty inherent in sport hunting and targeting the most reprehensible practices." -- HSUS Web Site
ReplyDelete70 years and the fascist program hasn't changed.
This isn't quite accurate - Göring was an enthusiastic hunter, and sponsored the Reichsjagdgesetz of 1937, a new and for the most part eminently sensible hunting law (maybe the only constructive thing the Nazis ever did ) which has survived with only minor changes to the present day. "Poacher" is not the same as "hunter" - a poacher is someone who steals game that rightfully belongs to someone else.
ReplyDeleteSo I don't think Hitler actually banned hunting, which in various forms (including falconry) flourished during the Nazi era.
Also, Hitler's pretensions as a "friend of animals" are pretty much a sideline to the history of the animal welfare and animal rights movements, which - like the Nazis' loony racial theories - go back to the 19th century.
What is true is that some of the animal rightists are as crazy in their way, as Hitler was in his .
Well said and well documented. Thank you for the history lesson!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your correction, Dr. John. I did a bit more digging on the subject and found this information in a 2002 article; a few excerpts here (and link to the entire article below)
ReplyDeleteAs one with family roots in Alsace-Lorraine I find this all just fascinating!!
The official Nazi biography, which was written by Erich Gritzbach, says: "Goering is a fanatical friend of animals. He says: 'Whoever tortures animals violates the instincts of the German people.'
The same love of animals which he demonstrates in all he has to do with the animal world also imbues the Reich hunting law of 1934. Indeed it gives this law its deep ethical meaning. In Germany hunting on horseback, chasing animals with a pack of hounds, is banned."
Goering adopted a moral code governing hunting called Sporting Justice (Waidgerechtigkeit) that had long been established in Germany. The code stipulates that it is unsporting to use animals such as dogs to kill game and vermin....The laws were passed and remain in force to this day.
It would seem the very purpose for which we've bred sporting dogs as well as terriers is becoming passe! But that's a topic for a whole 'nother blog post!
George
Here's the aforementioned article, the link wouldn't post for some odd reason.
ReplyDelete"Thanks to Hitler, hunting with hounds is still verboten"
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1407954/Thanks-to-Hitler-hunting-with-hounds-is-still-verboten.html