That was only temporary until we could provide him with enough whales.
I definitely agree with that (except that we should laugh at Columbus), and think it’s wise to keep the perspective like that.
I’m not even saying that I support equal rights for higher-order animals. What I’m thinking is that I probably know more about animal neurobiology and behavior than the vast majority of the population. And if the answer is not obvious to me, how is it obvious to that majority? It’s also not the case that it’s just me being confused, since for instance Peter Singer and Richard Dawkins have uttered support for the notion.
This is a far more reasonable position. I was objecting to your implication that we’re all stupid because we’ve never thought about something this new and radical. People have thought long and hard about it, and I would assume that every single one of them is smarter than anyone at PETA.
It is in fact a tremendously subtle and difficult problem. As you yourself pointed out, the history of humanity is one continuous stream of rights being denied to other groups for a whole variety of excuses. Yet some rights are denied for legitimate reasons: only citizens can vote, for example, and voting rights can be taken away from felons. Marriages are being rightfully extended to gays but are being denied to polygamists. Whether that’s right or a slippery slope to animal marriage is part of the current debate. Yet if animals are given rights, then how can voting or marriage be denied to them? The implications of rights extension are enormous and profound. It is worth a major argument.
I like most of the Daily Show’s stuff, but this struck me as juvenile and unfunny. You own a dog?? Doesn’t that make you a slave owner/Hitler???
That was funny the first time I heard it 35 years ago.
As **UncleRojelio **points out, the interview was so heavily and obviously spliced together I can’t imagine finding it amusing anyway.
This is exactly what I think. And I have the vague and possibly unfair critique that the Daily Show maybe didn’t present it as such, or show the opposing viewpoints. That’s all.
As I mentioned before, the Daily Show edits these interviews exactly like your local news station does. There’s only one camera, the questions are re-recorded after the answers are completed, and “reactions” are taped afterwards and spliced in.
The Daily Show is satirical comedy. Why would they?
That’s the beauty of humor; it doesn’t have to make everybody laugh to still be funny to lots of people. I am sure there things you find humorous that I would find unamusing.
What do you find funny?
As a general note, I agree that it wouldn’t be a funny or convincing argument, but in this case, with the argument that the whales are slaves and should be free, it is perfectly valid and quite funny.
I wonder if escaped Orcas will be smuggled to Canada via the underground railroad?
I’m pretty sure it’s a canal.
no, we’re working on securing a rocket to help them get back to their homes on the moon.
So far the Russians and Chinese have been, er, less than helpful.
Ask the dolphins, they have their own way of getting off-planet.
You can try asking the Mexicans.