The questions historians ask of the past typically reveal
current political and social concerns. Specifically the growing
concern for “animal rights” has influenced recent historical study.
After watching the disturbing 60 Minutes piece last
Sunday on the domestic terrorism of the Earth Liberation Front
and the Animal Liberation Front, I found the websites of the two
groups. On the ALF site, a well-known historian of labor and race relations history encourages the growth of animal studies.
Why comment on this? Because such studies give humans a secondary role and consider animals the primary agents of change.
New
animal historians are in the work of changing not only the definition
of history but also liberty. They erroneously equate, for
example, the fight for animal rights with minorities’ fight for civil
rights. They also misuse words, such as liberated and
justice. Such talk, to me, distorts history and, more
importantly, devalues human life and liberty.
You may laugh, you speciesist
(a term being used nowadays), but in some circles, animal
studies are given credence. So don’t be surprised if an Animal
Studies Department is created at a college near you.