Gandhi; he's no Einstein

"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.

"I love animals, and especially dogs." - Adolf Hitler. January 25, 1942.

Apparently, that sentiment didn't extend to his fellow humans. Hitler linked his vegetarianism with his disdain for hunting:

"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