Sign in with Facebook
lp's Reviews > Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy
Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy
by
by
I liked this book a lot more before I learned the author is the speech writer for Sarah Palin. I have a hard time believing that Scully is not passionate about vegetarianism. The book is incredibly dramatic. You can tell he is a speech writer -- he writes as if he is before 100,000 people trying to enliven them for battle or something. I am a passionate vegetarian, and there were times that even I was like, okay Matthew Scully enough enough enough! So where is his inauthenticity? How can he believe all of this and support a woman who is cool with aerial shooting and hunting and doesn't give a shit about polar bears?
Whatever. I liked the book, and I didn't feel overwhelmed by his conservative/religious bias, although I disagreed with him about some moral issues. Like, it was interesting to see where he draws the line on killing animals and then abortion and stem-cell research. Most vegetarians are liberal and are cool with stem-cell research and women's rights. Most. Matthew Scully breaks that mold. So I guess it makes you realize how fuzzy all the lines really are.
Scully makes a lot of valid points and says them better than I ever have. I liked this part:
He was saying people are always like (paraphrasing: "humans have thought and conscience so we obviously are better than animals, we have dominion over them, so we can eat them because they don't and they're stupid and they have no idea what's going on." They are? They don't? Fine, then: (now I'll start quoting Scully...)
"When people say that they like their veal or hot dogs just too much to ever give them up, and yeah it's sad about the farms but that's just the way it is, reason hears in that the voice of gluttony. What makes a human being human is precisely the ability to understand that the suffering of an animal is more important than the taste of a treat." (303)
Also:
"Let's just call things what they are. When a man's love of finery clouds his moral judgment, that is vanity. When he lets a demanding palate make his moral choices, that is gluttony. When he ascribes the divine will to his own whims, that is pride. And when he gets angry at being reminded of animal suffering that his own daily choices might help avoid, that is moral cowardice." (121)
See what I mean about the dramatic stuff?
Anyway, read this book, if only to be confused about how someone could do such a brilliant job encapsulating such a complicated issue so beautifully and simply, and yet churn out the words for a woman who says things like "Talibani" and "Gee Willikers*".
*I have never heard her say "Gee Willikers, but I bet she does."
Whatever. I liked the book, and I didn't feel overwhelmed by his conservative/religious bias, although I disagreed with him about some moral issues. Like, it was interesting to see where he draws the line on killing animals and then abortion and stem-cell research. Most vegetarians are liberal and are cool with stem-cell research and women's rights. Most. Matthew Scully breaks that mold. So I guess it makes you realize how fuzzy all the lines really are.
Scully makes a lot of valid points and says them better than I ever have. I liked this part:
He was saying people are always like (paraphrasing: "humans have thought and conscience so we obviously are better than animals, we have dominion over them, so we can eat them because they don't and they're stupid and they have no idea what's going on." They are? They don't? Fine, then: (now I'll start quoting Scully...)
"When people say that they like their veal or hot dogs just too much to ever give them up, and yeah it's sad about the farms but that's just the way it is, reason hears in that the voice of gluttony. What makes a human being human is precisely the ability to understand that the suffering of an animal is more important than the taste of a treat." (303)
Also:
"Let's just call things what they are. When a man's love of finery clouds his moral judgment, that is vanity. When he lets a demanding palate make his moral choices, that is gluttony. When he ascribes the divine will to his own whims, that is pride. And when he gets angry at being reminded of animal suffering that his own daily choices might help avoid, that is moral cowardice." (121)
See what I mean about the dramatic stuff?
Anyway, read this book, if only to be confused about how someone could do such a brilliant job encapsulating such a complicated issue so beautifully and simply, and yet churn out the words for a woman who says things like "Talibani" and "Gee Willikers*".
*I have never heard her say "Gee Willikers, but I bet she does."
Sign into Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ to see if any of your friends have read
Dominion.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
October 15, 2008
– Shelved
Started Reading
October 27, 2008
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-4 of 4 (4 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Scarlett
(new)
-
rated it 5 stars
Jan 12, 2010 11:35AM
I think the fact that Matthew Scully works with someone like Sarah Palin can only help the animal cause. If animal lovers only ever rub elbows with other animal lovers, what will we ever accomplish? Animal rights enthusiasts and vegetarians need to reach out to conservatives, not snub them.
reply
|
flag
I was interested in reading this book - but after hearing that he writes for Sarah Palin... not so sure if I will pick it up, even though it sounds like a fascinating read. Thanks for your review! :)
My understanding was that he wrote an acceptance speech for a VP nominee at Mccain's request before he had even chosen his VP. In fact, Scully wrote the speech with a man in mind. I have not heard that he wrote any other speeches for her. I believe he did some writing for Paul Ryan.
I concur with your assessment. Over the years I have been pleased and surprised to by people like Mr. Actually and Charles Krauthammer, who have evolved into some level of compassion that goes beyond a human zygote or fetus to encompass other species. I recommend this book and the essays by Mr. Krauthammer to those politically right wing who have any residue of open mindedness.They may otherwise cling to far right reactionary political beliefs and support predatory economics, but, as a z axis centrist, former supporter of center to progressive Republicans before they became extinct, animal rights activist and vegan since 1969, I am very glad to have an alliance with them or anyone who's compassion has evolved or evolving, even if they haven't already become at least vegetarian or fully vegan.
Unfortunately too many humans remain either ignorant of the mathematics of plunder and science denial, or are stubbornly solipsistic and arrogant due to being programmed by their entrenched Dominionism and therefore feel absolved from the resulting tragic consequences that their beliefs manifest.
Sometimes it's seems impossible for some otherwise good people to resolve the inherent contradiction of striving towards
an evolved level of compassion while maintaining support for economic predation. I hope they'll eventually free themselves from this contradiction.
Meanwhile, the sickness of people who trophy hunt or poach rare and exotic or endangered species to extinction or, with a greedy desire for continued endomorphic financial acquisition today without regard for generations, while fighting any efforts
towards clean and renewable energy sources that could be decentralized and shared via local, regional or continental networks, continue to despoil and toxify animal habitats on land and water and the rest of our only planet, all of them and their unconscionable plunder must be effectively contracted and ended ASAP. The damage they've done so far is ominous for the future of humanity and other species. They've doomed many of them already.
Again, I welcome any support and endeavors towards compassion, environmental healing and economic justice, from those willing to transcend their cultural programming, and political and religious beliefs or their lack of them.
