In a country where many have come to believe that cows are now more valuable than humans, and are also well represented in power, this news should by no means, surprise anyone. But it's not about cows in particular, but animals in general.
For those still to catch up with today's world, animals have rights, although these rights are not recognized globally. This means not all countries recognize these rights. However, these rights means animals are entitled to the possession of their own existence and that their most basic interests—such as the need to avoid suffering—should be afforded the same consideration as similar interests of human beings.
The United States of America, is one of several countries to recognize animal rights, albeit partially.
An animal right advocacy group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), in the United States, is urging the public to stop using animal names as verbal insults to other humans because it is “supremacist language.”
Anti-animal slurs degrade animals by applying negative human traits to certain species.
— PETA (@peta) January 26, 2021
Perpetuating the idea that animals are sly, dirty, or heartless desensitizes the public and normalizes violence against other animals.
For example, the group said if you want to insult someone for their lack of bravery, call them a “coward” instead of a “chicken” because the term is demeaning to chickens. In other words, it suggests that humans are superior to chickens, and therefore justifies the ill-treatment of such animals.
“Words can create a more inclusive world or perpetuate oppression. Calling someone an animal as an insult reinforces the myth that humans are superior to other animals and justified in violating them,” PETA said in a tweet.
The organization also continued with a string of tweets, with one saying that “anti-animal slurs degrade animals by applying negative human traits to certain species.”
It went on to denounce speciesist language in another tweet as “harmful and inaccurate,” describing pigs instead as “intelligent” and snakes as “clever.”
Whether this advocacy by the organization would make any difference is yet to be seen. It nevertheless, proves we're indeed, living in interesting times.