Let us avoid labels that give a free pass to harm!

At the same time, Muslims have “pigeonholed” polytheist infidels and monotheists in very different ways. The former were to be exterminated if they did not convert to Islam (in India they committed a genocide of between 80 and hundreds of millions of Hindus). By contrast, followers of the religions of the Book (Christians and Jews), which inspired Muhammad, were spared and allowed to practise their religion, but with an inferior status and discriminatory laws.

In addition to tribal, ethnic or religious labels, there are also gender labels: in most cultures from the Neolithic until recently, men were “respectable” and women were “abusable”. For example, in the Roman Empire women were the property of their husbands; in traditionalist Islam they are to be beaten if they do not obey men; and in Christianity, according to the Holy Scriptures, they must be subject to men. In fact, in many parts of the world these categorisations are still used, especially for free women and above all sexually liberated women, who may even be given the “label” of human waste unworthy of empathy.

Or it may also be based on age. In many traditional and hierarchical cultures, older people are categorised as “venerable”, and consequently younger generations show them reverential respect. By contrast, children barely count and are labelled “trampleable”. For example, in ancient Rome the paterfamilias had the right of life and death over his children. He could assault them in the cruelest ways, deprive them of food until they died, sell them as slaves in foreign territory, or abandon them at birth.

In places with caste systems or similar, such as India or the old Spanish Empire, the higher castes (such as priests and warriors of Aryan origin, or whites of Iberian origin and, to a lesser extent, from other parts of Europe) are classified as “honourable”, while the lower castes (such as the untouchables or Black people) are regarded as a kind of “scum”.

In traditional cultures it is also common to apply the classification of “attackable”, or even “filth”, to those who deviate from social norms. This is the case for the LGBTI community in societies with a Christian, Muslim or conservative Jewish majority, whose lives can be made hell simply for not having the “proper seal”.

However, the top prize in the category of “not worthy of empathy” and “mere things” goes to non-human animals, except, at best, pets such as dogs and cats that give us affection and companionship.

This entire system of labels—so typically human and so universal—has caused suffering on a large scale and of great intensity, such as that inflicted on Jews by the Nazis. It leads us to be polite and charming with some, and ruthless and heartless with others.

Some may think that in advanced countries all this has now changed, but only in part. Because although it is true that the number of victimisable groups has been reduced, it is also true that the number of victims has increased greatly.

It is true that in recent decades, in the most civilised countries—especially in the West—labelling has changed to grant most people the stamp of “respectable” or “quite respectable”, but this has not happened for those who do not have the “correct” taxonomic classification.

That is to say, an animal that is not categorised as “homo sapiens sapiens” but as “ovis orientalis” or “bos taurus”, etc., can be kidnapped, enslaved, exploited, kept locked up for life in a cage under miserable conditions, assaulted and killed. And all of this, even though it feels and suffers just like humans and may even have the same intelligence as a 4-year-old child. Because it is unthinkable to do all the barbarities above to the latter, since they benefit from that damned discriminatory “quality seal”.

Under the umbrella of our perverse current labelling system, the number of victims has increased to BILLIONS—with a capital B. We are horrified by the Holocaust of 8 million Jews—with a lowercase m—but we remain fairly indifferent to the atrocity committed against, I repeat to make it perfectly clear, BILLIONS—with a capital B—of victimised beings in factory farms, fish farms, laboratories, slaughterhouses, shows, etc.

In conclusion, labels have changed partially, but our wickedness and cruelty have not. Therefore, it is necessary to continue reforming “labelling” until all beings that feel and suffer are included in the category of “respectable”. The sooner we realise this, the sooner change will take place.

To achieve this, it is necessary to convince the vast majority of the 8 billion humans who inhabit the planet.

And what can an ordinary person do to achieve it? A LOT:

1. Convince those around you, and encourage those already convinced to do the same with others.
2. Do not raise children and adolescents within the labelling system.
3. Share messages like this and encourage others to share them.

If even a minority of us do it, they will end up spreading in a chain to the majority.

Therefore, if you believe that sharing this article contributes to a better world, with less cruelty and more kindness, less suffering and more happiness, I encourage you to share it on all your social media and with all your contacts.

Thank you,