Let's avoid labels that give a free pass to harm!

At the same time, Muslims have historically “pigeonholed” polytheist infidels and monotheists in very different ways. Polytheists were to be exterminated if they did not convert to Islam (in India this resulted in a genocide of between 80 million 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 practice 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 considered “respectable” and women were considered “abusable”. For example, in the Roman Empire, women were their husbands’ property; 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. Even today, in many parts of the world these categorisations persist, especially for free women and above all sexually liberated women, who may even be given the “label” of human waste unworthy of empathy.

Age is also used as labelling criterion. In many traditional and hierarchical cultures, older people are categorised as “venerable”, and consequently younger generations show them reverential respect. By contrast, children are often considered insignificant and labelled “trampleable”. For example, in ancient Rome, the paterfamilias had the right of life and death over his children. They 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 hierachies, 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) were classified as “honorable”, 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 “correct seal”.

However, the top prize for being considered “unworthy of empathy” and “mere objects” goes to non-human animals, except, at best, pets such as dogs and cats that provide affection and companionship.

This entire labelling system—so characteristically human and so universal—has caused widespread and intense suffering, such as seen in the atrocities the Nazis commited on Jews. It conditions us to be polite and charming with some, and ruthless and heartless with others.

Some may believe that in advanced countries all this has now changed, but only partially. 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 dramatically.

In recent decades, in the most civilized countries, especially the Western countries, labelling has shifted to grant most people the stamp of “respectable” or “quite respectable”. However, this has not happened for those who do not have the “correct” taxonomic classification.

In other words, an animal that is not categorized as “homo sapiens sapiens” but as “ovis orientalis”, “bos taurus” or similar, 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 atrocities above to children, since they benefit from that damned discriminatory “quality seal”.

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

In conclusion, while labels have partially changed, our wickedness and cruelty have not. Therefore, it is necessary to continue reforming “labelling” until all sentient beings fall into 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 teenagers 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 influencing the majority through a chain reaction.

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

Thank you,