We, as human beings, are considered a civilized race. We wear clothing and eat with forks and spoons. We attend institutions to further our education and become valuable members of society. We raise our children until they are grown. We strike a sharp contrast to our inferior animal population.

Unlike animals, we don't slaughter our young when they are ill … instead, we submit them to painful testing and treatments, often leaving them unable to cope in the world without help. We stand by and let our loved ones die painfully because our laws don't allow mercy killing. We build highways and level forests to make room for our growing numbers, and when this drives animals into our cities or onto our streets, we execute them.

We don't chase down our prey until the perfect opportunity to clamp our jaws down on it's throat, killing it almost instantly. We would rather stuff chickens into small cages and cut off their beaks so they don't attack each other. We prefer to line up our cattle in tiny stalls, keeping them hooked up to machines that suck their udders dry, never allowing them to see grass or the sun.

We are civilized

We hunt animals. Perhaps it's for food, and that can be overlooked but, more often (as is the case in this day and age when ample food supplies are available in every town), it is for sport. People kill for entertainment, but still … we are civilized.

We are like parasites. Our Earth is dying because of our selfish decisions, our desire for power, technology, and convenience. No animal has been capable of doing the damage we have done.

We show no more respect for our fellow man. We fight with our neighbours over petty things. We abuse, rape, rob, and murder each other. We pass judgment without a second thought about our own flaws. We care more for our own well being than anyone else's. We give ourselves a level of importance that allows us to accept - maybe even encourage - testing on animals for cosmetic or drug purposes. We would rather allow someone to die than take a few minutes of our precious time to assist them. We turn a cold eye to other people's suffering.

I can't help but question … how can we call ourselves civilized?

Colleen Ludgate, Editor, FunAdvice.com