The mechanical premises that seperate humans and animals are easily distinguishable; the minds and bodies of both organisms exhibit obvious differences from our consciousness to rationality. Although both experience suffering, the comparison of animal slaughter to the historical genocide of the Holocaust contributes to the exact dehumanization the victims of Nazi persecution faced. Throughout this time period, Nazis would refer to the Jews as “less than human” by comparing them to animals, specifically rats. Although both animal slaughter and mass murder are unethical, so is comparing both forms of butchery.
The 2003 campaign launched by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals intended to create a “pathos” approach with this comparison, which received necessary backlash due to its unethical comparison. The slaughtering of animals (which are mainly used for nourishment) and the murder of approximately 6 million Jews (which was only done through discrimination) are not the same things. In other words, killing for food is not the same as killing out of hate. As a matter of fact, comparing the two only contributes to the ideology of anti-Semitism as well as desensitizes the events which occurred during this time period.
In comparison to the total of 11 million people killed in the Holocaust, approximately 9 billion animals are slaughtered yearly. Many argue that because of these statistics, as well as the suffering that took/takes place in both scenarios, that the two are comparable. Despite the truth of these arguments, however, these analogies are both unnecessary and potentially offensive especially to Holocaust survivors. Comparing these two is similar to comparing their propaganda motives: the use of guilt tripping and negative emotions in order to make change occur. Not only are these methods ineffective in creating a positive difference, but these analogies can also fuel the pre-existing and increasing ignorance of events of the Holocaust. As more and more people are seemingly unaware of one of the most important events in global history, these sort of remarks desensitize those with no prior background knowledge of the Holocaust. The supply-and-demand system of animal consumption is incomparable to the rape and torture that other human beings have experienced.
The saying that “history repeats itself” cannot be farther from the truth. Yes, both of these events include an endless chain of suffering, unnecessary torture and unethical behavior. While both of these events can/could have been easily avoided, we cannot change the past, but rather we can learn from it; rather than testifying for empathy comparing the loss of human life to the loss of animal life, awareness should be raised for the humanization of practices in meat consumption. The awareness of suffering and value of animal life is indisputably important in changing the way we view our sources of meat and how they are obtained. The life and emotions of an animal should be just as prioritized as it is with human life (we are all living, breathing organisms after all). However, in my opinion, comparing these two is like comparing apples to oranges: they’re both fruits, but one is completely different than the other. There are different, more effective, and less offensive ways to get this point across.
