Beyond-Human Persons Need Our Allyship. They Are More Than Just “Animals.”
I suppose I should be a good writer and tell you a story about a dog. Humans love dogs, right? I could warm the reader’s heart right up with those moments we realize how sensitive and individual a dog being is. It is only good sense that so many nonhuman animals are just as sentient and worth protecting.
Yes, I would love to be a good writer. Instead of just an angry, incoherent feeler who struggles to speak. Because beyond-humans need my allyship — just as much as they need yours.
We live on an Earth that has always been unequal and cruel, despite the great experiences that too exist. It’s not humans’ fault things are hard for us all.
BUT…
As the most privileged species to walk this Earth, we are responsible for being allies to other sentient beings.
Not long ago, prejudices we now condemn were harder to stand against. Humans in poverty were believed to be there for god-ordained reasons. It was manifest destiny for indigenous peoples to be terrorized and colonized. Women were subservient, queer humans were sinners, trans ones were freaks, and neurodivergence was crazy. Such untruths are still believed, but we are healing them into mindsets more welcoming to all.
