The Silent Scream of the Asparagus (plant rights)

The Weekly Standard ^ | 05/12/2008 | Wesley J. Smith

[AngieGal]

You just knew it was coming: At the request of the Swiss government, an ethics panel has weighed in on the "dignity" of plants and opined that the arbitrary killing of flora is morally wrong. This is no hoax. The concept of what could be called "plant rights" is being seriously debated.

A few years ago the Swiss added to their national constitution a provision requiring "account to be taken of the dignity of creation when handling animals, plants and other organisms." No one knew exactly what it meant, so they asked the Swiss Federal Ethics Committee on Non-Human Biotechnology to figure it out. The resulting report, "The Dignity of Living Beings with Regard to Plants," is enough to short circuit the brain.

[AngieGal]

"Thus, the panel determined that we cannot claim "absolute ownership" over plants and, moreover, that "individual plants have an inherent worth." This means that "we may not use them just as we please, even if the plant community is not in danger, or if our actions do not endanger the species, or if we are not acting arbitrarily."

Unborn babies can be killed on a whim, but we have to really think twice before killing a plant. I'm horrified!

[Sgt_Schultze]

Left unsaid at this point is how we can continue to assist in the destruction of the AIDS virus worldwide. As a living, mutating organism, it too must have some inherent value - as must all pathogens.

[festus]

This isn’t all bad. At least I can use it against vegetarians when they cry about my steak.

[AU72]

We are living in the post-rational world where being a moron is an asset.

[theDentist]

PETAphiles don’t want us to eat meat of any form (not even eggs), and now these yahoos want to stop us from eating vegetables of any sort. WTH are we supposed to eat?

[cripplecreek]

A slaughtered several asparagus spears this morning. If I hadn’t done it the neighbor would have.

[rabscuttle385]

As a living, mutating organism, it too must have some inherent value - as must all pathogens.

Psh, be nice to the Marxists and Socialists. They have feelings too! /s

[DLfromthedesert]

OMIGOSH I just pulled some weeds. I guess I’m going to the Hague.

[OB1kNOb]

This article supports my theory that there are people too stupid in the world to survive.

[Puppage]

We are living in the post-rational world where being a moron is an asset

LOL

That would make a great tag line.

[prairiebreeze]

Yes indeed, bacterial rights have been long ignored. I witnessed strains of ebola, MRSA and drug-resistant TB weeping in despair just the other day.

[trad_anglican]

That makes me a mass murderer in the eyes of the dandelion police! I’d better burn the evidence!

[steel_resolve]

I hope you don’t mind, but your response was too good not to steal for a tag for a while...

[Rebelbase]

"Can you still hear the asparagus screaming, Clarice?"

[WarToad]

This does not change my plans for a dandelion genocide this summer.

Or those f***ing yellow jackets.

[RedDogzRule]

Is that akin to going to hell? Probably is similar....

[Rebelbase]

I like this one better:

"Can you still hear the asparagus steaming, Clarice?"

[AU72]

I hope you don’t mind, but your response was too good not to steal for a tag for a while...

Go for it. Might as well have all the laughs while we can before the inmates take over the asylum.

[JoJo Gunn]

Yes, "justice" for kidney stones and cancer cells. Coming to a GOP near you!

 

[CatherinePPP]

Unborn babies can be killed on a whim

In fairness to Switzerland, I'm pretty sure abortion is illegal there except in the case of a medical emergency. Mothers who get abortions illegally can go to jail there. So, that's pretty bizarre about the plants, but at least they are still protecting babies more than plants.