The documentary Live and Let Live, directed by Mark Pierschel, begins with Ria Rehberg explaining that in a history class she was asked the question, "What would we have done if we had been born into a society with slaves?" That question would change her life. It made her realize that in today's society there is a clear form of slavery, including animal slavery, and that she had to fight against this oppression.
Shortly after, Jack Lindquist, an American athlete, recounts that he too became vegan because of a question a friend asked him: "What's the difference between your dog and a pig?" He couldn't answer it. He couldn't find a justification for exploiting one and not the other.
The question can also be used as an answer. When animal rights activist Andrew Kirschner is presented with the dilemma of what he would do if he were stranded on a desert island with a pig and no plant-based food, he responds by trying to frame the discussion in a real-life situation: What would you do if you lived in a city where you could have a perfectly balanced diet without having to kill an animal? Would you stop eating animals?
As teachers and family members, we tend to make many statements, but we ask few questions. Our education system unquestioningly conveys the message that pigs, cows, fish, sheep, etc., are in the world for us to use. If this idea were framed as a question, students could reach a different conclusion—their own. Are animals here for us to use, or are they here to enjoy their own lives?
Questioning is a fundamental tool for fostering reflection and, therefore, critical thinking. Why don't we use it? Are we afraid that students will question our values? Are we afraid to confront these questions ourselves as we pose them?
